PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University volleyball team is set to begin the next to last week of the regular season with three matches.
 
To begin the week, PSU will travel to Springfield, Mo., to play Drury at the O'Reilly Family Event Center, Tuesday (Oct. 27) with a 6:00 p.m. (CT) first serve. The Gorillas will be then end the week at home against Central Oklahoma on Friday (Oct. 30) at 6:00 p.m., for the annual Pink Game and play host to Newman on Saturday (Oct. 31) at 1:00 p.m.
 
Coming into the week, Pitt State is 19-6 overall and 4-4 in the MIAA. Looking to achieve the first 20 win season since 2009 (25-11), the Gorillas are 8-3 on the road and 4-3 at home so far this season. The eight away wins are the most in a season since 2007 (12-4).
 
Leading the team and NCAA Division II for total blocks (147) and blocks per set (1.67) is Crystal Smith, Smith is also the team leader for points (360.5), points per set (4.10), hitting percentage (.392) and kills per set (3.00) while being second on the team for kills (264). Maddi LaPointe is the team leader for kills (266) while being second among team ranks for points (319.5), points per set (3.47), kills per set (2.89) and blocks (100). Jesa Wallace (576, 6.26) and Brynna Zoeller (413, 4.69) are the conductors of the offense. Kassidy Nixon (285, 3.56) and Mason Palace (244, 2.74) are the leading performers for digs and digs per set. As a team, PSU has collected 305 total blocks on the season and 3.32 blocks per set to lead Division II in that category and currently has seven members of the team with 30 or more total blocks on the season and a 0.40 blocks per set or higher average.
 
Drury is 17-6 on the season and 7-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). At home the Panthers are 7-2, going 4-1 in the last five matches.
 
Leading the team with 262.5 points (3.41) and 209 kills (2.71) is Skylar Hilton, Hilton is also the team leader for hitting percentage at .385. Jacy Bray is the conductor of the offense with 798 assists (10.23) to her name. Bray is also the team leader for digs (277, 3.55) with Abby Renshaw (242, 3.10) and Kim Quinit (217, 2.78) the other leading statistical performers. Hilton (88, 1.14), Gracie Kimrey (61, 0.79) and Taylor Wood (51, 0.66) are the leading blockers for DU.
 
Central Oklahoma, the No. 23 team in the latest AVCA Division II Top 25 Poll (Oct. 26), will begin the weekend with an 18-6 overall record, going 5-3 in the MIAA. The Bronchos on the road this season are 3-4 with wins coming against Southern Arkansas, Newman and Missouri Southern.
 
Georgia Ahlert leads the team with 311.0 points (3.70) from 258 kills (3.07) and is hitting .291. Riley Roberts this season has contributed 812 assists (9.55) and 88 kills (1.04) with a .303 hitting percentage. Kaitlyn Parrott leads the team with 373 digs (5.11) and Kate Wells is the team leader for total blocks with 102 (1.24).
 
Newman to begin the weekend will be 8-17 overall and 2-6 in the MIAA. On the road the Jets are 1-7 with the lone win coming against Cameron.
 
Leading the team with 223.0 points (2.56) and 201 kills (2.31) is Isabella Lamb. Madalyn Hoot (513, 5.83) and Charissa Ninan (280, 3.84) have split duties as setter for NU, with Reese Daugherty (325, 3.69), Reese Johnson (205, 2.38) and Hoot (154, 1.75) the leading performers for digs. Avery Kelley leads the Jets with 54 total blocks (0.64) with Kierny Follmer the team leader for blocks per set at 0.65 with 44 blocks in 68 sets of action.