PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will host the Pitt State Classic, beginning on Thursday (Sept. 11^th) at John Lance Arena.
 
Pitt State is scheduled to play in three matches over the two-day tournament. The Gorillas open the weekend with a 7:00 p.m. (CDT) match against Maryville, Thursday (Sept. 11). Day two of the tournament will see the Gorillas play Southern Nazarene at 12:30 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 12) and end the weekend against Southwest Minnesota State at 7:00 p.m.

The Gorilla Scoop

• Megan Besecker is in her first season leading the Gorillas. She has a 61-11 overall record as a head coach.
• Erin Pavlin and Remi Vargas enter their first season on the sidelines at Pittsburg State as assistant coaches.
• After the first week of the season, PSU is 3-1 overall after the Gorilla Classic. Claiming wins over Lubbock Christian, Southern Arkansas and Truman State, falling to a nationally receiving votes Missouri Western in five sets.
• The Gorillas were picked to finish ninth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Three Gorillas were named to the Gorilla Classic All-Tournament team in Anna Dean, Maliyah Johnson and Josie McCroskey.
• Statistical leaders for Pitt State are; Vix Vilott with 52.5 points (3.75), Johnson with 41 kills (2.73), Jesa Wallace dished out 89 assists (5.93), McCroskey collected 69 digs (4.60) and Dean finished with 27 total blocks (1.80).

The Opposition

• Maryville is 1-3 after the first weekend of the season. Picked to finish fifth in the GLVC Preseason Poll, picking up a first-place vote. Ella Brinkmann leads the team with 69.0 points (3.63) and 61 kills (3.21). Taylor Reynolds with 81 assists (4.26) and Cami Kohmetscher with 66 assists (3.47) handle setting duties for the Saints. Olivia Klump leads the team with 89 digs (4.68) and Leslie Longanbach is the top blocker at 28.0 total blocks (1.65).

• Southern Nazarene enters the weekend with a 2-2 record. Picked to finish eighth in the GAC Preseason Poll. Kate Wright is the team leader in points with 69.5 (4.09), kills with 59 (3.47) and with 37 digs (2.18). Brelee Mauldin is the primary setter for the Crimson Storm, dishing out 89 assists (5.93). Hannah Morgan and Riley Richardson both have accounted for eight assisted blocks (0.47) to lead the team.

• Southwest Minnesota State, ranked No. 9 team in the latest AVCA Poll (Sept. 8) enter the weekend with a 4-0 record. Picked to finish third in the NSIC Preseason Poll. Mya Krystosek leads the team with 63.5 points (3.97), while Leah Jones leads the team with 55 kills (3.44). Sydney Thein is the primary setter for the Mustangs, dishing out a team-high 190 assists (11.88). McKenzie Tolk is the team leader in digs with 72 (4.50) and Natalie Pilney leads the team with 19.0 total blocks (1.19).