Wednesday, Nov. 2
No. 21 Central Oklahoma at No. 10 Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Friday, Nov. 4
Newman at No. 10 Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
The No. 10-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team will look to clinch its first MIAA regular season championship with two home matches to close out the 2022 regular season schedule.
 
Northwest will match up against No. 21 Central Oklahoma (Wednesday, 6 p.m.) and Newman (Friday, 6 p.m.) in Bearcat Arena. Northwest is a perfect 8-0 at home this season. Northwest dropped a 3-0 decision earlier this season at Central Oklahoma. The Bearcats downed the Jets in Wichita, 3-0, in the prior meeting this year.
 
Northwest needs one more victory to clinch a share of the program's first MIAA regular season title. Two victories would give the Bearcats an outright conference crown.
 
MIAA Standings
Northwest Mo. St.      15-3
Nebraska-Kearney     14-4
Central Missouri         13-4
Central Oklahoma      13-5
Washburn                   12-6
Pittsburg State            9-9
Missouri Southern      7-10
Fort Hays State          5-13
Missouri Western       6-12
Newman                    3-15
Emporia State            1-17
 
The 2022 MIAA Tournament is set for Nov. 10-12 at Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo. The top eight teams in the MIAA regular season standings will qualify for the tournament. The quarterfinals are set for Thursday, Nov. 10 with games set for 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The semifinals are Friday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The 2022 MIAA Tournament championship match will be Saturday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.
 
Northwest is one of six teams to have already clinched spots in the 2022 MIAA Tournament. The Bearcats will be joined by Nebraska-Kearney, Central Oklahoma, Central Missouri, Washburn, Pittsburg State and two other MIAA teams.
 
Tournament Format
Quarterfinals – Thursday, November 10
        Match One | No. 2 Seed vs. No. 7 Seed – 12:00 p.m.
        Match Two | No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed – 2:30 p.m.
        Match Three | No. 1 Seed vs. No. 8 Seed – 5:00 p.m.
        Match Four | No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed – 7:30 p.m.

    Semifinals – Friday, November 11
        Match Five | Winner of Match One vs. Winner of Match Two – 5:00 p.m.
        Match Six | Winner of Match Three vs. Winner of Match Four – 7:00 p.m.

    Championship – Saturday, November 12
        Match Seven | Winner of Match Five vs. Winner of Match Six – 6:00 p.m. 

The Bearcats are in the midst of a nine-match win streak into this week's slate of matches, which is the longest active win streak in the MIAA. Northwest's nine-match win streak ranks tied for No. 11 in the nation among active NCAA Div. II winning streaks. Two victories this week would equal the fourth-longest win streak in program history, which was done last season.
 
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 – Oct. 23, 2021)
5. 9 (Oct. 3, 1984 – Oct. 12, 1984)
    9 (Sept. 16, 1994 – Oct. 1, 1994)
    9 (Sept. 7, 2018 – Sept. 28, 2018)
    9 (Oct. 8, 2022 – pres.)
9. 8 (Oct. 25, 1980 – Nov. 1, 1980)
    8 (Sept. 12, 1981 – Sept. 25, 1981)
    8 (Oct. 3, 1981 – Oct. 16, 1981)
 
NCAA Div. II Longest Active Winning Streaks
1. 23, Harding
2. 22, Spring Hill
3. 17, MSU Denver
4. 15, West Texas A&M
5. 13, Adelphi
6. 12, Emmanuel (Ga.)
7. 11, Charleston
    11, Colorado Mesa
9. 10, Augusta
    10, Shepherd
11. 9, Northwest Mo. St.
    9, Quincy
    9, Anderson
    9, Gannon
    9, Mount Olive
 
Northwest is 7-4 against ranked foes this season, including a mark of 4-2 against top-10 ranked opponents. Northwest's only other loss this season came against Regis when the Rangers were unranked. Regis is ranked No. 14 in this 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)
W, 3-1 vs. No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney (10/22)
 
Northwest is ranked No. 10 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 15 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
Oct. 24, 2022 – No. 12
Oct. 31, 2022 – No. 10

Northwest surpassed the 20-win mark for the 18th time in program history. It is the fifth 20-win season in six years for the 'Cats. Northwest has recorded four consecutive 20-win seasons, which is the longest stretch since the Bearcats had six straight 20-win seasons from 1980-1985.
 
Northwest's 20-Win Seasons
52 – 1980
51 – 1981
46 – 1984
32 – 1982
30 – 1978
28 – 1979
27 – 1983
26 – 1994
25 – 1985, 1999
24 – 2021
22 – 2016, 2018
21 – 1990, 1998, 2022
20 – 1996, 2019

Northwest won a program-best 17 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 can equal the program mark of 17 MIAA wins with two victories this week over Central Oklahoma and Newman.
 
Northwest's MIAA Wins – Single Season
1. 17 – 2021
2. 15 – 2022
3. 14 – 2018
4. 13 – 2019
5. 11 – 2017
6. 10 – 1999
    10 – 2010
    10 – 2016
9. 8 – 2011
    8 – 2014
    8 – 2015
 
Northwest has produced its third-highest winning percentage (.807) this season with a mark of 21-5 overall. Last season, Northwest went 26-6 (.813) for the second-highest winning percentage in a season in program history. The best single-season winning percentage mark at Northwest came in the 1980 season at .852.

Northwest Single-Season Winning Percentage
1. .852 (52-9), 1980
2. .813 (26-6), 2021
3. .807 (21-5), 2022
4. .783 (46-13), 1984
5. .750 (51-14-1), 1981
6. .733 (22-8), 2018
7. .710 (22-9), 2016
8. .700 (21-9), 2019
9. .694 (25-11), 1999
10. .684 (26-12, 1994

Northwest is 8-0 at home this season. Since head coach Amy Woerth took over the program in 2012 the most home wins the Bearcats have produced in a single season is nine on two occasions. Northwest won nine home matches in 2014 and nine more home matches in 2021.
 
Northwest has only played three five-set matches this season. The Bearcats won their first five-set match of the year against Fort Hays State. Northwest is 12-2 in three-set matches and 8-1 in four-set matches. Northwest is 20-3 in matches of four sets or less this season.
 
The Bearcats are 19-7 in the first set. Northwest is 22-4 in the second set. Northwest is 17-9 in the third set. The Bearcats are 9-3 in the fourth set.
 
Northwest is 16-1 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 65-6 when winning the first two sets.
 
The Bearcats leads the MIAA in service aces (1.69 aces/set). Northwest ranks second in the MIAA in team hitting percentage (.248). Northwest ranks No. 3 in kills (13.88 kills/set). Northwest leads the MIAA in opponent blocks (1.51 blocks/set). The Bearcats rank No. 2 in the league in digs (18.62 digs/set).
 
Setter Alyssa Rezac claimed her fifth MIAA setter of the week honor and ninth of her career after leading Northwest to wins over Fort Hays State and No. 8-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. Rezac averaged 11.89 assists and 2.89 digs in the two victories. Rezac notched 58 assists, 13 digs, a kill and a block in Friday's five-set win over Fort Hays State. Rezac secured 49 assists, 13 digs, five blocks, a kill and a service ace in helping Northwest knock off No. 8-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday. Rezac ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in assists per set (10.85) and that bumps up to No. 2 in MIAA matches only (11.97 assists/set). She ranks No. 2 in the league in service aces per set (0.41). She has posted 11 double-doubles this season and 27 in her Bearcat career. She has posted 40 or more assists 12 times this season. Rezac ranks No. 9 in program history on total assists with 2,305.
 
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. Alyssa Rezac (2019-pres.)               2,412
9. Molly Hankins (2005-2006)            2,332
10. Sherri Miller (1982-1985)             2,185
 
Jaden Ferguson ranks No. 7 in the league in hitting percentage (.312) with 279 kills. Ferguson is hitting .313 with 214 kills in 18 MIAA matches. In MIAA matches, Ferguson ranks No. 4 in total kills (214). Ferguson has registered 17 double-figure kill matches this season and 31 for her career.
 
Payton Kirchhoefer leads the Bearcats in kills per set (3.39). She ranks second on the team in kills with 278. She has posted 15 double-figure kill performances, including 11 double-doubles this season. Kirchhoefer secured her first career 20-20 effort with 22 kills and 22 digs against No. 10-ranked Washburn in Bearcat Arena. Kirchhoefer earned MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors after she averaged 4.10 kills per set and 4.20 digs per set as Northwest won three matches to move into a tie for first place in the MIAA standings.
 
Double-Doubles (2022)
Alyssa Rezac                 11
Payton Kirchhoefer     11
Jaden Ferguson            10
Olivia Dir                       2
Kelly Wiedemann        2
 
Active Career Double-Doubles
Alyssa Rezac                 27
Hallie Sidney                 26
Payton Kirchhoefer     11
Jaden Ferguson            11
Olivia Dir                       3
Kelly Wiedemann       2

Abby Brunssen ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in blocks per set (1.09). Brunssen had a season-high nine blocks against Angelo State and nine more against Nebraska-Kearney. Brunssen ranks second on the team in total blocks (72).
 
Avery Kemp notched a career-high nine blocks in Northwest's 3-1 win over No. 8-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. Kemp ranks No. 9 in the MIAA in hitting percentage (.283). Kemp has posted 212 kills on the season. Kemp has tallied 10 double-figure kill matches this season. Kemp leads the team with 74 blocks. 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 averaged 5.22 digs per set in helping Northwest to wins over Fort Hays State and No. 8-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. Luhring notched 27 digs in a five-set triumph over FHSU. She added 20 digs in a four-set win over No. 8-ranked UNK. It marks the second time this season that Luhring has been named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Kate Frakes possesses a .331 hitting percentage in MIAA play. Frakes has posted 49 kills in 112 swings in MIAA play. 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 Fort Hays State on Oct. 1.
 
Hallie Sidney is one of 45 active NCAA Division II players with 1,000 or more career kills. Sidney has tallied 1,026 career kills for the Bearcats.
 
The Bearcat block was in full effect in a 3-1 triumph over No. 8-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. The Bearcats recorded a season-high 18 blocks against the Lopers. The 18 blocks ranks tied for fourth in a four-set match in program history. Avery Kemp and Abby Brunssen each secured nine blocks against the Lopers. The 18 blocks are the most blocks given up this season by Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Northwest put on a serving clinic in a 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.
 
For the second straight season, Northwest has produced 10 MIAA Player of the Week award winners.
 
Northwest's 2022 MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week Recipients
Alyssa Rezac - Setter of the Week (Aug. 29)
Alyssa Rezac - Setter of the Week (Sept. 19)
Kristen Ford - Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 19)
Kyah Luhring - Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 17)
Alyssa Rezac - Setter of the Week (Oct. 17)
Alyssa Rezac - Setter of the Week (Oct. 24)
Payton Kirchhoefer - Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 24)
Jaden Ferguson - Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 24)
Alyssa Rezac - Setter of the Week (Oct. 31)
Kyah Luhring (Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 31)

Head coach Amy Woerth is in her 11th year at the helm of the Bearcat volleyball program. Woerth has compiled an overall mark of 182-120. Woerth ranks No. 2 in coaching victories in program history with 182 – trailing only Sarah Pelster (199 wins from 1991-2002).
 
Northwest Volleyball Coaching Victories
1. Sarah Pelster (1991-2002) - 199
2. Amy Woerth (2012-current) – 182
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) - .602 (182-120)
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)
 
Woerth and the Bearcats earned the program's second NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021. Northwest set a school record with 17 MIAA victories last season. The previous best of 14 was set in 2018.
 
The Bearcats came in as the favorites in the preseason MIAA coaches' poll. Northwest received three first-place votes and edged out three other schools in a tight vote among the league coaches.
 
2022 MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1) Northwest Missouri – 90 Points [3 First-Place Votes]
T2) Nebraska Kearney – 85 Points [3 First-Place Vote]
T2) Washburn – 85 Points [3 First-Place Vote]
T2) Central Missouri – 85 Points [2 First-Place Vote]
5) Central Oklahoma – 60 Points 
6) Pittsburg State – 56 Points
7) Fort Hays State – 44 Points
8) Missouri Western – 43 Points
9) Emporia State – 21 Points 
10) Missouri Southern – 20 Points
11) Newman – 16 Points
*Coaches Are Not Allowed To Vote For Their Own Team
  
For the ninth straight year and 16th time overall, the Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team earned the United States Marine Corps/American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. The Bearcat volleyball team recorded a 3.57 cumulative team grade point average during the 2021-22 season. Northwest was one of 148 NCAA Division II schools to gain the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award this year.