The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will make its final road trip of the regular season as the Gorillas travel to Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State this Thursday (Nov.3) and Friday (Nov. 4).
The road trip starts Thursday with the Gorillas battling No. 12 ranked UNK at Kearney, Neb., with a 6 p.m. (CDT) first serve n the Health & Sports Center. Pitt State then travels down the road to Hays, Kan., Friday to take on FHSU at 6 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Matchups
The Gorillas come into the mid week road trip with a 15-12 overall record and a 9-9 MIAA mark. The Gorillas clinched a spot in the upcoming MIAA Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Emporia State last Thursday (Oct. 27).
UNK comes into Thursday’s match with a 24-4 overall record, 14-5 MIAA mark and ranked No. 12 in the most recent AVCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Lopers, who dropped a 3-1 road decision to Northwest Missouri last Thursday, posted a 3-0 win against the Gorillas in the first meeting of the season on Oct. 7.
FHSU is 10-16 overall and 5-13 in MIAA play coming into Friday’s match. The Tigers dropped a 3-2 decision to NWMSU on Oct. 28 at Maryville, Mo. FHSU defeated Pitt State, 3-2, in the first match-up on the season on Oct. 8 in Pittsburg.
Scouting the Gorillas
The Gorillas are coming into the final two matches of the season behind the arms of outside hitter Meg Auten and right side hitter Janae Thurston. Auten leads the team in kills per set average with 3.28 kills per set. Thurston comes into Thursday’s match leading the team in kills with 272 on the season.
Setter Bre Richard leads the team in assists with 1,038 on the season. Richard averages 10.70 assists per set, which puts her at fourth in the MIAA leaderboard.
Libero Marissa Bates leads the way defensively for the Gorillas. Bates comes into Thursday’s match averaging 5.25 digs per set, which puts her at third in the MIAA.
Scouting the Lopers
Outside hitter Emersen Cyza and middle blocker Bailee Sterling lead the offensive attack for the Lopers. Cyza leads the Lopers averaging 3.93 kills per set, which puts her second in the MIAA. Sterling averages 2.85 kills per set while having a .311 hitting percentage for the Lopers
Setter Peyton Neff also leads the Lopers. Neff averages 11.01 assists per set, which is second in the MIAA.
Scouting the Tigers.
Outside hitters Mykah Eshbaugh and Riley Tinder lead the offensive attack for the Tigers. Eshbaugh leads the Tigers in the kills per set category with 2.66 kills per set. Tinder leads the Tigers in overall kills with 265 on the season.
Libero Jaden Daffer and middle hitter Emily Ellis lead the defense for the Tigers. Daffer paces the Tigers in the digs category with 414 digs on the season, averaging 4.65 per set. Ellis leads the Tigers block party with 101 on the season, averaging 1.00 block per set.PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will make its final road trip of the regular season as the Gorillas travel to Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State this Thursday (Nov.3) and Friday (Nov. 4).
The road trip starts Thursday with the Gorillas battling No. 12 ranked UNK at Kearney, Neb., with a 6 p.m. (CDT) first serve n the Health & Sports Center. Pitt State then travels down the road to Hays, Kan., Friday to take on FHSU at 6 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Matchups
The Gorillas come into the mid week road trip with a 15-12 overall record and a 9-9 MIAA mark. The Gorillas clinched a spot in the upcoming MIAA Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Emporia State last Thursday (Oct. 27).
UNK comes into Thursday’s match with a 24-4 overall record, 14-5 MIAA mark and ranked No. 12 in the most recent AVCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Lopers, who dropped a 3-1 road decision to Northwest Missouri last Thursday, posted a 3-0 win against the Gorillas in the first meeting of the season on Oct. 7.
FHSU is 10-16 overall and 5-13 in MIAA play coming into Friday’s match. The Tigers dropped a 3-2 decision to NWMSU on Oct. 28 at Maryville, Mo. FHSU defeated Pitt State, 3-2, in the first match-up on the season on Oct. 8 in Pittsburg.
Scouting the Gorillas
The Gorillas are coming into the final two matches of the season behind the arms of outside hitter Meg Auten and right side hitter Janae Thurston. Auten leads the team in kills per set average with 3.28 kills per set. Thurston comes into Thursday’s match leading the team in kills with 272 on the season.
Setter Bre Richard leads the team in assists with 1,038 on the season. Richard averages 10.70 assists per set, which puts her at fourth in the MIAA leaderboard.
Libero Marissa Bates leads the way defensively for the Gorillas. Bates comes into Thursday’s match averaging 5.25 digs per set, which puts her at third in the MIAA.
Scouting the Lopers
Outside hitter Emersen Cyza and middle blocker Bailee Sterling lead the offensive attack for the Lopers. Cyza leads the Lopers averaging 3.93 kills per set, which puts her second in the MIAA. Sterling averages 2.85 kills per set while having a .311 hitting percentage for the Lopers
Setter Peyton Neff also leads the Lopers. Neff averages 11.01 assists per set, which is second in the MIAA.
Scouting the Tigers.
Outside hitters Mykah Eshbaugh and Riley Tinder lead the offensive attack for the Tigers. Eshbaugh leads the Tigers in the kills per set category with 2.66 kills per set. Tinder leads the Tigers in overall kills with 265 on the season.
Libero Jaden Daffer and middle hitter Emily Ellis lead the defense for the Tigers. Daffer paces the Tigers in the digs category with 414 digs on the season, averaging 4.65 per set. Ellis leads the Tigers block party with 101 on the season, averaging 1.00 block per set.
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