ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – No. 10 Griffon Volleyball returns to the MWSU Fieldhouse this weekend for its second straight home tournament, hosting the Holiday Inn Express Griffon Volleyball Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11-12.

MoWest enters the weekend with a 7-1 record and will play three matches over the two-day event. The Griffons open Friday against Arkansas Tech at 10:30 a.m. before returning to the floor at 6 p.m. against Illinois Springfield. MoWest closes the weekend Saturday at 5 p.m. against McKendree.

The five-team invitational also features Central Missouri, with eight total matches scheduled throughout the weekend at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Match times are approximate, with each match guaranteed a 30-minute warm-up period following the completion of the previous contest.

Last Time Out

The Griffons finished last week's Fairfield Inn Griffon Volleyball Classic with a 3-1 record, picking up victories over No. 10 Southwest Minnesota State, Northern State and Oklahoma Christian before suffering their first loss of the season in five sets against Rockhurst.

MoWest battled back from a two-set deficit against Rockhurst, winning the third and fourth sets by identical 25-17 scores before falling 15-12 in the fifth. Tanith Roush led the Griffons with 18 kills, while Taylor Russell and Noelle Sutcliffe each added 13. Anna Weberg recorded a season-high 30 digs, and Katelyn Diani-O'Day finished with 27 assists and three service aces.

The Griffons' 7-0 start prior to the Rockhurst match marked the program's best start to a season since 2002.

Home Court Stretch

This weekend continues an extended stretch at the MWSU Fieldhouse for Griffon Volleyball. After opening the season with four matches in Daytona Beach, Florida, MoWest has played each of its matches in St. Joseph since returning home.

The Griffons will remain home following the invitational as MIAA play gets underway next weekend.

Holiday Inn Express Griffon Volleyball Invitational

Friday, Sept. 11
10:30 a.m. – MoWest vs. Arkansas Tech
1 p.m. – Central Missouri vs. Illinois Springfield
3:30 p.m. – McKendree vs. Arkansas Tech
6 p.m. – MoWest vs. Illinois Springfield

Saturday, Sept. 12
9:30 a.m. – Central Missouri vs. Arkansas Tech
12 p.m. – Central Missouri vs. McKendree
2:30 p.m. – Illinois Springfield vs. Arkansas Tech
5 p.m. – MoWest vs. McKendree

What's Next

MoWest opens conference action Friday, Sept. 18 against Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Griffons then host Newman on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m.

The home stretch continues Sept. 25 when Northwest Missouri State visits St. Joseph for a 6 p.m. first serve.