MATCH PREVIEW
MWSU FIELDHOUSE - ST. JOSEPH, Mo.
Friday, Oct. 2, 6 p.m. - Missouri Western (10-3, 2-0 MIAA) vs. #14 Central Oklahoma (13-1, 2-0 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2 p.m. - Missouri Western vs. Pittsburg State (0-13, 0-2 MIAA)
 

LINKS
Tickets | Live Stats | MWSU Season Stats | MIAA Standings

ST. JOSEPH - Griffon Volleyball returns home and returns to MIAA play this weekend when the team hosts No. 14 Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State. 

The Griffon saw their longest win streak since 1995 (10 games) snapped Tuesday night in a 3-0 loss at Missouri S&T. Senior outside hitter Jessie Thorup eclipsed 1,000 career kills in the match. Despite the loss, the team is still tied atop the MIAA standings at 2-0 in league play. Central Oklahoma is also unblemished in MIAA play and has won seven in a row. It will be the second time this season MWSU has faced a ranked opponent (lost at #18 Ferris State). Pittsburg State is looking for its first win of the season. The last time out, the Gorillas pushed then No. 6 Central Missouri to five sets. 

It will be fans' last chance to catch the Griffons in the Fieldhouse for a little while. The team will host one match on Oct. 10, then hit the road until Oct. 30. 

MISSOURI WESTERN NOTABLES

• Team lost 10-game win streak Tuesday at Missouri S&T (3-0)
• Received votes in this week's AVCA poll
• Tuesday was first three-set loss for team this season
• Jessie Thorup reached 1,000 career kills Tuesday night (1,002)
• Thorup 4^th in MIAA (3.72 kills/set)
• Jordan Chohon 4^th in MIAA (10.3 assists/set)
• Two individuals in top-7 in MIAA blocks (Rachel Friedrichs, 6^th .93/set; Lindsey Partridge, 7^th, .92/set)
• Kayla Ruff's 4.5 digs/set rank 7^th in MIAA
• Team ranks 4^th in MIAA hitting percentage (.216); 2^nd in opponent hitting percentage (.127)
• Griffons allowing 5^th fewest kills per set in MIAA (11.35)
• Rank 4^th in MIAA in blocks/set (1.96); 4^th in opponent blocks/set (1.67)

 
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA NOTABLES

• Ranked No. 14 in latest AVCA Poll
• Won 7 in a row
• Have not played a five-set match
• Lead MIAA in hitting percentage (.296)
• 3 of top-5 individual hitting percentages in MIAA (Allison Barr, 1^st, .394; Jordan Spence, 2^nd, .373; Taylor Bevis, 5^th, .335)
• Barbara Jackson 3^rd in MIAA in kills/set (3.72)
• Whitney Gifford leads MIAA in digs (262, 5.57/set)
• Katy Davis 3^rd in assists (521, 11.09/set)
• Spence 3^rd in blocks (55, 1.12/set)

 
PITTSBURG STATE NOTABLES

• Winless coming into weekend (Play at Northwest Missouri Friday night)
• Played first five-set match last Saturday (3-2 loss to No. 6 Central Missouri)
• Team hitting percentage .131 (10^th MIAA); opponent hitting percentage .253 (11^th MIAA)
• Lana DaSilva and Maggie Highberger have team-high 84 kills
• Lauren Reiger's 1.86 kills/set lead team
• Two players over 200 assists (Hayley Hansford-226; Taylyn Schwartz-207)
• Schwartz leads team with 204 digs
• DaSilva leads team with 34 blocks (.72/set)