Fri., Nov. 3
No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney at Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
Sat., Nov. 4
Fort Hays State at Northwest Missouri State, 3 p.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball squad will wrap up its home portion of its schedule this weekend with matches against No. 10-ranked Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State.
 
The Bearcats will also celebrate Senior Day on Saturday by honoring Lauren Casey as she participates in her final home match. Casey is a graduate transfer from St. Anselm that is originally from Jefferson City, Mo. Casey will be looking to track down her 1,000 collegiate kill this weekend. Casey has tallied 168 kills this season for Northwest. She had posted 595 kills in two seasons at St. Anselm. Prior to St. Anselm, Casey recorded 233 kills at Trinity Valley Community College. Casey has been credited with 996 collegiate kills entering this weekend's action against UNK and FHSU.
 
Bearcat 13th-year head coach Amy Woerth has compiled an overall mark of 199-132 and will take over as the program's all-time wins leader with her next victory. Woerth ranks tied for No. 1 in coaching victories in program history at 199 with 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
    Amy Woerth (2012-current) - 199
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 (199-132)
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 has won five of its last six matches entering play this week. Northwest has posted a season mark of 14-10 overall and 9-7 in MIAA play. Northwest needs one more victory to clinch a spot in the 2023 MIAA Tournament. Northwest sits in fifth place in the MIAA standings. The 2023 MIAA Tournament is set for Nov. 16-18 at Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo.
 
2023 MIAA Standings
1. Central Missouri     15-2
2. Nebraska-Kearney  13-3
    Central Oklahoma   13-3
4. Missouri Western   11-5
5. Northwest Mo. St.  9-7
6. Washburn               8-8
7. Missouri Southern  6-11
8. Emporia State         5-11
    Fort Hays State       5-11
10. Pittsburg State      4-12
11. Newman               0-16
 
Northwest will square off with Nebraska-Kearney on Friday at 6 p.m. in Bearcat Arena. The No. 10-ranked Lopers are 23-3 overall and 13-3 in league play. Northwest dropped a 3-0 decision to the Lopers in Kearney, Neb., on Oct. 7. The Lopers are led by former Bearcat Jaden Ferguson. Ferguson has posted a team-best 242 kills to go along with 238 digs. Ferguson is hitting .289 with 16 double-figure kill efforts this season. Her season-high in kills is 15 set against Central Oklahoma and again against Central Missouri.
 
On Saturday, Northwest will play host to the Fort Hays State Tigers. FHSU is 11-14 overall and 5-11 in league play. Northwest registered a 3-0 win over FHSU in Hays, Kan., on Oct. 6. Northwest has won 12 straight matches in the all-time series with Fort Hays State. Northwest is 13-2 all-time vs. FHSU in Bearcat Arena.
 
Northwest is 4-4 in five-set matches this season. Northwest is 8-4 in three-set matches. Northwest is 2-2 in four-set matches this season.
 
Northwest has fared extremely well in the fourth set of matches this year by posting a mark of 10-2 in the fourth set. Northwest is 13-11 in the opening set of matches. Northwest also owns a winning mark in the third set at 13-11.
 
Northwest is averaging 13.00 kills per set in 92 sets this season. The Bearcats are averaging 1.36 service aces per set and 1.82 blocks per set. Northwest is averaging 16.17 points per set in 24 matches.
 
Bearcat opponents are averaging 12.24 kills per set. Northwest opponents are averaging 1.04 service aces and 2.14 blocks per set. Northwest opponents are averaging 15.42 points per set in 24 matches.
 
Junior defensive specialist/libero Kristen Ford is closing in on 1,000 career digs. Ford has tallied 946 career digs entering this week's slate of matches with UNK and FHSU. Ford has notched 249 digs this season after posting 421 in 2022 and 276 in 2021. Ford set a career-high with 37 digs and averaged 5.89 digs per set in a pair of road wins over Missouri Southern and Newman. Ford played the first two sets as a defensive specialist against Missouri Southern before changing to libero for the final three sets in a 3-2 Bearcat win. She tallied a career-best 37 digs against the Lions, which ranks tied for the eighth-most digs in a single match in Bearcat history. Ford was credited with 14 digs in the fourth set alone against the Lions. Ford ranks second on the team in total digs (249). She has posted 11 double-figure dig totals, including a pair of 30-plus effort this year. Ford has reached double-figures in digs in five straight matches entering this week's action.
 
Northwest Most Digs in a Match
1. 47, Olivia Nowakowski at Arkansas-Fort Smith (9/15/17)
2. 46, Paige Spangenberg vs. Fort Hays State (10/24/08)
3. 42, Hannah Koechl vs. Nebraska-Kearney (11/22/19)
4. 40, Olivia Nowakowski at Nebraska-Kearney (11/3/18)
5. 39, Paige Spangenberg vs. Tarleton State (10/2/09)
6. 38, Tori Beckman vs. Pittsburg State (10/14/12)
    38, Hannah Koechl vs. Grand Valley State (9/10/21)
8. 37, Becky Brown vs. Missouri Western (9/22/93)
    37, Paige Spangenberg vs. Southwest Baptist (11/1/08)
    37, Hannah Koechl vs. Washburn (10/15/21)
    37, Kristen Ford at Missouri Southern (10/17/23)
 
Junior middle hitter Abby Brunssen leads the Bearcats in kills (217), total blocks (86) and points scored (265.5). Brunssen has 11 double-figure kill matches this season. Brunssen set a career-high with 18 kills (.400) and added seven blocks in a five-set win at Missouri Southern. She notched 16 kills (.400) with two blocks in a four-set win at Newman. Brunssen was credited with a season-high eight blocks in a three-set win over Pittsburg State (Oct. 14). She has recorded two or more blocks in 13 consecutive matches. She has gained at least one block in 23 of 24 matches this season.
 
Redshirt freshman Ella Caffery tops the team in service aces (27) and assists (675). She ranks third on the team in blocks (33) and fourth on the squad in digs (183). Caffery served up a season-high six aces against Kentucky Wesleyan in the season opener. Caffery has tallied six 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 seven 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     19
Ella Caffery                  7
Olivia Dir                       4
Natalie Laiolo              2
 
Junior Avery Kemp leads the squad in hitting percentage (.300). She ranks second on the team in kills (195), blocks (57) and points scored (242.5). She has totaled 10 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 12 of her last 14 matches. She has at least one block in 18 matches this season.
 
Junior Payton Kirchhoefer has totaled 972 kills and 691 digs in 78 matches in her Bearcat career. She has landed 150 kills and tallied 199 digs this season. Kirchhoefer claimed her fifth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 18 digs against Central Missouri. It was the 19th double-double of her Bearcat career. 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.
 
Graduate transfer Lauren Casey ranks third on the team in kills (168). She has seen action in 23 matches. She has posted six matches of double figures in kills. 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.
 
Junior Olivia Dir ranks fourth on the squad with 166 kills. She has seen action in 23 matches. Dir has notched seven double-figure kill matches. She has twice put up 15-kill efforts this season against Central Missouri and Missouri Southern. Dir has posted five career double-doubles, including her first this season with 18 kills and 15 digs in a 3-0 win over No. 25-ranked Washburn. Dir tied her career high with 18 kills against the Ichabods.
 
Junior Kyah Luhring leads the team with 393 digs (4.27 digs/set). Luhring ranks No. 4 in the MIAA in total digs. She ranks No. 4 in the MIAA in digs per set. Luhring has tallied 30-dig matches this season. She has posted eight 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)
 
Freshman Gabrielle Gartner hit .706 with 12 kills on 17 swings in a 3-0 win over Pittsburg State on Oct. 14. Her .706 hitting percentage ranks as the second-best hitting percentage in a three-set match in Bearcat history. Gartner has produced five double-figure kill efforts this season, including 10 last Saturday against Emporia State in a 3-1 Bearcat win.