PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University women's volleyball team will begin the MIAA Tournament with a first round match against the Missouri Western State University Griffons on Thursday (Nov. 20) in St. Joseph, Mo., at the Civic Arena.
 
First serve against MWSU will be at Noon.
 
Under the direction of Megan Besecker, the Gorillas are 13-14 overall and ended the regular season going 6-10 in the MIAA. For her career, Besecker has a 71-24 record.
 
Making its first appearance in the MIAA Tournament since 2022, Pittsbug State secured a seventh place finish in the conference standings with the most wins in a season since 2022.
 
As a team, the Gorillas lead Division II for blocks per set (3.05) and total blocks (305). Among MIAA ranks Pittsburg State leads the conference in blocks per set and total blocks while being fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.160) and team digs (1,688) and fifth for digs per set (16.88).
 
Anna Dean and Josie McCroskey were named All-MIAA on Wednesday (Nov. 19). Dean was named the inaugural MIAA Blocker of the Year and onto the All-MIAA first-team with McCroskey becoming a three-time All-MIAA performer as an honorable mention selection.
 
Dean leads the team with 336.0 points (3.46), hitting percentage (.316) and total blocks (150, 1.55), Maliyah Johnson is the team leader with 241 kills (2.62), Jesa Wallace (722, 7.22) and Abby Carr (340, 4.20) split setting duties, Vix Vilott is the team leader with 36 service aces (0.36) and McCroskey leads the team with 510 digs (5.10).
 
Missouri Western was ranked No. 16 in the most recent AVCA Poll (Nov. 17) after ending the regular season with a 21-6 overall record. The Griffons were one of three teams to finish as co-champions in the MIAA after going 13-3 against conference foes. Head Coach Jessica Fey was named the MIAA Coach of the Year for the first time in her career, in her four seasons coaching the Griffons, MWSU has gone 76-42 (.644).
 
This season, the two teams have played to a five-set match (Sept. 5) in Pittsburg and a four-set match (Oct. 17) in St. Joseph, Mo., with both matches going in favor of the Griffons. In the series history against MWSU, the Griffons hold a 67-27-1 advantage against Pitt State and are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
 
All-MIAA first-team performer Emma Salker leads the team with 334.5 points (3.35) and 117 total blocks (1.17), All-MIAA first-team selection Taylor Russell is the team leader with 290 kills (2.93), Katelyn Diani-O'Day (567, 6.03) and Hayley Barsky (513, 5.52) split setting duties, an All-MIAA second-team selection Holly Heldt leads the team with 34 service aces (0.34) and All-MIAA second-team performer Anna Weberg is the team leader with 513 digs (5.13).