ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Volleyball hosts Emporia State and Central Oklahoma in the final home weekend of the season, as the final leg of the MIAA Tournament race kicks off. 

Danielle Moje leads the Griffons in kills this season with 263, good for 15th in the conference. Meanwhile, Nessa Johnson is the leader in assists for the Griffons, tallying 743 for the season and 1,005 in her career. Her season total puts her in eighth in the MIAA. 

Lily Kurz has been a force at the net, blocking 86 attacks, placing her in sixth in the conference. Lia Graham's 356 digs is good for the top ten in the MIAA as well, as she sits in ninth. 

Last time out, the Griffons scored a crucial win at Newman. The win put the Griffons in the driver's seat for the last spot in the MIAA tournament, giving them a full game lead over Fort Hays State University. Moje teamed up with Katherine White to tally 29 kills, while Graham served up four aces. Both Moje and Kurz also finished with four blocks. 

11/4 - SCOUTING EMPORIA STATE
The Hornets (4-23, 1-17 MIAA) are led by Leah Mach, whose 252 kills puts her right behind Moje in 16th in the conference. Shelby Ebert's 43 aces is best in the conference, and Megan Stretton has tallied up the 10th most digs in the MIAA with 367. 

Emporia State currently sits bottom of the MIAA, with its loan win of the conference season coming against Fort Hays State in Emporia in September. The win against the Tigers also marks the only time the Hornets have taken more than one set off MIAA opposition. 

The all-time series favors the Griffons, with MWSU winning 49, ESU winning 39 and the teams battling to a stalemate once. The last ten games have been fairly even, with the Griffons winning six and the Hornets taking four. Interestingly, the Griffons are only 12-14 at home vs. ESU since 1989, the year that location for games began being tracked. 

First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday

11/5 - SCOUTING NO. 17 WASHBURN
The Ichabods  (20-6, 12-6 MIAA) come to Looney ranked No. 17 in the nation. Washburn has comfortably qualified for the MIAA tournament, currently sitting in fifth in the conference. Four of the Ichabods' six losses have comwe against ranked opposition, with the other two coming against the Lions of Missouri Southern. 

The series history between the Griffons and Ichabods is nearly even, with MWSU taking 44 and WU taking 42. The Ichabods have won the last six matches and eight of the last ten meetings. Washburn in 15-14 in Looney.

Washburn is led by Halle Meister, who boasts the best hitting percentage in the conference at 36.2%. Jalyn Stevenson has the seventh most kills in the conference, and Kassidy Pfeiffer is seventh in the MIAA with 78 blocks. First serve is at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

SENIOR DAY
Be sure to come out on Saturday and help celebrate Griffon Volleyball's seven seniors in their final match at the MWSU Fieldhouse: Karly Tharp; Carlie Burandt; Chloe Earwood; Jessica Sachen; Zari Montgomery; Katherine White; and Emilee McGowan.

ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON VOLLEYBALL HISTORY: NOV. 4 & AND NOV. 5
In 2004, Nov. 4 was a good day for the Griffons, as they took down Rockhurst University. In 2004, teams still played by reaching 30 points, so the final score was 3-1 Griffons, with set scores of 30-23, 30-26, 25-30 and 30-27.

Amidst a 25-8, 12-3 MIAA season for Griffon Volleyball in 1997, Missouri Western swept Northwest Missouri to begin the MIAA Tournament.