ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Volleyball's memorable 2014 regular season will come full circle when the team travels to Warrensburg to take on No. 17 Central Missouri. Missouri Western played its first home and MIAA match this season against the Jennies, falling 3-0. Since then, the Griffons have set a new program mark for MIAA wins (16) and have won more matches than any MWSU team since 1998. Erica Rottinghaus and Sarah Faubel have been named CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team as the first of what is sure to be a bevy of postseason honors for the team. 

The goal the Griffons have their eye on is the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003. To have a chance at making the field, MWSU will have to knock off the 17th ranked team in the nation. Central Missouri leads the MIAA and sits third in the latest central region poll. Missouri Western is currently on the outside looking in at the regional picture, not cracking the top-10. To make the posteseason, Missouri Western will likely have to move up to seventh in the region. 

The Griffons are led on the attack by Jessie Thorup. The junior leads the team in kills (387) and points (436). She sits second on the squad with a .287 hitting percentage. Not far behind Thorup, is Rottinghaus. The senior from Seneca, Kanasas has 381 kills and is hitting .273. Rottinghaus has also helped on the defensive end, with 57 total blocks and she ranks second on the team with 271 digs. Amanda Boender leads the team with her .291 hitting percentage and 112 total blocks. Kelsey Olion has kept opponents on their toes, chipping in 258 kills and leading the team with 27 service aces. 

All those kills have to start somewhere and they usually begin with Missouri Western's career digs leader, Sarah Faubel. The senior libero leads the Griffons with 409 digs, averaging nearly four per set. Jordan Chohon leads all MIAA setters with 1,263 assists, averaging almost 12 per set. Along with Boender in the middle, is Lindsey Partridge. The junior has added 133 kills and is second on the team with 77 total blocks.

The Griffons face a Jennies squad led by Carly Sojka's 413 kills. Kourtney Thompson averages close to 11 assists per set and Annie Riley's 578 digs are the most on the team. The Jennies are hitting .211 and holding oppoents to a .140 average. Should MWSU pull off the upset, it would be the first time Missouri Wetern has downed the Jennies since Sept. 16, 2005 in Warrensburg.