VOLLEYBALL SEASON STATS (PDF)

The No. 11-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team (9-1 overall, 2-0 MIAA) will continue MIAA play on the road this week with matchups at Pittsburg State and at Missouri Southern.
 
The Bearcats will take on Pittsburg State Friday at 6 p.m. and then will match up against Missouri Southern Saturday at 1 p.m. The Gorillas are 7-3 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play, while Missouri Southern is 7-4 overall and 1-1 in league action.
 
Fri., Sept. 27
6 p.m., #11 Northwest at Pittsburg State – LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Sat., Sept. 28
1 p.m., #11 Northwest at Missouri Southern – LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Northwest is 2-0 in league play after capturing victories over Missouri Western (3-2) and at No. 12-ranked Central Missouri (3-1). Northwest is tied atop the MIAA standings with Nebraska-Kearney and Pittsburg State.
 
Northwest rose to No. 11 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll. It is the highest ranking in the program's history. The previous best of No. 15 came last week. It marks the 12th time in program history that Northwest has been ranked in the AVCA top 25.

Northwest in AVCA Top 25
Sept. 19, 2016 – No. 22
Sept. 26, 2016 – No. 20
Oct. 3, 2016 – No. 18
Oct. 10, 2016 – No. 17
Oct. 17, 2016 – No. 17
Oct. 24, 2016 – No. 16
Oct. 31, 2016 – No. 21
Nov. 7, 2016 – No. 25
Nov. 14, 2016 – No. 25
Sept. 9, 2019 – No. 18
Sept. 16, 2019 – No. 15
Sept. 23, 2019 – No. 11
 
Northwest is 4-0 in matches this season against ranked opponents. The Bearcats scored a 3-1 win at No. 12-ranked Central Missouri this past Saturday. Northwest knocked off No. 7-ranked Northern State in four sets at the Drury Invitational. Northwest began the season by defeating No. 23 Central Washington (3-0) and No. 18 Drury (3-2) at the Washburn Invitational.
 
Northwest vs. Ranked Foes in 2019
W, 3-0 vs. #23 Central Washington (Sept. 6)
W, 3-2 vs. #18 Drury (Sept. 7)
W, 3-1 vs. #7 Northern State (Sept. 13)
W, 3-1 at #12 Central Missouri (Sept. 21)
 
Northwest Opponents Ranked in This Week's AVCA Top 25
#3 Nebraska-Kearney (Oct. 5, Nov. 1)
#5 Washburn (Oct. 19, Nov. 15)
#8 Northern State (W, 3-1)
#14 Central Missouri (W, 3-1; Oct. 15)
 
Junior Hallie Sidney (Chesterfield, Missouri) is a two-time MIAA hitter of the week selection this season. Sidney ranks No. 7 in the nation with 173 kills and she leads the MIAA in kills per set (4.22). Sidney has posted three consecutive 20-plus kill performances entering this weekend's action. Sidney notched a season-best 23 kills in Northwest's 3-2 win over Missouri Western (Sept. 18). Sidney has recorded at least nine kills in every match in 2019. Sidney was named to the all-tournament teams at the Drury Invitational and the Washburn Invitational.
 
Junior Maddy Ahrens (Appleton, Wisconsin) has twice been honored at the MIAA's specialist of the week in 2019. Ahrens leads the squad in assists (434) and service aces (14). Ahrens ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in assists per set (10.59) entering this weekend's set of matches. Ahrens recorded a season-best 58 assists in Northwest's 3-2 victory over Missouri Western (Sept. 18). Ahrens ranks No. 10 in Northwest history with 2,015 career assists. Ahrens earned all-tournament team honors at the Washburn Invitational.
 
Sophomore Bethany Elkins (Belton, Missouri) is leading the MIAA in hitting percentage (.373). Elkins is tops on the Bearcats in blocks (39). Elkins has 116 kills (2.83 kills/set) this season. Elkins registered a career-high nine blocks in Northwest's 3-1 win at No. 12-ranked Central Missouri (Sept. 21). Elkins tallied a career-high 24 kills and hit .526 in Northwest's 3-2 win over Truman State. Elkins has seven double-figure kill performances this season after posting two in 2018.
 
Junior Morgan Lewis (Overland Park, Kansas) ranks second on the team in blocks (30) and kills (105). Lewis possesses a .308 hitting percentage. Lewis has posted five double-figure kill totals in 2019. Lewis was named to the all-tournament team at the Drury Invitational.
 
Sophomore transfer Hannah Koechl (Innsbruck, Austria/Boise State) leads the team with 127 digs (3.10 digs/set). Koechl has posted three consecutive 20-plus dig efforts entering this weekend's set of matches against Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern. Koechl had 23 digs vs. Truman State, 23 digs vs. Missouri Western and a season-high 26 digs vs. Central Missouri.
 
Northwest is 3-0 in three-set matches this season. Northwest was a perfect 20-0 in three-set matches in 2018.
 
The Bearcats at 3-1 in five-set matches in 2019.
 
For the sixth consecutive year and 13th time overall, the Bearcat volleyball team earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. Northwest also tallied the AVCA Team Academic Award Honor Roll for the third straight year with a GPA ranked among the top-25 NCAA Division II schools. The Bearcat volleyball team recorded a 3.75 cumulative team grade point average during the 2018-19 season under the direction of head coach Amy Woerth. Northwest is one of 141 NCAA Division II schools to gain the AVCA Team Academic Award this year.
 
Eighth-year head coach Amy Woerth is looking to guide the Bearcats to an improvement in the MIAA standings for the seventh straight season. Woerth, who was named the 2018 MIAA Coach of the Year, and the Bearcats set a program record with 14 MIAA wins in 2018.
 
2013 – 9^th, 6-10 in MIAA
2014 – 7^th, 8-14 in MIAA
2015 – 7^th, 8-10 in MIAA
2016 – 6^th, 10-8 in MIAA
2017 – 5^th, 11-7 in MIAA
2018 – 4^th, 14-4 MIAA
 
Woerth ranks No. 3 in Bearcat coaching history with 123 career victories, trailing only Sarah Pelster (1991-2002) with 199 wins and Pam Stanek (1977-1981) with 176 triumphs.
 
The Bearcats registered 22 wins last season, their 15th 20-win campaign in program history. Northwest will be looking for back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1999. The Bearcats had 25 wins in 1999 after notching 21 wins in 1998.