PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will conclude the regular season this weekend at home with a pair of MIAA matches against Missouri Western State University and Northwest Missouri State University.
 
First serve from John Lance Arena on Friday (Nov. 6) against No. 10 MWSU is set for 6:00 p.m. (CT). On Saturday (Nov. 7), the Gorillas will host NWMSU on Senior Day with a 6:30 p.m. (CT) first serve.
 
Entering the weekend at 20-8 overall and 5-5 in the MIAA, Pittsburg State has accomplished the first 20-win season since 2009 and is nearing qualification to the MIAA Tournament for the second year in a row. At home this season, PSU is 5-4, with three losses coming against nationally ranked opposition.
 
Among all NCAA Divisions for women's volleyball, Pittsburg State as a team has the highest blocks per set (3.34) and total blocks (347) figures this season. PSU is the only team to reach 300 total blocks and is one of five teams (DI, Pittsburgh, Colorado State, North Carolina and Colorado) to average 3.00 or more blocks a set. Leading the charge for blocks is Crystal Smith with 175 total blocks for 1.75 per set. Smith is the nation leader regardless of classification for women's volleyball total blocks and is third in blocks per set to only Kelli Jo Burgess (BYU) and Ava Bogan (Cornell) from the Division I level.
 
So far this season the Jasper, Mo., native has accumulated 402.0 points (4.02) from 287 kills (2.87) at a .378 hitting percentage and the aforementioned blocking totals. Maddi LaPointe leads the team with 296 kills (2.85) from a .284 hitting percentage while also being second on the team for points (356.0), points per set (3.42) and total blocks (113). Jesa Wallace (639, 6.14) and Brynna Zoeller (471, 4.71) have split setting duties this season. Kassidy Nixon (347, 3.77), Mason Palace (271, 2.74) and Wallace (206, 1.98) are the top performers in digs while Kennedy Behnke (75, 1.19), Maliyah Johnson (68, 0.67), Amariah White (68, 1.33), Mason Palace (59, 0.60) and Vix Vilott (41, 0.42) round out the leading blockers.
 
Missouri Western comes into the weekend at 21-3 overall and 9-1 in the MIAA to sit in second place. The No. 10 Griffons are a perfect 5-0 on the road this season with all but one match being decided in four sets.
 
Tanith Roush leads the team with 292.0 points (3.40) from a team-high 265 kills (3.08) while hitting .299. Taylor Russell is second on the team for points (265.5, 3.05) and kills (226, 2.60) while hitting .270. The Griffons have three setters who have played in at least 45 sets this season in Katelyn Diani-O'Day (467, 5.70), Emma Duff (288, 5.33) and Hayley Barsky (206, 4.29). Anna Weberg leads the team with 474 digs (5.45) while Mackenzie Peters is the team leader for total blocks at 121 (1.39).
 
Northwest Missouri will begin the weekend at 9-14 overall and 6-4 in the MIAA to sit in a tie for fifth with the University of Central Oklahoma and a game ahead of PSU. On the road this season the Bearcats are 2-5 with wins coming against McKendree and Missouri Southern.
 
Leading the Bearcats with 234.5 points (2.90) is Gabrielle Gartner with a team-high 213 kills (2.63) with a .219 hitting percentage. Sophia Gartner (sister of Gabrielle) is the team leader for points per set (3.41) and kills per set (3.25) while being second among team ranks for points (204.5) and kills (195). Mya Kerrick (691, 8.43) and Londyn Smith (123, 4.24) have split time recently as setters. Ellery Luhring leads the team with 428 digs (5.56) and has claimed the last two MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors. Maddie Roenfeld is the team leader for blocks at 40 (0.69).