Friday, Oct. 6
Northwest Missouri State at Fort Hays State, 6 p.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, Oct. 7
Northwest Missouri State at No. 9 Nebraska-Kearney, 3 p.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball squad (8-6 overall 3-3 MIAA) will remain on the road with a pair of MIAA contests at Fort Hays State and at No. 9-ranked Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Northwest will travel to Hays, Kan., for a 6 p.m. Friday matchup in Hays, Kan., with the Fort Hays State Tigers (7-8 overall, 1-5 MIAA).
 
The Bearcats will make their way to Kearney, Neb., on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tilt with the No. 9-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (15-1 overall, 5-1 MIAA). UNK's lineup features Northwest transfer Jaden Ferguson. Ferguson earned AVCA All-America honors last season as a Bearcat. Ferguson played in 86 matches at Northwest with 726 kills, 560 digs and 160 blocks in three seasons. Ferguson earned first-team all-MIAA honors in 2002 and second-team status in 2021.
 
The Bearcats have played a league-best 26 sets in MIAA play as a result of the Bearcats taking part in four five-set matches in conference play.
 
Northwest is 3-4 in five-set matches this season. Northwest is 5-1 in three-set matches. The Bearcats have played only one four-set match this season – a 3-1 loss to Harding.
 
Northwest has fared extremely well in the fourth set of matches this year by posting a mark of 7-1 in the fourth set. Northwest is 9-5 in the opening set of matches. Northwest also owns a winning mark in the third set at 8-6.
 
Northwest is averaging 12.89 kills per set in 57 sets this season. The Bearcats are averaging 1.44 service aces per set and 1.58 blocks per set. Northwest is averaging 15.91 points per set in 14 matches.
 
Bearcat opponents are averaging 11.96 kills per set. Northwest opponents are averaging 1.04 service aces and 2.19 blocks per set. Northwest opponents are averaging 15.19 points per set in 14 matches.
 
Junior Kyah Luhring has recorded a team-high 264 digs (4.63 digs/set). Luhring ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in total digs. She ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in digs per set. Luhring has tallied 30-dig matches this season. She has posted seven matches of 20 or more digs.
 
Luhring set the school record for digs in a three-set match with 31 against Newman. Her 31 digs rank second in the nation this year in three-set matches. She was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after her 31-dig effort vs. Newman.
 
Northwest's Single-Match Digs (3 Sets)
1. 31, Kyah Luhring vs. Newman (9/22/23)
2. 28, Paige Spangenberg vs. Washburn (11/18/10)
    28, Kyah Lulhring vs. Central Oklahoma (11/2/22)
4. 27, Becky Brown vs. Missouri Western (10/27/93)
5. 26, Jill Quast vs. Simpson (10/14/00)
    26, Paige Spangenberg vs. Southwest Baptist (10/30/10)
    26, Tori Beckman vs. Central Oklahoma (10/12/12)
 
NCAA Single-Match High Digs (3-set matches) in 2023
1. 32, Meagan Jimenez, Cameron vs. Missouri Southern (9/1/23)
2. 31, Kyah Luhring, Northwest Mo. St. vs. Newman (9/22/23)
3. 30, Najlaa Williams, Virginia St. vs. Claflin (9/30/23)
    30, Christine Funk, Montana State Billings vs. Rocky Mountain (9/25/23)
    30, Morgan Schmutzler, Franklin Pierce vs. Post (9/8/23)
    30, Elly Collins, Wilmington vs. Roberts Wesleyan (9/2/23)
 
Redshirt freshman Ella Caffery is tops in the team in service aces (21) and assists (439). She ranks third on the team in digs (125) and blocks (18). Caffery served up a season-high six aces against Kentucky Wesleyan in the season opener. Caffery has tallied five matches of 40 or more assists this season, including a pair of 50-assist matches against Missouri Southern and Central Missouri. She leads the Bearcats with six double-doubles this season. Caffery was named the MIAA Setter of the Week on Sept. 25 after helping the Bearcats produce 3-0 sweeps of Missouri Western and Newman.
 
Active Career Double-Doubles
Payton Kirchhoefer     17
Ella Caffery                  6
Olivia Dir                       4
Natalie Laiolo              1
 
Junior Kristen Ford ranks No. 2 on the team in total digs (126). She tallied a career-high 33 digs in a 3-2 loss to Central Missouri. She has posted five double-figure dig totals this year.
 
Junior middle hitter Abby Brunssen leads the Bearcats in hitting percentage (.291) and in total blocks (39). She is tied for the team lead in kills (126). Brunssen has seven double-figure kill matches, including a season-high 17 in a five-set match with Missouri Southern. She ranks No. 10 in the MIAA in hitting percentage.
 
Junior Avery Kemp is tops on the team in points scored (154.5). She is tied for the team lead in kills (126). Kemp ranks second on the team in hitting percentage (.286). Kemp has reached double-figures totals in three straight matches leading into this week's slate. Kemp notched 11 kills in a five-set win at Emporia State. Kemp added seven blocks vs. the Hornets. Kemp came back with a 12-kill match while hitting .556 against No. 15-ranked Washburn. She has totaled nine double-figure kill matches, including a season-high 18 in a five-set victory at William Jewell. She has posted two or more blocks in seven consecutive matches.
 
Junior Payton Kirchhoefer has totaled 918 kills and 609 in 70 matches in her Bearcat career. She has landed 96 kills and tallied 117 digs this season. She set a career-high with 27 digs in a five-set win at Emporia State. She has posted eight career matches of 20 or more digs. Kirchhoefer is a two-time AVCA All-America selection and a two-time first-team all-MIAA pick. She was the MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2021.
 
Junior Olivia Dir is tied for fourth on the squad with 94 kills. She has seen action in 13 matches. Dir has notched four double-figure kill matches. She tallied a season-high 15 kills in a five-set match with Central Missouri. Dir has posted four career double-doubles and has one this year with a 14-kill, 15-dig effort in a 3-0 win over Midwestern State.
 
Graduate transfer Lauren Casey is also tied for fourth on the team in kills (94). She has seen action in 13 matches. She secured a season-high 15 kills in a five-set victory at Emporia State. Casey scored three straight points down the stretch in the fifth set at Emporia State to lift the Bearcats to the victory. Northwest led 11-9 when Casey went on a three-kill stretch to put the match out of reach for the Hornets.
 
Northwest is receiving the sixth-most votes of the unranked teams in this week's AVCA/Taraflex Top 25 Coaches' Poll. Northwest has been ranked 52 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
Final 2022 – No. 13
2023 Preseason – No. 13
Sept. 4, 2023 – No. 15
Sept. 11, 2023 – No. 18
Sept. 18, 2023 – No. 24
 
Bearcat 13th-year head coach Amy Woerth has compiled an overall mark of 193-128. Woerth ranks No. 2 in coaching victories in program history with 193 – trailing only Sarah Pelster (199 wins from 1991-2002). Woerth captured her second MIAA Coach of the Year award in 2022. Woerth first earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors in 2018 and landed the award again in 2022 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. 

Northwest Volleyball Coaching Victories
1. Sarah Pelster (1991-2002) - 199
2. Amy Woerth (2012-current) - 193
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) - .601 (193-128)
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)