ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Before they head home, Griffon Volleyball takes on Missouri Southern in an MIAA affair for the second time this season on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Joplin, Missouri, at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

TICKETS + WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can watch all Griffon Volleyball matches for a subscription fee on the MIAA Network.

NOTABLES

• Missouri Western is holding opponents to a .138 hitting percentage, the best mark in the MIAA.
• Opponents have only recorded 599 assists vs. MWSU, the third least in the conference.
• The Griffons have given up the second-least kills in the MIAA with 654 against them.
• With 86 blocks given up, the Griffons are the second-least-blocked team in the MIAA.
• Missouri Western has 1,084 digs, the third most in the league.
• Leading MWSU with 174 kills, freshman outside hitter Holly Heldt is eighth in the league. Freshman right-side hitter Taylor Russell is 14th (149), senior middle hitter Danielle Moje is 16th (144) and sophomore middle hitter Emma Salker is 20th (119). Missouri Western has the most representation in the MIAA's top-20 kills list.
• Junior setter Nessa Johnson is third in the MIAA with 589 assists. Her 10.33 assists per set rank second in the conference.
• Freshman libero Anna Weberg is third in the MIAA with 292 digs and is second with 5.12 per set. Heldt is 10th with 201 digs and 11th with 3.53 per set. Johnson is 14th at 184 digs and 13th at 3.23 per set.
• Junior middle hitter Lily Kurz is third in the MIAA With 63 blocks and second with nine solo blocks.
• At 12-5 overall, MWSU has surpassed its 11-18 record from last season. The Griffons are 5-3 in the MIAA, going 8-12 in conference play a year ago.
• Missouri Western went 3-1 on its most recent road trip, ending a five-match winning streak with a 3-0 loss to No. 9 Nebraska Kearney on Oct. 6. At one point in the winning streak, the Griffs won 14 sets in a row.
• Tuesday's game at MSSU will be Pink Night for the Lions in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

10/10 - SCOUTING MISSOURI SOUTHERN | 6 PM
Now 6-1 at home, Missouri Southern (11-6, 4-4 MIAA) sits behind Missouri Western in sixth place in the conference standings. The Lions are fresh off a 3-0 win over Newman on Oct. 6 in Joplin, snapping a two-game skid where they lost 3-1 at then-No. 21 Central Oklahoma and 3-0 at Central Missouri. Southern's only home loss was on Sept. 22, a 3-1 loss to then-No. 13 Washburn.

Who to Watch
Senior outside hitter Fernanda Canedo is a force for MSSU with 208 kills, the fourth most in the MIAA. Junior middle blocker Amelia Neels and sophomore libero Kyla Randall are no joke behind the service line, tallying 23 aces apiece to tie for fourth in the league. Sophomore defensive specialist Tori Hamilton will be tough to sneak attacks by, as she is seventh in the MIAA with 240 digs. 

Head Coach
In her sixth season with Southern, Kalie Mader is 50-104 overall. Since 2018, she is 2-7 vs. MWSU and 2-2 when the Griffons visit Joplin.

Rivalry Record Rabbit Hole
The Griffons are historically superb vs. the Lions, holding a 69-29-1 record in the series dating back to 1976. Missouri Western is 8-2 in the last 10 outings vs. MSSU,

Last Time Out
The Griffons earned their first home and MIAA wins of the season in this fall's first matchup back on Sept. 16 at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Canedo sent a charge throughout St. Joseph with 18 kills, but Heldt matched her with 18 kills of her own along with 22 digs. Accompanied by 54 assists and 18 digs by Johnson, the Griffons won in four sets thanks to a match-ending kill by Russell, her 12th of the afternoon.

ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON VOLLEYBALL HISTORY
Oct. 10 | Box Score
On their way to a 22-8 season, the 2014 Griffons secured their eighth-straight win on this day in a strong showing at Fort Hays State in Hays, Kansas. Jessie Thorup was unstoppable on this day, leading all players with 25 kills and 26 points. Jordan Chohon was Thorup's favorite teammate, as Chohon put together a double-double with 58 assists and 10 digs. Sarah Faubel led the defensive effort with 20 digs, and Lindsey Partridge chipped in three blocks.