Friday, Nov. 18
No. 6 Washburn vs. No. 3 Minnesota Duluth, Noon | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
No. 7 Nebraska-Kearney vs. No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul, 2:30 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
No. 5 St. Cloud State vs. No. 4 Northwest Missouri State, 5 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
No. 8 Harding vs. No. 1 Wayne State, 7:30 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, Nov. 19
Match 1 Winner vs. Match 2 Winner, 5 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
Match 3 Winner vs. Match 4 Winner, 7:30 pm. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Sunday, Nov. 20
Regional Championship, 4 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
 
Tickets for the NCAA Volleyball Central Regional are $12 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and will be available at the door.
 
The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team will travel to Wayne, Neb., to take part in the 2022 NCAA Division II Central Region volleyball tournament.
 
Northwest will take on No. 5-seeded St. Cloud State at 5 p.m. Friday in a first-round region matchup. Northwest is 3-5 all-time vs. St. Cloud State. The teams last met on Sept. 13, 2013 in Sioux Falls, S.D., with the Bearcats coming way with a 3-1 victory.
 
It is the third NCAA appearance for the Bearcats and the second straight berth into the national field. Northwest is 0-2 in its previous two trips to the NCAA Tournament
 
Bearcat Volleyball NCAA Tournament History
L, 3-0 vs. Washburn (Nov. 18, 2010) – Warrensburg, Mo.
L, 3-2 vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Dec. 2, 2021) – Warrensburg, Mo.
 
Northwest is 8-5 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.
 
All eight teams in the NCAA Central Region tournament are ranked in this week's AVCA Top 25 poll.
 
No. 2 Wayne State – 29-2 overall
No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul – 26-5 overall
No. 6 Minnesota Duluth – 26-4 overall
No. 7 St. Cloud State – 26-5 overall
No. 12 Northwest Missouri State – 24-6 overall
No. 13 Nebraska-Kearney – 28-5 overall
No. 15 Washburn – 24-7 overall
No. 24 Harding – 30-1 overall
 
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)
W, 3-0 vs. No. 21 Central Oklahoma (11/2)
L, 3-1 vs. No. 20 Washburn (11/11)
 
Northwest is ranked No. 12 in this week's AVCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll. Northwest has been ranked 47 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 16 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
Nov. 7, 2022 – No. 10
Nov. 14, 2022 – No. 12
 
The Bearcats had their 12-match win streak snapped by Washburn in the semifinals of the 2022 MIAA Tournament in St. Joseph. The 12-match win streak ranks as the fourth-longest in school history.
 
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. 12 (Oct. 8, 2022 – Nov. 10, 2022)
5. 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. 8 (Oct. 25, 1980 – Nov. 1, 1980)
    8 (Sept. 12, 1981 – Sept. 25, 1981)
    8 (Oct. 3, 1981 – Oct. 16, 1981)
 
Northwest captured the program's first-ever MIAA regular season title with a 17-3 mark through the regular season. The 17 MIAA wins ties for the most in program history.
Each of the last six seasons has produced the most MIAA wins in program history. 


Northwest's MIAA Wins – Single Season
1. 17 – 2021
    17 – 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 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. The 24 wins this season ranks tied for the 11^th-most in a single season in Bearcat history.
 
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, 2022
22 – 2016, 2018
21 – 1990, 1998
20 – 1996, 2019
 
Northwest has produced its third-highest winning percentage (.800) this season with a mark of 24-6 overall. The best single-season winning percentage mark at Northwest came in the 1980 season at .852. Last season, Northwest went 26-6 (.813) for the second-highest winning percentage in a season in program history.

Northwest Single-Season Winning Percentage
1. .852 (52-9), 1980
2. .813 (26-6), 2021
3. .800 (24-6), 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 put together a perfect 10-0 mark at home this season. It's the most home matches won by the Bearcats since head coach Amy Woerth took over the program in 2012. 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 15-2 in three-set matches and 8-2 in four-set matches. Northwest is 23-4 in matches of four sets or less this season.
 
The Bearcats are 23-7 in the first set. Northwest is 25-5 in the second set. Northwest is 20-10 in the third set. The Bearcats are 9-4 in the fourth set.
 
Northwest is 19-1 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 68-6 when winning the first two sets.
 
The Bearcats leads the MIAA in service aces (1.70 aces/set). Northwest ranks second in the MIAA in team hitting percentage (.249). Northwest ranks No. 2 in kills (14.09 kills/set). Northwest leads the MIAA in opponent blocks (1.52 blocks/set). The Bearcats rank No. 2 in the league in digs (19.70 digs/set).
 
Setter Alyssa Rezac was named the 2022 MIAA Player of the Year. It is the second straight season she has landed First-Team All-MIAA honors. She leads the Bearcats in assists and service aces. She was the first setter since Central Missouri's Julia Bates in 2013 to be named the MIAA Player of the Year. She is the fourth Bearcat to earn the league's top volleyball annual honor joining Maddy Bruder (2018), Jill Quast (2000) and Mary Beth Bishop (1984).
 
Rezac notched her sixth MIAA setter of the week honor and 10th of her career as Northwest clinched the outright MIAA regular season championship. Rezac averaged 12.67 assists per set in leading Northwest to a pair of wins. Rezac had 36 assists, 11 digs, five kills and two blocks on a sweep of Central Oklahoma to clinch at least a share of the MIAA regular season crown. Rezac dished out 40 assists, secured nine digs and added two kills in a 3-0 win over Newman to give the Bearcats the outright MIAA title and No. 1 seed for the conference tournament.
 
Rezac ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in assists per set (11.07) and that bumps up to No. 2 in MIAA matches only (12.03 assists/set). She ranks No. 2 in the league in service aces per set (0.39). She has posted 14 double-doubles this season and 30 in her Bearcat career. She has posted 40 or more assists 14 times this season. Rezac ranks No. 7 in program history on total assists with 2,576.
 
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. Alyssa Rezac (2019-pres.)               2,576
8. Katie Swenson (2007-2008)             2,441
9. Molly Hankins (2005-2006)            2,332
10. Sherri Miller (1982-1985)             2,185
 
Jaden Ferguson earned First-Team All-MIAA status in 2022. She was a second-team selection in 2021. Ferguson set a career-high with 33 digs in a four-set match vs. Washburn in the MIAA Tournament. It was her third 20-plus dig match this season. Ferguson ranks No. 9 in the league in hitting percentage (.299) with 322 kills. Ferguson hit .306 (5th in the league) with 233 kills in MIAA matches. In MIAA matches, Ferguson ranks No. 5 in total kills (233). Ferguson has registered 20 double-figure kill matches this season and 34 for her career. Ferguson is tied for the team lead with 15 double-doubles this season.
 
Payton Kirchhoefer was one of four unanimous First-Team All-MIAA picks in 2022. She was the MIAA Freshman of the Year and a first-team selection in 2021. Kirchhoefer leads the Bearcats in kills per set (3.78). She ranks first on the team in kills with 356. She has posted 19 double-figure kill performances, including 15 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 added another 20-20 performance in the MIAA Tournament with 26 kills and 23 digs vs. Washburn in St. Joseph. Kirchhoefer was a two-time MIAA offensive player of the week award winner in 2022.
 
Double-Doubles (2022)
Jaden Ferguson            15
Payton Kirchhoefer     15
Alyssa Rezac                 14
Olivia Dir                       2
Kelly Wiedemann        2
 
Active Career Double-Doubles
Alyssa Rezac                 30
Hallie Sidney                 26
Jaden Ferguson            16
Payton Kirchhoefer     15
Olivia Dir                       3
Kelly Wiedemann       2

Abby Brunssen earned honorable mention all-MIAA honors in 2022. She ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in blocks per set (1.15). Brunssen had a season-high nine blocks against Angelo State and nine more against Nebraska-Kearney. Brunssen leads the team in total blocks (91).
 
Avery Kemp collected First-Team All-MIAA honors this season. She notched a career-high nine blocks in Northwest's 3-1 win over No. 8-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. Kemp ranks No. 10 in the MIAA in hitting percentage (.299). Kemp has posted 222 kills on the season. Kemp has tallied 10 double-figure kill matches this season. Kemp ranks second on the squad with 76 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 gained Honorable Mention All-MIAA status as she saw action in both the libero and defensive specialist roles in 2022. Luhring tied a school record for most digs in a three-set match with 28 digs vs. No. 21-ranked Central Oklahoma. Luhring has secured 16 double-figure dig totals this season. Luhring was a three-time MIAA Defensive Player of the Week. Luhring played in 29 matches and saw action in 96 sets.
 
Kristen Ford earned her first Honorable Mention All-MIAA honor in 2022. Ford split time between the libero and defensive specialist slots. She played in all 30 matches and 106 sets. Ford secured 414 digs (3.91 digs/set) and served up 38 aces (0.36 aces/set). She tallied a season-high 25 digs at Washburn on Sept. 17. She piled up seven service aces in a 3-0 sweep of Emporia State on Oct. 15 in Bearcat Arena.
 
Kate Frakes possessed a .321 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.
 
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.
 
Northwest produced a program-best 13 MIAA player of the week honorees in the 2022 season. Northwest had 10 MIAA player of the week recipients in 2021.
 
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)
Alyssa Rezac - Setter of the Week (Nov. 7)
Payton Kirchhoefer – Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 7)
Kyah Luhring – Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 7)

Bearcat 12th-year head coach Amy Woerth captured her second MIAA Coach of the Year award. Woerth first earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors in 2018 and landed the award again this year after guiding the Bearcats to the first MIAA regular season crown in program history. Woerth has led the Bearcats to four consecutive 20-win seasons. It is the fifth 20-win season in her tenure. Woerth has compiled an overall mark of 185-121. Woerth ranks No. 2 in coaching victories in program history with 185 – trailing only Sarah Pelster (199 wins from 1991-2002).
 
Northwest Volleyball Coaching Victories
1. Sarah Pelster (1991-2002) - 199
2. Amy Woerth (2012-current) – 185
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) - .605 (185-121)
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)
 
The Bearcats came in as the favorites in the preseason MIAA coaches' poll and ended the season by winning the league's regular season crown for the first time in program history. 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.