ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Ending a five-match homestand, Griffon Volleyball wraps up their opening run at the Looney Complex on Tuesday at 6 p.m. vs. non-conference opponent William Jewell inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.
TICKETS + WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can watch all Griffon Volleyball home matches for a subscription fee on the MIAA Network. Director of Athletic Communications Derek Zimmerman-Guyer will call the action, with the preshow starting 20 minutes before the first serve. Game admission and parking tickets are available in the "Tickets" tab.
NOTABLES
- Missouri Western is holding opponents to a .136 hitting percentage, the second-best mark in the MIAA.
- The Griffons are third in the conference with only 419 assists allowed this fall.
- As for kills, MWSU only allows 11.32 per set, the third least in the league. Their 464 kills given up rank the Griffs second.
- With 58 blocks allotted, the Griffons are the least-blocked team in the MIAA.
- Missouri Western's 19.15 digs per set is second in the MIAA.
- Leading MWSU with 114 kills, freshman outside hitter Holly Heldt is 13th in the league. Senior middle hitter Danielle Moje is 15th (106), freshman right-side hitter Taylor Russell is 17th (100) and sophomore middle hitter Emma Salker is 19th (88). Missouri Western has the most representation in the MIAA's top-20 kills list.
- Moje's hitting percentage of .297 ranks 11th in the MIAA. Junior middle hitter Lily Kurz is 16th at .261.
- Junior setter Nessa Johnson ranks fourth in the MIAA with 406 assists and third in assists per set with 9.90.
- Johnson is also eighth in the league with 15 service aces.
- Kurz is fourth with 42 total blocks. Her nine solo blocks are tied for first in the MIAA.
- Freshman libero Anna Weberg is second in the MIAA with 214 digs and 5.22 per set. Heldt is ninth with 153 digs and 3.73 per set. Johnson is 13th at 136 digs and 3.32 per set.
- Heldt leads the Griffs in total points with 131.5, good for 14th in the MIAA and for 13th with 3.21 per set. Moje is 17th with 122.5 points and 18th at 2.99 per set, and Russell is 20th at 111 and 16th at 3.08 per set.
9/25 - SCOUTING WILLIAM JEWELL (6-7, 1-1 GLVC) | 6 PM
The Cardinals are a mixed bag this season, riding a two-game losing streak into Tuesday night. William Jewell lost 3-0 last Tuesday to Missouri Southern in Liberty, Missouri, following up with another sweeping defeat to No. 5 Missouri-St. Louis on Sept. 22 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Jewell has also played two other MIAA schools this season, losing 3-0 to Emporia State on Sept. 1 and 3-0 to No. 13 Northwest Missouri State the very next day. However, Jewell beat No. 25 Harding 3-1 on Sept. 9 at the Washburn Invitational, one day removed from MWSU sweeping the Bisons. The Cardinals are 4-2 on the road this season.
Who to Watch
Junior outside hitter Bella LaPorta is a problem for opposing defenses, ripping off a team-high 193 kills, good for third in the GLVC. Her 4.49 kills per set also rank third in the conference. LaPorta is also fourth in the GLVC with 210.5 points. Junior setter Samantha Thompson can cause trouble behind the service line, notching 23 aces so far this season to rank third in the GLVC.
Thompson is also ninth in the conference with 263 assists. A brute up front, sophomore middle blocker Alex Dvorak is ninth in the GLVC with 39 blocks.
Have We Met Before?
Tuesday night's match marks just the fifth time MWSU and Jewell will meet since the turn of the century. Dating back to 1977, the Griffs are 17-1 vs. the Cards, winning the first 17 matchups. Jewell claimed its first win over MWSU in the last outing, winning 3-0 on Nov. 5, 2019, in Liberty. The Griffons are 3-0 at home vs. Jewell since 1986.
Head Coach
Samantha Williams was named the interim head coach for Jewell on August 7 this year, taking over for eight-year Head Coach Carolyn Beck. Williams started at Jewell as an assistant coach in 2021. Prior to that, she was the head coach for Park Hill South High School from 2015-21.
FACULTY & STAFF APPRECIATION NIGHT
Griffon Volleyball student-athletes will celebrate their favorite faculty and staff members at Missouri Western on Tuesday night. The team will also sign and hand out team pictures that will be available inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.
ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON VOLLEYBALL HISTORY
Sept. 26 | Box Score | Video Recap
The 2017 Griffons started a four-match winning streak on this day, cleaning up Northwest Missouri State in straight sets. Lauren Murphy had a typical Lauren Murphy night, tallying 42 assists. She fed Stephanie Doak the most, who dominated Northwest with 14 kills. Kayla Ruff led all players with 15 digs.
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