Fri., Nov. 10
Northwest Missouri State at Pittsburg State, 6 p.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
Sat., Nov. 11
Northwest Missouri State at No. 16 Central Oklahoma, 3 p.m. | MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team will hit the road for its final week of the regular season with matches at Pittsburg State and at No. 16-ranked Central Oklahoma.
 
Northwest (15-11, 10-8 MIAA) has won six of its last eight matches entering this week's slate. The Bearcats have also captured five MIAA road wins this season as they work their way through Pittsburg, Kan., and Edmond, Okla., this weekend.
 
The Bearcats picked up a three-game sweep of the Gorillas (9-18, 4-14 MIAA) when the teams met in Maryville, Mo., on Oct. 14. Northwest has scored 11 consecutive wins over Pittsburg State dating back to the 2014 season. Head coach Amy Woerth is 13-2 all-time vs. the Gorillas. PSU has captured only four league wins this season, but one of those victories came in a 3-1 win over No. 8-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 21.
 
The Bronchos (24-4, 15-3 MIAA) have posted a record of 8-1 at home this season. The Bronchos lone setback at Hamilton Fieldhouse came on Sept. 29 when Central Missouri tallied a five-set win. UCO earned a 3-0 win over Northwest on Oct. 13 in Bearcat Arena.
 
Bearcat 13th-year head coach Amy Woerth has compiled an overall mark of 200-133 and has taken over as the program's all-time winningest coach. Woerth captured her 200^th career win in a 3-0 victory last Saturday at home vs. Fort Hays State. Woerth moved past Sarah Pelster, who had collected a mark of 199-226 from 1991 to 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 five 20-win seasons in her tenure. 

Northwest Volleyball Coaching Victories
1. Amy Woerth (2012-current) - 200
2. Sarah Pelster (1991-2002) - 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 (200-133)
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 clinched 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     16-2*
2. Nebraska-Kearney  15-3*
    Central Oklahoma   15-3*
4. Missouri Western   12-6*
5. Northwest Mo. St.  10-8*
6. Washburn               10-9*
7. Missouri Southern  7-11
8. Emporia State         6-13
9. Fort Hays State       5-13
10. Pittsburg State      4-14
11. Newman               0-18
* - clinched spots in the 2023 MIAA Tournament
 
For only the ninth time in school history, Northwest has produced a double-figure win total in MIAA play. The Bearcats sit at 10 wins following its 3-0 sweep of Fort Hays State. Northwest captured the program's first-ever MIAA regular season title with a 17-3 mark in 2022. The 17 MIAA wins tied for the most in program history. Each of the last seven 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
    10 – 2023
10. 8 – 2011
    8 – 2014
    8 – 2015
 
Northwest is 4-4 in five-set matches this season. Northwest is 9-5 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 14-12 in the opening set of matches. Northwest also owns a winning mark in the third set at 14-12.
 
Northwest is averaging 13.24 kills per set in 98 sets this season. The Bearcats are averaging 1.34 service aces per set and 1.80 blocks per set. Northwest is averaging 16.38 points per set in 26 matches.
 
Bearcat opponents are averaging 12.28 kills per set. Northwest opponents are averaging 1.01 service aces and 2.11 blocks per set. Northwest opponents are averaging 15.40 points per set in 26 matches.
 
Junior defensive specialist/libero Kristen Ford is closing in on 1,000 career digs. Ford has tallied 963 career digs entering this week's action at Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma. Ford has notched 266 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 (266). She has posted 12 double-figure dig totals, including a pair of 30-plus effort this year.
 
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 (233), total blocks (90) and points scored (283.5). Brunssen has 12 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 gained at least one block in 24 of 26 matches this season.
 
Redshirt freshman Ella Caffery tops the team in service aces (29) and assists (764). She ranks third on the team in blocks (34) and fourth on the squad in digs (199). Caffery served up a season-high six aces against Kentucky Wesleyan in the season opener. Caffery has tallied seven matches of 40 or more assists this season, including a trio of 50-plus efforts. She leads the Bearcats with eight 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                  8
Olivia Dir                       5
Natalie Laiolo              2
 
Junior Avery Kemp leads the squad in hitting percentage (.314). She ranks second on the team in kills (213), blocks (62) and points scored (265.0). She has totaled 11 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 14 of her last 16 matches. She has at least one block in 20 matches this season.
 
Junior Payton Kirchhoefer has totaled 982 kills and 696 digs in 80 matches in her Bearcat career. She has landed 160 kills and tallied 204 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 (183). She has seen action in 25 matches. She has posted seven 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. Casey reached 1,000 career kills against Nebraska-Kearney. Casey has tallied 183 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 1,011 collegiate kills entering this weekend's matches at Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma.
 
Junior Olivia Dir ranks fourth on the squad with 181 kills. She has seen action in 25 matches. Dir has notched eight double-figure kill matches. She has twice put up 15-kill efforts this season against Central Missouri and Missouri Southern. Dir has posted six 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. Dir recorded another double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs in a sweep of Fort Hays State in Bearcat Arena.
 
Junior Kyah Luhring leads the team with 431 digs (4.40 digs/set). Luhring ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in total digs and in digs per set. Luhring has tallied 30-dig matches this season. She has posted nine 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. She also tied for the fourth-most digs in a three-set match in Bearcat history with 27 digs vs. Fort Hays State (Nov. 4). She possesses three of the top-five dig totals in three-set matches on program history.
 
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 Luhring vs. Central Oklahoma (11/2/22)
4. 27, Becky Brown vs. Missouri Western (10/27/93)
    27, Kyah Luhring vs. Fort Hays State (11/4/23)
6. 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 seven double-figure kill efforts this season, including a stretch of three straight matches of 10 or more kills. She had 10 kills vs. Emporia State and followed that up with 12 vs. Nebraska-Kearney and 12 more vs. Fort Hays State.