Box Score ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Pittsburg State University women's volleyball team picked up a stunning five set victory over No. 16 Missouri Western to begin the MIAA Tournament at Civic Arena, Mo West claimed a share of the MIAA regular season and will await the NCAA Division II Selection Show to see if their season continues.
Pittsbug State (14-14) claimed the match with set scores of 29-27, 18-25, 17-25, 25-21, 15-9. For the match, Pitt State finished with a .191 hitting percentage and 23 blocks compared to Missouri Western (21-7) with a .209 hitting percentage and nine blocks.
Leading the charge for the Gorillas was
Maddi LaPointe with a career-high 22 kills,
Don'Yah Cosie and
Anna Dean were the other members of the team to finish with double figure scorers. Cosie finished with a match-high 12 total blocks for her kill-block double-double with Dean also accomplishing a kill-block double-double with 11 total blocks.
Josie McCroskey came away with a match-high 34 digs with
Jesa Wallace (37) and
Abby Carr (20) splitting setting duties.
For the second time this season and first time it has happened in the rally score era (2001-pres.) in the same season, a pair of teammates finished with 10 or more blocks with Cosie (12) and Dean (11) accomplishing the feat once again this season. Dean has now recorded five matches with 10 or more blocks and her 161 total blocks this season are the fourth-most in program history. Cosie this season has ended three matches with 10 or more blocks and with 119 blocks on the season, ranks 16th in single-season ranks at PSU.
Missouri Western finished with four Griffons in double figures for kills in Noelle Sutcliffe (17), Emily Loy (15), Taylor Russell (11) and Holly Heldt (10). Hayley Barsky (35) and Katelyn Diani-O'Day (23) split setting duties for MWSU. Heldt came away with a team-high 28 digs followed closely by Anna Weberg with 26. Emma Salker finished with a team-high six total blocks to round out the statistical top performers.
Up next for the Gorillas will be the MIAA regular season co-champions and No. 7 Washburn. First serve from Civic Arena on Friday (Nov. 21) is set for 5:00 p.m. (CST) in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals.
