ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – This weekend the Griffon Volleyball team will head west for four matches in Colorado Springs. The Griffons will play two matches on Friday, starting at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. against Tarleton State and Adams State, respectively. On Saturday, the Griffons will play Texas Women's University at 10 a.m. and Eastern New Mexico at 3 p.m. 
 
Previewing the Griffons
The Griffons started last week by dropping two matches to Saginaw Valley State and Ferris State but rebounded quickly with two sweeps against Mercyhurst and Wisconsin-Parkside. Missouri Western welcomed four new faces to the lineup, including three freshmen and one transfer. Returners Jessie Thorup and Jordan Chohon picked up right where they left off the 2014 season. Thorup led the team with 45 kills, averaging three kills per set. Chohon led the team with 131 assists, tallying 8.73 per set and had two serves aces. Freshmen Shellby Taylor and Rachel Friedrichs added 30 kills and 23 kills, respectively.
 
Previewing Tarleton State
The Texanns will look to add to their perfect record at the Steel and Silver Classic. Tarleton recorded four victories at the Angelo State Tournament, beating each opponent handedly.  They earned sweeps against Texas-Permian Basin and Western New Mexico in San Angelo. The Texanns also earned a sweep against Howard Payne in a single match on Thursday. Hailey Roberts leads Tarleton in kills, racking up 100 and an average of 5.88 per set. Three other Texanns have at least 30 kills. Sophomore Chandler Gow leads the team with 173 assists, averaging 10.18 per set.
 
Previewing Adams State
Adams State is looking to earn its first victory of the season at the Steel and Silver Classic. The Grizzlies fell last weekend to Lubbock Christian, Dallas Baptist, #22 West Texas A&M, and Eastern New Mexico State. ASU has four players with over 30 kills in the early part of the season to lead the team. Junior Paitton Heltenberg has 43 kills and averages 3.07 kills per set. Maisy Munson and Katelyn Schwartz split time as the setter, tallying 74 and 60 assists respectively. Gabrielle Timmen is the team leader in digs with 35 and Savannah Smith has 28 on the season.
 
Previewing Texas Women's
Texas Women's University sports a record of 3-1 coming into the weekend. The Pioneers earned two sweeps last weekend, coming against Arkansas Tech and Arkansas-Monticello. Texas Women's University fell against UC-Colorado Springs 3-0 in their very first match of the season. Makayla Mayfield and Hilary Shaffer each average over three kills per game to lead the Pioneers.  Joey Redwine facilitates the offense with 137 assists on the season, averaging 10.54 per game. Mallory Kuechle leads the team in digs with 55 and Mayfield is second with 53.
 
 
Previewing Eastern New Mexico
Eastern New Mexico opened the season with a 2-2 weekend in Canyon, Texas. The Greyhounds dropped matches against Colorado State University-Pueblo and Dallas Baptist but claimed victories against Lubbock Christian University and Adams State. Defensively, Andrea Aguilar leads the team with 68 digs. Alexis Aguirre helps set up the offense with her 102 assists through four matches. The main attackers for the Greyhounds include Lauren Frye and Lawson each averaging over 2.50 kills per set.