PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University women's volleyball team is set to begin a three-match non conference weekend on the road with trips to Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Newman University for an in-season three-team tournament.
Tuesday (Oct. 13) the Gorillas will be in Alva, Okla., to play NWOSU at 5:30 p.m. (CT) at the Percefull Fieldhouse. Friday (Oct. 16) Pitt State will play Northeastern State at 4:00 p.m. at Fugate Gymnasium to begin the in-season three-team tournament and end the weekend with hosts NU at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 17).
On the season, Pittsburg State is 14-6 overall, 2-4 in the MIAA and on the road so far are 4-3 and 6-0 in neutral site matches. As a team, Pitt State is hitting .257 compared to .163 for opponents, coming away with 13.09 kills per set, 15.21 digs and an NCAA Division II leading 3.30 blocks per set.
The MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week,
Crystal Smith leads the team with 298.5 points (4.15) from a DII leading 123 total blocks (1.71), with a team-high 218 kills (3.03) and .398 hitting percentage.
Maddi LaPointe is the other member of the team to accumulate 200 or more points this seaosn with 251.5 (3.31) from 210 kills (2.76) at a .279 hitting percentage and 79 total blocks (1.04).
Maliyah Johnson (147, 2.01),
Mason Palace (142, 1.92) and
Vix Vilott (136, 1.92) are other members of the team to achieve 100+ kill tallies so far this season.
Jesa Wallace (475, 6.25) and
Brynna Zoeller (331, 4.60) have been the primary conductors of the offense.
Kassidy Nixon (264, 3.57), Palace (189, 2.55), Wallace (155, 2.04),
Alexis Bittner (133, 2.18) and Zoeller (121, 1.68) are the team leaders for digs.
Kennedy Behnke (67, 1.18), Johnson (52, 0.71), Palace (51, 0.69),
Amariah White (38, 1.41) and Vilott (28, 0.39) round out the leading blocks outside Smith and LaPointe.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers
NWOSU is 8-14 overall on the season and 2-7 in the Great American Conference (GAC). At home the Rangers are 3-3, going 1-3 in their last four home matches.
Tess De Zanet leads the team with 272.5 points (3.45) from 223 kills (2.82) at a .187 hitting percentage. Ivanny Blackwood is second on the team with 257.0 points (3.29) from 218 kills (2.79) at a team-high .348 hitting percentage. Ryann Eastes (420, 5.32) and Katie Wadas (255, 4.40) assume setting duties for the Rangers as Jadyn Padilla (322, 3.98) leads the team for digs. Kemelly Baez Miecznikoski is the team leader for blocks at 80 (0.99).
Northeastern State University RiverHawks
Enters the weekend at a 1-18 overall reocrd, going 0-8 in MIAA play. The RiverHawks in their inagural season as a team have gone 0-5 in away matches and 1-8 at neutral sites.
Ashlyn Tag leads the team with 114.5 points (1.97) from a team-high 107 kills (1.84) at a .111 hitting percentage. Poliana Lazarini is second on the team with 104.5 points (1.71) from 90 kills (1.48) at a .034 hitting percentage, while coming away with a team-high 139 digs (2.28). Sydney Dunkleberger (263, 4.31) and Tiyana Bhatte (165, 2.89) are the setters for NSU. Lanie Brown is the team leader for blocks at 37 (0.61).
Pittsburg State claimed a three set sweep over NSU, Saturday (Oct. 10) in Tahlequah, Okla., in MIAA action to end the weekend for both teams.
Newman University Jets
Newman will begin the weekend with a 6-15 overall record, going 1-5 in MIAA action. At home this season the Jets are 3-4, going 2-3 in their last five matches.
Isabella Lamb leads the team with 176.5 points (2.45) from 158 kills (2.19) with a .188 hitting percentage. Madalyn Hoot (355, 4.86) and Charissa Ninan (279, 3.82) split setting duties for the Jets.Reese Daugherty is the team leader for digs with 261 (3.58) and Avery Kelley leads the team for blocks with 48 (0.69).
The Jets and Gorillas will meet up on Saturday October 31st in Pittsburg, Kan., for an MIAA match inside John Lance Arena, with first serve set for 1:00 p.m. (CT)
