Tues., Oct. 18
No. 13 Northwest Missouri State at Missouri Western, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Fri., Oct. 21
Missouri Southern at No. 13 Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Sat., Oct. 22
No. 13 Northwest Missouri State Pittsburg State, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team will take on the challenge of three matches again this week.

The Bearcats will look to sweep the season series against Missouri Western Tuesday night in St. Joseph, Mo.
 
The Bearcats (16-5 overall, 10-3 MIAA) are riding a four-match win streak and sitting in a tie for second place in the MIAA standings with Central Oklahoma (10-3 MIAA). Northwest and UCO are 1 ½ games behind Nebraska-Kearney for first place.
 
Missouri Western (7-14 overall, 4-9 MIAA) has recorded league wins over Fort Hays State, Emporia State, Newman and Missouri Southern. Northwest has won eight consecutive matches against Missouri Western.
 
Northwest will return home and face Missouri Southern Friday at 6 p.m. at Bearcat Arena. Saturday, Northwest will travel to Pittsburg, Kan., to face off against the Pittsburg State Gorillas at 6 p.m.
 
MIAA Standings
Neb.-Kearney              12-2
Central Oklahoma       10-3
Northwest Mo. St.      10-3
Washburn                   9-4
Central Missouri         9-4
Pittsburg State            7-7
Fort Hays State           5-9
Missouri Southern      4-9
Missouri Western       4-9
Newman                     2-11
Emporia State             1-12
 
Northwest is 6-4 against ranked foes this season, including a mark of 3-2 against top-10 ranked opponents. Northwest's only other loss this season came against Regis when the Rangers were unranked. Regis is ranked No. 16 in last week's AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll.
 
Northwest vs. Top-25 Ranked Foes in 2022
W, 3-1 at No. 14 West Texas A&M (8/27)
W, 3-0 vs. No. 16 Angelo State (9/2)
L, 3-1 at No. 4 MSU Denver (9/2)
W, 3-1 vs. No. 3 Western Washington (9/3)
L, 3-2 at No. 18 Central Missouri (9/7)
W, 3-1 at No. 2 Washburn (9/17)
L, 3-0 at No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney (9/30)
L, 3-0 at No. 24 Central Oklahoma (10/7)
W, 3-1 vs. No. 25 Central Missouri (10/11)
W, 3-1 vs. No. 10 Washburn (10/14)
 
Northwest put on a serving clinic in Saturday's 3-1 win over Emporia State. The Bearcats recorded 18 service aces, tying for the second-most in a single match in program history. It is the most service aces by a Northwest team in a four-set match in school history. Kristen Ford notched seven aces, while Jaden Ferguson tossed in five service aces. Alyssa Rezac contributed with three aces. Karsen VanScoy tallied two aces against the Hornets. Payton Kirchhoefer added the other ace against ESU.
 
Northwest is 13-1 this season when winning the first two sets. Northwest went 15-2 last season when taking the first two sets of a match. Since the start of the 2018 season, Northwest is 62-6 when winning the first two sets.
 
The Bearcats rank second in the MIAA in team hitting percentage (.257). Northwest ranks No. 3 in kills (13.93 kills/set). Northwest leads the MIAA in opponent blocks (1.55 blocks/set).
 
Setter Alyssa reached the 2,000-career assist mark in Northwest's 3-0 win over Newman. Rezac has posted 2,180 career assists to rank No. 10 on Northwest's all-time assist chart. Rezac blitzed the Central Missouri Jennies for 45 assists, 11 digs, seven blocks and four kills in a 3-1 home win on Tuesday. Rezac's seven blocks against UCM is a career high. Rezac was named the MIAA Setter of the Week for the third time this season and seventh time in her career on Oct. 17. Rezac ranks No. 4 in the MIAA in assists per set (10.50) and that bumps up to No. 2 in MIAA matches only (11.87 assists/set). She ranks No. 4 in the league in service aces per set (0.41). She has posted eight double-doubles this season and 24 in her Bearcat career. She has posted 40 or more assists eight times this season.
 
Northwest Career Assists
1. Jennifer Pittrich (1993-1996)         5,428
2. Megan Danek (1999-2002)             5,064
3. Sarah Dannettell (2014-2017)        3,949
4. Laira Akin (2009-2011)                   3,600
5. Abby Wilms (1997-98)                   3,104
6. Maddy Ahrens (2017-2021)           2,847
7. Katie Swenson (2007-2008)           2,441
8. Molly Hankins (2005-2006)            2,332
9. Sherri Miller (1982-1985)               2,185
10. Alyssa Rezac (2019-pres.)             2,159
 
Jaden Ferguson ranks No. 6 in the league in hitting percentage (.336) with 225 kills. Ferguson is hitting .348 with 160 kills in 13 MIAA matches. In MIAA matches, Ferguson ranks No. 6 in total kills (160). Ferguson hit .368, averaged 4.92 digs per set and averaged 3.42 kills per set in boosting Northwest to a trio of home wins that included two top-25 foes in Central Missouri and Washburn. Ferguson went for 20 digs, 13 kills and three blocks in a four-set triumph over No. 25-ranked Central Missouri. Ferguson was a key cog in Northwest's 3-1 win over Washburn. Ferguson netted a career-high 29 digs. She garnered 15 kills and hit. 353 with two service aces and two blocks against the Ichabods. Ferguson hit .591 with 13 kills and no errors in a 3-1 victory over Emporia State. Ferguson notched 10 digs to earn back-to-back double-doubles. Ferguson served up five service aces vs. the Hornets. Ferguson has registered 14 double-figure kill matches this season and 28 for her career.
 
Double-Doubles (2022)
Alyssa Rezac               8
Payton Kirchhoefer     8
Jaden Ferguson           7
Olivia Dir                     2
Kelly Wiedemann        2
 
Active Career Double-Doubles
Hallie Sidney               26
Alyssa Rezac               24
Payton Kirchhoefer     8
Jaden Ferguson           8
Olivia Dir                     3
Kelly Wiedemann       2
 
Payton Kirchhoefer leads the Bearcats in kills per set (3.37). She ranks second on the team in total kills (212). She has posted 11 double-figure kill performances this season. Kirchhoefer secured her first career 20-20 effort with 22 kills and 22 digs against No. 10-ranked Washburn in Bearcat Arena.
 
Hallie Sidney is one of 37 active NCAA Division II players with 1,000 or more career kills. Sidney has tallied 1,022 career kills for the Bearcats.
 
Abby Brunssen ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in blocks per set (1.07). Brunssen had a season-high nine blocks against Angelo State. Brunssen has tallied a team-best 54 blocks in 2022.
 
Avery Kemp secured a career-high seven blocks in Northwest's 3-1 win over No. 25-ranked Central Missouri. Kemp ranks No. 14 in the MIAA in hitting percentage (.283). Kemp has posted 165 kills on the season. Kemp has recorded seven double-figure kill matches this season. Kemp secured the sixth-best three-set hitting percentage total in Bearcat history with a .611 hitting effort against Missouri Southern (Sept. 25).
 
Kyah Luhring earned her first career MIAA defensive player of the week honor on Oct. 17. Luhring averaged 5.17 digs per set in helping Northwest to a trio of wins over No. 25-ranked Central Missouri, No. 10-ranked Washburn and Emporia State. Luhring tallied 22 digs as Northwest secured a 3-1 win over No. 25-ranked Central Missouri. Luhring notched a career-high 25 digs and an assist in a 3-1 triumph vs. No. 10-ranked Washburn. Luhring posted 15 digs and three assists in a 3-1 victory over Emporia State.
 
Kate Frakes made her season debut at Fort Hays State and put on a show. Frakes tied for the sixth-best three-set hitting percentage in program history with 12 kills on 18 swings with one error (.611 hitting percentage) against the Tigers on Oct. 1.
 
Head coach Amy Woerth is in her 11th year at the helm of the Bearcat volleyball program. Woerth has compiled an overall mark of 177-120. Woerth ranks No. 2 in coaching victories in program history with 177 – trailing only Sarah Pelster (199 wins from 1991-2002).
 
Northwest Volleyball Coaching Victories
1. Sarah Pelster (1991-2002) - 199
2. Amy Woerth (2012-current) – 177
3. Pam Stanek (1977-81) - 176
4. Susie Homan (1982-84) - 105
5. Peggy Voisin (1987-90) - 64
6. Anna Tool (2006-09) - 56
7. Cathie Schulte (1985-86) - 37
8. Lori Slight (2003-05) - 35
9. Jessica Reinhart (2010-11) - 29
10. Theresa Hospodarski (1975-76) – 12
 
Northwest Volleyball Coaching Win Percentage
1. Pam Stanek (1977-81) - .655 (174-93-7)
2. Susie Homan (1982-84) - .642 (105-58-2)
3. Amy Woerth (2012-current) - .596 (177-120)
4. Jessica Reinhart (2010-11) - .475 (29-32)
5. Sarah Pelster (1991-2002) - .468 (199-226)
6. Anna Tool (2006-09) - .415 (51-72)
7. Cathie Schulte (1985-86) - .411 (37-53)
8. Peggy Voisin (1987-90) - .349 (64-114)
9. Lori Slight (2003-05) - .354 (35-64)
10. Theresa Hospodarski (1975-76) - .237 (12-43-4)

Northwest is ranked No. 13 in this week's AVCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll. Northwest has been ranked 45 times in its program history. 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 14 times.

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
Nov. 15, 2021 – No. 4
Nov. 22, 2021 – No. 4
Dec. 18, 2021 – No. 12
2022 Preseason – No. 12
Aug. 29, 2022 – No. 10
Sept. 5, 2022 – No. 12
Sept. 12, 2022 – No. 13
Sept. 19, 2022 – No. 11
Sept. 26, 2022 – No. 10
Oct. 3, 2022 – No. 10
Oct. 10, 2022 – No. 15
Oct. 17, 2022 – No. 13