2018 JET CLASSIC - WICHITA, KANSAS
Friday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. vs Arkansas Fort Smith (6-3)
Saturday, Sept. 8, 12 p.m. at Newman (1-4)
Saturday, Sept. 8, 4 p.m. vs St. Edward's (6-2)
 
ST. JOSEPH - After returning from the Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver last weekend, No. 25 Missouri Western Volleyball (5-3) will hit the road again as they travel to Newman University for the 2018 Jet Classic.
 
The Griffons will be coming off a weekend in which they faced some of the best teams in the country. The Griffons played four matches at the Colorado Premier Challenge, going 1-1 in pool play before dropping the next two matches on day two. Going 1-1 in pool play won the pool for the Griffons, landing them in the Gold Bracket for day two. All three of the Griffons' losses over the weekend came against teams ranked top-14 in the country. Missouri Western opened the elite event with a loss at No. 10 Regis before sweeping an Angelo State team that is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State knocked the Griffons into a third place match where Missouri Western was pitted against a conference rival.
 
The Griffons were ahead 2-0 against No. 14 Central Missouri, before the Jennies answered by winning the final three sets to complete the comeback. Stephanie Doak led the Griffons in kills at the tournament, totaling 59 over the weekend. Lauren Murphy dished out 164 assists and Ali Tauchen recorded 48 kills and 40 digs.
 
The Griffons enter week three of the season hitting .247 as a team, good for sixth in the MIAA. Missouri Western's 13.3 kills per set are the fifth most in the MIAA as is the team's 12.48 assists per set. Lauren Murphy leads the MIAA with 11.54 assists per set, almost a full assist per set more than anyone else in the conference. In her first season as the team's libero, Audrey Keim is second in the MIAA with 4.98 digs per set. Stephanie Doak sits fourth in the MIAA, averaging 3.78 kills per set. Rachel Losch's .360 hitting percentage is fifth best in the MIAA.
 
ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH
The Lions come into Wichita at 6-3 on the season after going 2-2 last wee at the Dixie State/Desert Garden Inn by Wyndham Volleyball Classic. UAFS picked up wins over Adams State and Dixie State, but lost in four to Western New Mexico and in five to No. 18 Tarleton State. The Griffons and Lions have one common opponent so far this season: Angelo State which swept UAFS on Aug. 25. UAFS has averaged 12.6 kills per set and has hit .201 as a team. Anna Demmer leads the team with 3.65 kills per set. Taylor Stoops averages 9.17 assists per set. Debra Rogers is averaging 1.06 blocks per set and Pilar Onstad leads the team with 4.16 digs per set.
 
NEWMAN
The host of the 2018 Jet Classic is 1-4 on the season. Newman has yet to play any common opponents of the Griffons, but will open its tournament with Central Missouri. The Jets were swept to close out the Rosella Meier UNK Fall Classic by new No. 1 Nebraska Kearney. Newman has hit .071 as a team and is averaging 9.3 kills per set. Hailey Braddy averages 2.83 kills per set and Sophia Helsing averages 2.67.
 
ST. EDWARD'S
The Hilltoppers are 6-2 on the season after going 4-0 at their own Hilltopper Classic last week. Eastern New Mexico was the only team to take a set off the host. St. Edward's is hitting .193 as a team and averaged 12.1 kills per set. The Hilltoppers average 2.4 blocks per set, led by Nicole Peters with 1.53 blocks per set. Kerstynn Grobe averages 1.2 blocks per set. Alex McAndrew leads the offense, averaging 3.56 kills per set. No other Hilltopper is averaging more than 2.5 kills per set.