ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — After a 1-1 homestand featuring a historic performance, Griffon Volleyball heads southeast to take on Central Missouri this Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Warrensburg, Missouri.

WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can watch all Griffon Volleyball (14-6, 7-4 MIAA) matches for a subscription fee on the MIAA Network.

NOTABLES

• Missouri Western's 3-0 win over Pittsburg State on Friday was the Griffons' first win in the rivalry since Sept. 24, 2021, breaking a three-game skid vs. the Gorillas.
• Leading MWSU with 206 kills, freshman outside hitter Holly Heldt is ninth in the league. Freshman right-side hitter Taylor Russell is 11th (190), senior middle hitter Danielle Moje is 16th (165) and sophomore middle hitter Emma Salker is 18th (150). Missouri Western has the most representation in the MIAA's top-20 kills list.
• Russell's 26 kills vs. then-No. 21 Central Oklahoma on Saturday are the most by any MIAA player this season and the second most in a single match in Griffon history.
• Junior setter Nessa Johnson is third in the MIAA with 699 assists. Her 10.28 assists per set rank third in the conference.
• Missouri Western is holding opponents to a .134 hitting percentage, the second-best mark in the MIAA.
• Opponents have only recorded 699 assists vs. MWSU, the third least in the conference.
• The Griffons have given up the fourth-least kills in the MIAA with 770 against them.
• With 103 blocks given up, the Griffons are the least-blocked team in the MIAA.
• Missouri Western has 1,280 digs, the third most in the league.
• Freshman libero Anna Weberg is second in the MIAA with 352 digs and is second with 5.18 per set. Heldt is 10th with 235 digs and 11th with 3.46 per set. Johnson is 12th at 222 digs and 16th at 3.25 per set.
• Junior middle hitter Lily Kurz is second in the MIAA With 74 blocks and is second with 11 solo blocks.
• Missouri Western is fifth in Division II with 18.82 digs per set.

10/17 - SCOUTING CENTRAL MISSOURI | 6 PM
The Griffons will meet the Jennies (12-7, 9-2 MIAA) for the second time this season. Now 5-1 at home at the Multipurpose Building, UCM has lost the last two matches on the road, falling 3-0 to then-No.9 Nebraska Kearney on Oct. 13 and 3-2 on Oct. 14 at Fort Hays State. This meeting with MWSU is a one-off home match for the Jennies. Central Missouri is currently receiving 30 votes in the AVCA Top-25 Poll.

Who to Watch
A serious game-changer for the UCM offense, senior outside hitter Kersti Nix will need to be stopped, as she is second in the MIAA with 271 kills. Senior outside hitter supplies the offense the most, leading the conference with 811 assists. Western hitters will need to avoid junior middle blocker Grace Southern, the third-best blocker in the MIAA with 72 this season.

Head Coach
Second-year Head Caitlin Peterson is 31-18 overall with UCM. She is 3-0 vs. MWSU and 1-0 vs. the Griffs in Warrensburg.

Rivalry Record Rabbit Hole
The Griffons are 7-82 all-time vs. UCM dating back to 1978, enduring an 11-match losing streak dating back to Sept. 1, 2018. Missouri Western's last win vs. its conference foe was a 3-0 final on Oct. 28, 2017. The Griffons are 2-31 in Warrensburg since 1986. 

Last Time Out
The Jennies took home a 3-0 win in the first meeting this season on Sept. 14 at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Nix led all players with 16 kills, and Johnson led the Griffons with 23 assists and 12 digs. 

ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON VOLLEYBALL HISTORY
Oct. 17 | Box Score
The 2014 Griffons endured a two-and-half-hour marathon with Emporia State on this day, battling their way to a 3-2 win in Emporia, Kansas. Erica Rottinghaus led everyone with 21 kills while collecting a double-double with 15 digs. Jordan Chohon had a match-high 60 assists, picking up her own double-double with 10 digs. Kelsey Olion rounded out the triple-threat attack with 13 kills and 15 digs.