PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team split a pair of matches on day one action of the Gorilla Classic and the 2025 season Friday (Sept. 5) at John Lance Arena.
 
The Gorillas opened the day, and the season, by downing Lubbock Christian University in straight sets (25-17, 25-22, 25-18). Pitt State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the nightcap against MIAA rival Missouri Western State University, but the Griffons rallied for a 19-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-13 win in a five-set thriller to deny the Gorillas first-year head coach Megan Besecker back-to-back victories to open her Pitt State tenure.
 
The Gorillas will wrap up the two-day, four-match classic format tournament Saturday with a 2 p.m. match against Southern Arkansas University and a 7 p.m. contest against Truman State University.
 
In the season opening match against LCU, Anna Dean hit an impressive .526 with 11 kills against just one error in 19 total attempts. Vix Vilott also reached double figures with 10 kills and she added a match-high four service aces as well. Dean accounted for five of Pitt State's 12 blocks in the match, totaling two solos and six block assists.
 
Maddi LaPointe and Maliyah Johnson posted 13 kills apiece for the Gorillas against MWSU, while Vilott added 11 kills and Don'Yah Cosie added 10 kills and 10 block assists to notch a double-double. Josie McCroskey chipped in with 23 digs.