PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will continue MIAA action on the road this weekend in the far northwest corner of the MIAA.
 
Pittsburg State will begin the weekend against Fort Hays State on Friday (Sept. 25), first serve from Gross Memorial Coliseum is set for 6:00 p.m. (CT). To end the weekend, PSU will play No. 7 Nebraska – Kearney at 6:00 p.m., at the Health & Sports Center on Saturday (Sept. 26).
 
The Gorillas are off to an 11-2 overall record, 0-1 in the MIAA start. So far this season, PSU is hitting .269 (21st in Division II/3rd in MIAA) with opponents hitting .139 (39th/4th), while leading DII for blocks per set (3.10) and total blocks (152) as a team.
 
Crystal Smith leads the team with 196.0 points (4.36), 142 kills (3.16) while hitting .449 (3rd/1st) and 78 total blocks (1.73). Among DII ranks, Smith is first for total blocks and blocks per set, fourth for hitting percentage and 28th for points per set. Maddi LaPointe is second on the team for points (167.0, 3.41), kills (141, 2.88) and total blocks (49, 1.00). In DII, LaPointe is  29th for total blocks and 58th for blocks per set. Jesa Wallace (313, 6.39) and Brynna Zoeller (211, 4.59) have split setting duties this season. Kassidy Nixon (189, 4.02), Mason Palace (139, 2.94) and Wallace (111, 2.27) are the top performers for digs.
 
Fort Hays State University
The Tigers will begin the weekend with a 10-5 overall record, 0-2 in the MIAA. FHSU this season at home are 4-1 inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
 
Mylie Brown leads the team with 163.5 points (3.14) and 158 kills (3.04). Annie Eaton is the leader for assists (418, 7.89) with Sophie Sander (168, 4.10) splitting reps. Haylee Wolf leads the team with 237 digs (4.56) and Ashlyn Reeves has a team-high 42 total blocks (1.11).
 
No. 7 University of Nebraska – Kearney
UNK will start the weekend with a 13-1 overall record, going 2-0 to begin MIAA play. The Lopers at home are 4-0 this season and since 2021 have gone 73-6 inside the Health & Sports Center. This season UNK began with a 3-0 defeat against Colorado Mesa (Aug. 27) and have since claimed 39 straight sets.
 
As a team, UNK is hitting .304 (6th) while holding opponents to a DII low .079 hitting percentage and blocking 109 total shots (15th) (2.60, 5th).
 
Carly Purdy leads the team with 139.5 points (3.40) and 128 kills (3.12). Ellie Eckman (251, 5.98) and Callie Squiers (202, 4.81) are splitting setting duties. Ellie Spang leads the team with 208 digs (4.95) and Sydney Davis has a team-high 57 total blocks (1.36).