PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will resume MIAA action this weekend on the road against the University of Central Missouri Jennies and the Missouri Southern State University Lions.
 
Pitt State will begin the weekend on Thursday (Oct. 22) in Warrensburg, Mo., against UCM with a first serve from the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center set for 6:00 p.m. (CT). Saturday (Oct. 24) the Gorillas will make the short trip to Joplin, Mo., to play MSSU at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center at 3:00 p.m.
 
Entering the weekend, Pittsburg State is 17-6 overall, 2-4 in the MIAA. On the road this season the Gorillas are 6-3, good for the most wins on the road since 2022. The 17 wins so far in 2026 are also the most for PSU since the 2022 season, with the program trying to accomplish the first 20 win season since 2009 (25-11).
 
Crystal Smith leads the team and Division II for total blocks (141) and blocks per set (1.72), while accumulating 344.0 points (4.20) from 251 kills (3.06) at a .397 hitting percentage. Maddi LaPointe so far this season has accumulated 292.5 points (3.40) from 243 kills (2.83) with a .288 hitting percentage and 93 total blocks (1.08). Maliyah Johnson (206.5, 2.49) and Mason Palace (200.5, 2.42) are the other members of the team so far to accumulate over 200 points on the season. Joining Smith and LaPointe with over 100 kills on the season are Johnson (178), Palace (159) and Vix Vilott (148). Jesa Wallace (534, 6.21) and Brynna Zoeller (383, 4.67) have split setting duties this season. Six members of the team have accumulated over 100 digs this season in Kassidy Nixon (264, 3.57), Palace (225, 2.71), Wallace (171, 1.99), Alexis Bittner (147, 2.10), Zoeller (136, 1.66) and Mina Kaneko (124, 1.51). Six members of the team have also collected over 50 total blocks on the season with Smith and LaPointe being joined by Kennedy Behnke (67, 1.18), Johnson (58, 0.70), Amariah White (53, 1.43) and Palace (52, 0.63).
 
Central Missouri will begin the weekend with a 14-9 overall record, going 5-2 in the MIAA and is 3-1 at home. In the latest AVCA Division II Top 25 Poll (Oct. 19), UCM was receiving votes.
 
Leading the charge for the Jennies is Maya Fergerson with 268.0 points (3.57) from a team-high 252 kills (3.36) at a .246 hitting percentage. Kaelyn McDonald is second on the team with 239.0 points (2.91) and 89 total blocks (1.09). Chloe Rauner (538, 7.17) and Bella Holcomb (347, 6.67) are the setters for UCM. Ragin Corwin leads the team with 411 digs (5.01).
 
Missouri Southern enters the weekend with a 7-13 overall record and 1-6 in the MIAA, at home this season the Lions are 2-6.
 
Addysen Alvis leads the team with 288.0 points (3.89) from 245 kills (3.31) at a .179 hitting percentage. Grace Gardner is second on the team with 215.5 points (3.08) and 191 kills (2.73) at a .233 hitting percentage. Brenna Weaver is the conductor of the offense with 583 assists (7.99). Kasey Goldberg leads the team with 214 digs (2.89) as Olivia Burmeister rounds out the leading statistical performers with 42 total blocks (0.82).