Friday, Nov. 12
No. 5 Northwest Missouri State at Emporia State, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, Nov. 13
No. 5 Northwest Missouri State at No. 2 Washburn, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
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The No. 5-ranked Northwest Missouri State will wrap up its MIAA regular season slate with road matches against Emporia State University and No. 2-ranked Washburn University.
 
Northwest (22-4 overall, 15-3 MIAA) has clinched a top-three seed for the MIAA Tournament. Northwest would secure the No. 2 seed with a pair of victories against the Hornets and Ichabods. Northwest has a mathematical chance at the No. 1 seed, but would need two Bearcat wins and a loss from Central Missouri against Newman.
 
MIAA Standings (as of Nov. 10)
1. Central Missouri     17-2 (24-3 Overall)
2. Washburn               16-2 (24-3 Overall)
3. Northwest Mo. St.  15-3 (22-4 Overall)
4. Nebraska-Kearney  13-5 (22-5 Overall)
5. Central Oklahoma   12-8 (19-9 Overall)
6. Pittsburg State        8-10 (14-12 Overall)
7. Missouri Western   6-12 (12-15 Overall)
8. Fort Hays State       6-12 (12-15 Overall)
9. Newman                 5-14 (9-16 Overall)
10. Emporia State       2-16 (4-22 Overall)
11. Missouri Southern 1-17 (4-24 Overall)
 
The top eight teams qualify for the MIAA Tournament. The top four teams will play host to MIAA Tournament quarterfinal games on Tuesday, Nov. 16. The top remaining seed following the quarterfinal round will play host to the MIAA Tournament semifinals and finals on Nov. 19 and Nov. 20.
 
Emporia State (4-22 overall, 2-16 MIAA) is the midst of an 11-match losing skid. ESU's last win came Oct. 11 in a five-set triumph over Fort Hays State. ESU holds a 43-19 lead in the all-time series with Northwest. Northwest has held the upper-hand of late by posting five straight wins over ESU. Northwest has won eight of the last nine matchups with ESU.
 
No. 2-ranked Washburn (24-3 overall, 16-2 MIAA) can clinch a share of the MIAA regular season title with two victories this weekend. Washburn holds a 50-24 lead in the all-time series with Northwest. However, Northwest scored a 3-2 win over the then No. 1-ranked Ichabods in Hughes Fieldhouse on Oct. 15. The Bearcats have recorded five wins in 31 attempts in matches against the Ichabods in Topeka, Kan.
 
Northwest has won a program-best 15 MIAA matches in 2021. The previous best of 14 MIAA wins was set in 2018. Each of the last five seasons has produced the most MIAA wins in program history.
 
Northwest's MIAA Wins – Single Season
1. 15 – 2021
2. 14 – 2018
3. 13 – 2019
4. 11 – 2017
5. 10 – 1999
    10 – 2010
    10 – 2016
7. 8 – 2011
    8 – 2014
    8 – 2015

Northwest is ranked No. 5 in the nation in assists (1,319). Northwest ranks No. 7 in assists per set (13.46)
 
The Bearcats are ranked No. 5 in the country in kills (1,443). Northwest is ranked No. 6 in kills per set (14.72).
 
The first set result has not been a tell-tale sign for the Bearcat volleyball team this season. Northwest has dropped the first set 10 times, but has gone on to win seven of the 10 matches. Northwest is 15-1 when winning the initial set.
 
The Bearcats are a 5-1 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)
4. – 1997 – 5 (5-4)
       2005 – 5 (5-2)
       2016 – 5 (5-5)
       2021 – 5 (5-1)
 
Northwest has been strong on the road this season putting together an 8-1 mark. With a pair of road wins this weekend, Northwest would equal the program record with 10 road victories in a season. The Bearcats have produced a record of 14-2 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 – 14-2
2019 – 15-5
2018 – 15-5
2017 – 11-12
2016 – 13-4
2015 – 10-10
2014 – 6-12
2013 – 9-13
 
Northwest remained steady at No. 5 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches' Association Division II Top 25 rankings. It marks the 33rd time in program history that Northwest has been ranked in the AVCA Top 25. Northwest set the program's highest ranking at No. 3 in the Oct. 25, 2021, poll. Northwest has been ranked in the AVCA Top-10 nine times – with seven of those coming in the 2021 season.

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
Nov. 1, 2021 – No. 5
Nov. 8, 2021 – No. 5
 
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.
 
Junior Rachel Sturdevant (Kansas City, Mo.) was honored as this week's MIAA volleyball offensive player of the week. Sturdevant (Kansas City, Mo.) hit .532 with 28 kills (3.11 kills/set) to go along with seven service aces and six blocks in Northwest's perfect 3-0 week. Sturdevant notched 10 kills (.667), seven digs, five service aces and three blocks in a sweep of Missouri Southern. She pounded down 10 kills (.529) along with three blocks, three digs and an ace as Northwest swept the season series vs. Central Oklahoma for the first time in program history. Sturdevant finished the weekend with six kills (.400) and four digs in a 3-0 sweep of Newman on Senior Day in Bearcat Arena.
 
Sturdevant is hitting a team-best .323, which ranks No. 8 in the MIAA. Sturdevant has posted seven or more kills in 15 of the last 18 matches. She has posted 10 double-figure kill totals this season.
 
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
Rachel Sturdevant (Offense) - Nov. 8
 
Sophomore Alyssa Rezac (Wahoo, Neb.) leads Northwest in assists (969 – 11.54 assists per set). She ranks No. 2 in the MIAA and No. 5 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 posted four matches of 60 or more assists in 2021. She has 12 double-doubles this season and 13 for her career.
 
MIAA Assists Per Set Leaders (through Nov. 10)
1. Maddie Squiers (Neb.-Kearney)     11.75
2. Alyssa Rezac (Northwest)               11.54
3. Allison Sadler (Washburn)              10.63
4. Brianna Richard (Pittsburg State)   10.16
5. Ally Offerdahl (Central Missouri)    9.70
 
Freshman Payton Kirchhoefer (Omaha, Neb.) leads the squad in kills (368 – 3.83 kills/set). She leads the MIAA in kills (368), kills per set (3.83) and in points per set (4.09). 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. This past week, Kirchhoefer hit .532 with 28 kills and only three attack errors as Northwest posted 3-0 sweeps of Missouri Southern, Central Oklahoma and Newman.
 
MIAA Total Kill Leaders (through Nov. 10)
1. Payton Kirchhoefer (Northwest)    368
2. Courtney Lane (Central Okla.)        306
3. Genna Berg (Washburn)                 308
4. Audrey Fisher (Central Missouri)   311
5. Allison Maxwell (Washburn)          292
 
MIAA Kill Per Set Leaders (through Nov. 10)
1. Payton Kirchhoefer (Northwest)    3.83
2. Genna Berg (Washburn)                 3.59
3. Courtney Lane (Central Okla.)        3.48
4. Meg Auten (Pittsburg State)          3.46
5. Emersen Cyza (Nebraska-Kearney) 3.36
 
MIAA Total Points Scored Leaders (through Nov. 10)
1. Audrey Fisher (Central Missouri)   393.5
2. Payton Kirchhoefer (Northwest)    393.0
3. Courtney Lane (Central Okla.)        377.0
4. Genna Berg (Washburn)                 364.5
5. Allison Maxwell (Washburn)          349.5
 
MIAA Points Scored Per Set Leaders (through Nov. 10)
1. Payton Kirchhoefer (Northwest)    4.09
2. Audrey Fisher (Central Missouri)   4.06
3. Genna Berg (Washburn)                 3.96
4. Courtney Lane (Central Okla.)        3.89
5. Allison Maxwell (Washburn)          3.80
 
Junior Hannah Koechl (Innsbruck Austria) has posted a team-best 455 digs (4.64 digs/set). She ranks No. 5 in the MIAA in total digs (455). She has reached double-figure dig totals in 21 of the 26 matches. She registered a season-high 38 digs in a five-set win over Grand Valley State (Sept. 10).
 
MIAA Total Dig Leaders (through Nov. 10)
1. Faith Rottinghaus (Washburn)       597
2. Katie Le (Central Oklahoma)          582
3. Rylie Fornelli (Emporia State)         508
4. Jessica Sachen (Missouri Western) 490
5. Hannah Koechl (Nothwest)            455
 
Junior Kelsey Havel (Osage, Iowa) ranks No. 2 on the team in total kills (239). Havel was named the MIAA offensive player of the week Oct. 4. Havel has produced 13 double-figure kill efforts, including a pair of 20-plus kill performances. She posted a season-best 22 kills in a five-set match with Central Missouri (Oct. 26).
 
Freshman Avery Kemp (Bourbonnais, Ill.) started all three matches this past week and hit .471 with 29 kills and only five attack errors. She also posted five blocks assists as Northwest tallied three consecutive 3-0 wins over Missouri Southern, Central Oklahoma and Newman.
 
Redshirt freshman Abby Brunssen (Atkins, Iowa) leads the Bearcats in blocks (71). 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 seven double-figure kill matches in 2021.
 
Senior setter Maddy Ahrens (Appleton, Wis.) ranks No. 6 in Northwest history with 2,847 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 – 2,847 (2017-pr.)
 
Northwest secured its 17th 20-wins season in program history. It marks the fourth time in five years that Northwest reached 20 wins or more in a season. Three straight years of 20-w9win seasons is the longest stretch since Northwest had 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, 2021
21 – 1990, 1998
20 – 1996, 2019
 
Northwest scored a 3-2 win at Central Oklahoma and a 3-0 win over the Bronchos in Bearcat Arena. It marks the first time that Northwest has defeated Central Oklahoma in Maryville. It marks the first 3-0 victory for the Bearcats against the Bronchos. It's also the first time the Bearcats have completed a season sweep of the Bronchos. Northwest entered the 2021 season having lost 16 of 19 all-time matches with Central Oklahoma. All three of Northwest's previous wins before this season against UCO came on neutral courts (1978 - Wichita, Kan.; 2004 in St. Joseph, Mo.; 2011 in Bolivar, Mo.).
 
 
Northwest's 11-match winning streak ranked 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)
 
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 156 career victories, trailing only Sarah Pelster (1991-2002) with 199 wins and Pam Stanek (1977-1981) with 176 triumphs. Woerth is 156-111 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.