Tuesday, Oct. 26
No. 3 Northwest Missouri State at No. 2 Central Missouri, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Friday, Oct. 29
Fort Hays State at No. 3 Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, Oct. 30
No. 15 Nebraska-Kearney at No. 3 Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
The No. 3-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team will embark on a busy week of MIAA action beginning Tuesday in Warrensburg, Mo., with a top-three matchup with the No. 2-ranked Central Missouri Jennies.
 
Northwest (18-2 overall, 11-1 MIAA) will take an 11-match win streak in the UCM Multipurpose Building against Central Missouri (19-2 overall, 12-1 MIAA). The Jennies enter Tuesday in the midst of a nine-match winning streak.
 
Northwest will then entertain Fort Hays State (Friday, 6 p.m.) and Nebraska-Kearney (Saturday, 6 p.m.) in Bearcat Arena. It will mark the first matches this season on Bearcat Arena after Northwest played its first five home matches in the Hughes Fieldhouse. Friday's match will feature a $5 admission. Saturday's match will be free for all attendees following the football game vs. Nebraska-Kearney. Northwest students receive free admission to all regular season home matches.
 
Central Missouri holds a 101-12-1 lead in the all-time series vs. Northwest. UCM has won seven of the last 11 meetings between the two schools. UCM scored a 3-0 win over Northwest in Hughes Fieldhouse on Sept. 17.
 
The Bearcats own a 21-8-1 record against the Fort Hays State Tigers in the all-time series. Northwest has won each of the last seven encounters, including a 3-0 sweep of the Tigers in Hays, Kan., on Sept. 29.
 
No. 15-ranked Nebraska-Kearney holds a 20-4 lead in the all-time series with Northwest. Northwest snapped a 14-match losing skid against UNK with a 3-2 win in Kearney, Neb., on Oct. 1. It marked Northwest's first win in Kearney in program history.
 
The Bearcats begin the week 1/2 game out of first place in the MIAA standings. Central Missouri is on top of the league standings at 12-1. Northwest follows at 11-1. Washburn holds down the third spot in the league ledger at 11-2.  is 10-1 in league play and Washburn holds down the top stop in the MIAA standings at 11-1.
 
Northwest's 11 MIAA wins are the third-most league wins in program history. Each of the last five seasons has produced the most MIAA wins in program history. Northwest's 2018 squad set the school record with 14 MIAA victories.
 
Northwest's MIAA Wins – Single Season
1. 14 – 2018
2. 13 – 2019
3. 11 – 2017
    11 – 2021
5. 10 – 1999
    10 – 2010
    10 – 2016
7. 8 – 2011
    8 – 2014
    8 – 2015
 
Northwest's 11-match winning streak ranks as the fourth-longest streak in school history. The Bearcats set the school record for longest winning streak in the 1980 season with a 23-match streak. Northwest had a pair of 15-match winning streaks in the 1984 and 2016 seasons.
 
Northwest's Longest Winning Streaks
1. 23 (Sept. 12, 1980 – Oct. 7, 1980)
2. 15 (Sept. 7, 1984 – Sept. 21, 1984)
    15 (Sept. 2, 2016 – Sept. 30, 2016)
4. 11 (Sept. 18, 2021 – pres.)
5. 9 (Oct. 3, 1984 – Oct. 12, 1984)
    9 (Sept. 16, 1994 – Oct. 1, 1994)
    9 (Sept. 7, 2018 – Sept. 28, 2018)
8. 8 (Oct. 25, 1980 – Nov. 1, 1980)
    8 (Sept. 12, 1981 – Sept. 25, 1981)
    8 (Oct. 3, 1981 – Oct. 16, 1981)

The Bearcats are ranked No. 5 in the country in kills per set (14.64). Northwest is also ranked No. 8 in the nation in assists per set (13.45).
 
The first set result has not been a tell-tale sign for the Bearcat volleyball team this season. Northwest has dropped the first set eight times, but has gone on to win seven of the eight matches. Northwest is 11-1 when winning the initial set.
 
The Bearcats are a perfect 4-0 in five-set matches this season.
 
Most Five-Set Wins – Single-Season
1. – 1990 – 7 (7-1)
2. – 1998 – 6 (6-2)
       2019 – 6 (6-2)
3. – 1997 – 5 (5-4)
       2005 – 5 (5-2)
       2016 – 5 (5-5)
 
Northwest has been perfect on the road this season putting together an 8-0 mark. The Bearcats have produced a record of 14-1 in road/neutral matches this year.
 
Most Road Wins – Single-Season
1. - 1994 - 10
2. - 1980 - 9
3. - 1999 - 8
      2018 - 8
      2021 – 8
5. - 2019 – 7
6. - 2005 - 6
       2016 - 6
       2017 – 6
10. - 1993 - 5
       1997 - 5
       1998 – 5
 
Road/Neutral Records in Amy Woerth Coaching Era
2021 – 14-1
2019 – 15-5
2018 – 15-5
2017 – 11-12
2016 – 13-4
2015 – 10-10
2014 – 6-12
2013 – 9-13
 
The Bearcats achieved the highest ranking in program history at No. 3 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches' Association Division II Top 25 rankings. It marks the 31st time in program history that Northwest has been ranked in the AVCA Top 25. Northwest also received a first-place vote for the second consecutive week.

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
Sept. 30, 2019 – No. 10
Oct. 7, 2019 – No. 10
Oct. 14, 2019 – No. 14
Oct. 21, 2019 – No. 14
Oct. 28, 2019 – No. 14
Nov. 4, 2019 – No. 14
Nov. 11, 2019 – No. 19
Nov. 18, 2019 – No. 20
Nov. 25, 2019 – No. 21
Dec. 16, 2019 – No. 25
2021 Preseason – No. 17
Sept. 6, 2021 – No. 8
Sept. 13, 2021 – No. 12
Sept. 20, 2021 – No. 13
Sept. 27, 2021 – No. 13
Oct. 4, 2021 – No. 10
Oct. 11, 2021 – No. 9
Oct. 18, 2021 – No. 6
Oct. 25, 2021 – No. 3
 
The Bearcats have recorded three wins this year over top-10 ranked opponents. Northwest posted the program's first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked foe when the Bearcats took down the top-ranked Washburn Ichabods in five sets on Oct. 15 in the Hughes Fieldhouse. Northwest posted a five-set win over then No. 5-ranked Tampa on Sept. 4. Northwest recorded a 3-1 win at No. 10-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 1.
 
This year marks the third straight season that Northwest has knocked off a top-10 ranked opponent. Northwest scored a 3-0 win over No. 9-ranked Central Missouri in the 2018 season. In 2019, Northwest recorded a 3-1 victory over No. 7-ranked Northern State.
 
Northwest's MIAA Athletes of the Week (2021)
Alyssa Rezac (Setter) - Oct. 4
Kelsey Havel (Offensive) - Oct. 4
Alyssa Rezac (Setter) - Oct. 11
Hannah Koechl (Defensive) - Oct. 11
Payton Kirchhoefer (Offensive) - Oct. 18
Alyssa Rezac (Setter) - Oct. 18
Hannah Koechl (Defensive) - Oct. 18
 
Sophomore Alyssa Rezac (Wahoo, Neb.) leads Northwest in assists (739 – 11.37 assists per set). She ranks No. 2 in the MIAA and No. 6 in the nation in assists per set. Rezac regaled the UCO Bronchos with a career-high 66 assists and 16 digs in a five-set triumph in Edmond, Okla. She posted a phenomenal 48-assist, 24-dig effort in a five-set win over No. 5 Tampa (Sept. 4). Rezac sparked the No. 13 Bearcats to a 3-1 win over Pittsburg State. Rezac tallied a career-high 54 assists and added 19 digs in the four-set win against the Gorillas. Rezac had 60 assists, 10 digs, five blocks and three kills in a 3-2 win over No. 1-ranked Washburn. She has 10 double-doubles this season and 11 for her career.
 
MIAA Assists Per Set Leaders (through Oct. 25)
1. Maddie Squiers (Neb.-Kearney)     11.64
2. Alyssa Rezac (Northwest)               11.37
3. Allison Sadler (Washburn)              10.39
4. Brianna Richard (Pittsburg State)   10.05
5. Ally Offerdahl (Central Missouri)    9.53
 
Freshman Payton Kirchhoefer (Omaha, Neb.) leads the squad in kills (272 – 3.63 kills/set). She leads the MIAA in kills per set (3.63). She ranks third in the MIAA in total kills (272). Kirchhoefer ranks fifth in the MIAA in total points scored (293.5). Kirchhoefer posted a season-best 26 kills in a four-set match with Michigan Tech (Sept. 10). Kirchhoefer matched her career-high with 26 kills in Northwest's 3-2 win over No. 1-ranked Washburn. She has tallied 15 double-figure kill matches, including eight straight heading into Friday's match at Pittsburg State. Kirchhoefer earned her first MIAA offensive athlete of the week award for her performance in wins over Missouri Western, No. 1 Washburn and Emporia State.
 
MIAA Total Kill Leaders (through Oct. 25)
1. Genna Berg (Washburn)                 274
    Courtney Lane (Central Okla.)        274
3. Payton Kirchhoefer (Northwest)    272
4. Meg Auten (Pittsburg State)          269
5. Salome Romp (Newman)               246
 
MIAA Points Scored Leaders (through Oct. 25)
1. Courtney Lane (Central Okla.)        310.0
2. Genna Berg (Washburn)                 303.5
3. Audrey Fisher (Central Missouri)   299.5
4. Meg Auten (Pittsburg State)          295.5
5. Payton Kirchhoefer (Northwest)    293.3
 
Junior Hannah Koechl (Innsbruck Austria) has posted a team-best 361 digs (4.75 digs/set). She ranks sixth in the MIAA in total digs (361). She has reached double-figure dig totals in 16 of the 20 matches. She registered a season-high 38 digs in a five-set win over Grand Valley State (Sept. 10).
 
MIAA Total Dig Leaders (through Oct. 25)
1. Faith Rottinghaus (Washburn)       489
2. Katie Le (Central Oklahoma)          449
3. Jessica Sachen (Missouri Western) 395
4. Rylie Fornelli (Emporia State)         387
5. Rylie Barnum (Central Missouri)    362
6. Hannah Koechl (Nothwest)            361
 
Junior Rachel Sturdevant (Kansas City, Mo.) is hitting a team-best .320, which ranks No. 7 in the MIAA. Sturdevant has posted seven or more kills in 10 of the last 11 matches. She has posted seven double-figure kill totals this season.
 
Sophomore Jaden Ferguson (Omaha, Neb.) is hitting .292 and ranks No. 2 in the team in kills (206 – 2.71 kills/set). Ferguson notched a season-best 18 kills vs. Grand Valley State (Sept. 10). Ferguson has had at least eight kills in 15 of Northwest's 18 matches this season. Ferguson was credited with a career-high seven blocks in a five-set win over No. 5-ranked Tampa (Sept. 4).
 
Redshirt freshman Abby Brunssen (Atkins, Iowa) leads the Bearcats in blocks (58). Brunssen produced a season-high seven blocks in Northwest's 3-1 win at No. 10-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. She is credited the eighth-best attack percentage in a four-set match in Bearcat history against Missouri Western. Brunssen tallied a .562 attack percentage with 11 kills and two errors on 16 attacks in the four-set win over the Griffons. Brunssen went for back-to-back six-block matches at Newman and at Central Oklahoma. She also produced a career-high 13 kills in the five-set triumph over UCO. She has produced five double-figure kill matches in 2021.
 
Senior setter Maddy Ahrens (Appleton, Wis.) ranks No. 6 in Northwest history with 2,801 career assists. Ahrens notched first-team all-MIAA honors in 2018 and followed up with second-team all-MIAA status in 2019.
 
Northwest Career Assists
1. Jennifer Pittrich – 5,428 (1993-1996)
2. Megan Danek – 5,064 (1999-2002)
3. Sarah Dannettell – 3,949 (2014-2017)
4. Laira Akin – 3,600 (2009-2011)
5. Abby Wilms – 3,104 (1997-1998)
6. Maddy Ahrens – 2,801 (2017-pr.)
 
Northwest secured its 16th 20-win season in program history in 2019. It marks the third time in four years that Northwest reached 20 wins or more in a season. It is the first back-to-back 20-win seasons for the Bearcats since 1999. Northwest had a stretch of six consecutive 20-win seasons from 1980 to 1985.
 
Northwest's 20-Win Seasons
52 – 1980
51 – 1981
46 – 1984
32 – 1982
30 – 1978
28 – 1979
27 – 1983
26 – 1994
25 – 1985, 1999
22 – 2016, 2018
21 – 1990, 1998
20 – 1996, 2019
 
For the eighth consecutive year and 15th 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 fifth straight year with a GPA ranked among the top-25 NCAA Division II schools. The Bearcat volleyball team recorded a 3.80 cumulative team grade point average during the 2020-21 season. Northwest is one of 161 NCAA Division II schools to gain the AVCA Team Academic Award this year.


The Bearcats came in at No. 3 in the preseason MIAA coaches' poll. Northwest received a pair of first place votes and was only two points away from second-place Washburn.
 
2021 MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Nebraska Kearney (7) - 96 points
2. Washburn (2) - 88 points
3. Northwest Missouri (2) - 86 points
4. Central Missouri - 75 points
5. Central Oklahoma - 62 points
6. Missouri Western - 48 points
7. Missouri Southern - 47 points
8. Pittsburg State - 43 points
9. Fort Hays State - 25 points
10. Emporia State - 20 points
11. Newman - 15 points
*First Place Votes Are in Parentheses
*Coaches Are Not Allowed To Vote For Their Own Team
 
Ninth-year head coach Amy Woerth ranks No. 3 in Bearcat coaching history with 153 career victories, trailing only Sarah Pelster (1991-2002) with 199 wins and Pam Stanek (1977-1981) with 176 triumphs. Woerth is 153-111 as the Bearcats' head coach.
 
The Bearcats posted a 14-3 mark this past spring during an abbreviated schedule of MIAA foes.
 
The Bearcats have named Hallie Sidney, Alyssa Rezac and Maddy Ahrens as their team captains for the 2021 season. Sidney will miss the 2021 season as she recovers from an injury.