ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Griffons begin their final road trip of the regular season this weekend, crossing over state borders to take on Fort Hays on Friday and Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.
Missouri Western (7-15, 4-10 MIAA) is currently 1-5 on the road this season. Sitting in ninth place right behind Missouri Southern, the Griffons need Northwest Missouri to beat Southern and a win over Fort Hays to keep pace for the MIAA Tournament.
With 75 blocks,
Lily Kurz is eighth in the MIAA, while
Danielle Moje is 16th in kills with 217.
Lia Graham is 10th in digs with 332.
10/21 - SCOUTING FORT HAYS
Currently seventh, Fort Hays (10-12, 5-9) is looking for revenge after MWSU beat the Tigers way back when on Sept. 24, 3-2. The Tigers are third as a team in total blocks with 184 and fourth in service aces with 134. Emily Ellis is fourth in the conference with 83 kills, while teammate Morgan Christiansen is seventh with 76.
The Griffons hold the advantage in the all-time series at 44-13. Fort Hays' last win is the rivalry came on Oct. 30, 2021, in 3-1 fashion in St. Joseph. Friday's match is set for 6 p.m. in Hays, Kansas, at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
10/22 - SCOUTING NO. 6 NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
The first-place Lopers (22-2, 12-2 MIAA) are currently No. 6 in the AVCA Coaches Poll and No. 1 in hitting percentage, topping the charts with a 27.3% mark. Nebraska-Kearney also has the most service aces in the MIAA with 150. Fallon Stuheit owns the conference's best hitting percentage at 38.9, while teammate Emersen Cyza is third with 309 kills and 330 points. Lexi Stephens is dangerous at the service line, collecting the fifth-most aces so far this season with 31.
With UNK winning the first matchup in four sets on Sept. 23 in St. Joseph, the Lopers lead the all-time series, 43-14-1. The Lopers have an eight-game winning streak vs. the Griffons dating back to Sept. 28, 2018, which is tied for their longest streak in the series. When these two teams last played, MWSU took set two, 25-23, but lost sets one and four by just two points each to then No. 7 UNK. Saturday's showdown is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Kearney, Nebraska, at the Health & Sports Center.
ON THIS DATE IN GRIFFON VOLLEYBALL HISTORY: 10/21 & 10/22
Back in 2011, he Griffons went the distance with Pitt State, ultimately winning thanks to a 26-kill night from Shelby Corkill. Her performance that evening tied her for second most in a match overall and a five-set match in Griffon history.
That same season on Saturday, Oct. 22, the Griffons followed up their win over Pitt with a four-set victory over Southwest Baptist. Corkill went off for 16 kills and was flanked by Tahler johnston's 14-kill night. Stephanie Hattey led the Griffons with 38 assists.
