Tuesday, Oct. 8 – Maryville, Mo. (Bearcat Arena)
Missouri Western at Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 11 – Maryville, Mo. (Bearcat Arena)
No. 11 Central Oklahoma at Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m.
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Saturday, Oct. 12 – Maryville, Mo. (Bearcat Arena)
Arkansas-Fort Smith at Northwest Missouri State, 3 p.m. -- PINK OUT (1st 200 fans receive commemerative pink T-Shirt)
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The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team will play a trio of home matches this week beginning 6 p.m. Tuesday against Missouri Western.
 
The Bearcats (8-6 overall, 2-2 MIAA) will also play host to No. 11-ranked Central Oklahoma (17-0 overall, 4-0 MIAA) Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a matchup with Arkansas-Fort Smith (11-4 overall, 3-1 MIAA Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
Northwest split two more matches in MIAA in its second weekend of action. Northwest tallied a 3-0 sweep of Fort Hays State Friday, before falling in four sets to No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Saturday.
 
Northwest is 2-1 against ranked opponents this season with victories over No. 21 West Florida (W, 3-2) and No. 24 Washburn (W, 3-2) and a four-set loss to No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Missouri Western holds a 73-40 lead in the all-time series with Northwest. The Griffons stopped a 10-match winning streak by the Bearcats in the series with a 3-0 sweep in Maryville, Mo., on Oct. 24, 2023.
 
Central Oklahoma has a 19-6 lead in the all-time series against Northwest. UCO has won two straight against Northwest, but the teams have split the last six encounters with each other.
 
Arkansas-Fort Smith won the only previous time the schools have met in volleyball. UAFS scored a 3-0 triumph over Northwest on Sept. 9, 2011, in Bolivar, Mo.
 
Northwest is No. 3 in the nation and leads the MIAA in team attacks per set (40.56). Northwest ranks No. 18 in the country and is tops in the MIAA in total team attacks (2,231).
 
Senior Kyah Luhring became the 19th Bearcat in program history to reach 1,000 career digs in Northwest's five-set win over Washburn on Sept. 27 in Bearcat Arena. Luhring has tallied 1,093 digs in 89 matches and 297 sets played. She is averaging 3.68 digs per set in her collegiate career. She leads the Bearcats in digs this season with 245 (4.45 digs/set). Luhring averaged 7.00 digs per set as she posted 49 digs in seven sets. She tallied 18 digs in a three-set win at Fort Hays State. Luhring added 31 digs in a four-set setback at No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. She has reached double figures in digs in nine straight matches. Luhring has reached 20-plus digs 19 times in her career and four times this season. Luhring has surpassed 30 digs in a match three times as a Bearcat.
 
Luhring was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 16) for her play in the Outback Invitational in Pensacola, Fla. She is a five-time MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honoree.
 
Kristen Ford and Luhring have each surpassed the 1,000-dig mark in their Bearcat careers this season. Ford and Luhring are among 19 Bearcats to have reached 1,000 career digs in a Northwest uniform. Ford eclipsed the 1,000-career dig mark at the Augustana Classic. Ford gained back-to-back double figure dig matches against Washburn (18) and Emporia State (13). Ford has posted 1,104 career digs in 104 matches as a Bearcat. Ford is averaging 2.91 digs per set in 380 career sets.
 
Northwest's 1,000-Dig Club
1. Paige Spangenberg (2007-10)   2,489
2. Jill Quast (1997-00)                    1,924
3. Olivia Nowakowski (2015-18)     1,763
4. Jennifer Pittrich (1993-96)          1,494
5. Tori Beckman (2010-12)             1,488
6. Megan Danek (1999-02)            1,458
7. Sarah Trowbridge (2003-06)      1,401
8. Maddy Bruder (2015-18)            1,306
9. Heather Potts (1993-96)             1,291
10. Jennifer Waldron (1995-97)      1,239
11. Becky Brown (1990-93)            1,224
12. Bailey Vance (2011-14)            1,178
13. Suzi Fabian (1994-97)              1,170
14. Terri Palmer (1988-90)             1,169
15. Kristen Ford (2021-pres.)         1,104
16. Kyah Luhring (2021-pres.)        1,093
17. Hannah Koechl (2019-21)        1,050
18. Heidi Yurka (1991-93)              1,027
      Miranda Foster (2013-16)         1,027
 
Senior Payton Kirchhoefer ranks second on the team with 150 kills (3.13 kills/set) in 13 matches this season. She is hitting .217 in 48 sets played. Kirchhoefer has reached double figures in kills in 10 matches this season. Kirchhoefer posted a season-high 21 kills and hit .341 in a five-set win over No. 24-ranked Washburn (Sept. 28). Kirchhoefer has recorded seven career 20-plus kill matches. Through 94 career matches, Kirchhoefer has put up 1,153 kills, 766 digs, 142 blocks with 21 double-doubles.
 
Senior Abby Brunssen set a career-high with 25 kills (.440) and five blocks in a five-set win over No. 24-ranked Washburn. Brunssen followed it up with 18 kills and four blocks against Emporia State. Brunssen has collected a team-best 182 kills (3.43 kills/set) and 60 blocks (1.13 blocks/set) through 14 matches this season. Earlier this year, set a career-high with 15 blocks (14 block assists) in a 3-1 win at Upper Iowa (Sept. 20). Brunssen also garnered her first career double-double with 11 kills and 15 blocks against the Peacocks. Brunssen ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in points scored per set (4.04). She ranks No. 6 in the MIAA in kills per set (3.43) and No. 4 in blocks per set (1.13). Brunssen ranks No. 8 in the MIAA in hitting percentage (.323).
 
Senior Olivia Dir ranks second on the squad in digs (167). She ranks third on the team in kills (136). Dir has tallied six double-doubles this season to give her 11 for her Bearcat career. Dir has put up 10 or more kills in seven times this season. She has also notched 10 or more digs on 10 occasions.
 
Sophomore setter Ella Caffery leads the team with 313 assists (6.52 assists/set). Caffery netted a season-high 49 assists in guiding Northwest to a five-set win over No. 24-ranked Washburn (Sept. 27). Caffery gained her second double-double of the season and 11th of her career with 36 assists and 14 digs against Emporia State (Sept. 28). She has notched 33 assists, including a season-high eight kills in a five-set win over No. 21-ranked West Florida (Sept. 14). Caffery set a career-high with 11 blocks in a 3-1 win over Upper Iowa (Sept. 20). Caffery picked up her first double-double of the season with 28 assists and 11 blocks vs. Upper Iowa. Caffery averaged 10.71 assists per set and 2.29 digs per set in seven sets of road MIAA play. Caffery tallied 35 assists, four kills, two blocks and six digs in a sweep at Fort Hays State. Caffery added 40 assists, 10 digs, four blocks and two kills against No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Double-Doubles – Career (Season)
Payton Kirchhoefer      21 (2)
Ella Caffery                  12 (3)
Olivia Dir                      11 (6)
Natalie Laiolo               9 (5)
Abby Brunssen            1 (1)
 
Junior Kasidy Mohwinkle ranks fourth on the team with 127 kills (2.31 kills/set). Mohwinkle has five double figure kill efforts this season. She secured a career-high 14 kills (.300 hitting percentage) in a 3-1 win over Florida Tech. Mohwinkle added 13 kills and hit .333 in a five-set win over No. 24-ranked Washburn (Sept. 27). In the season opener with Northern State, Mohwinkle hit .444 with 13 kills. She has hit .300 or better in five matches this season.
 
The Bearcats recorded 19 team blocks in a 3-1 win at Upper Iowa (Sept. 20), which ranks as the fourth-highest single-match total in program history. The 19 blocks at Upper Iowa ranks tied for the third-highest single-match total in a four-set match this season among NCAA Div. II programs.
 
Northwest is coming off a 15-14 season and the Bearcats tallied their seventh straight season of securing 10 or more MIAA victories with a 10-10 mark in league play. The 10 wins in MIAA action last season tied for the sixth-most in school 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 has produced eight consecutive winning seasons, which is the longest streak in school history. Northwest has reached 20-win seasons in five of the last seven campaigns.
 
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
 
The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team has been selected sixth in the preseason 2024 MIAA Coaches' Poll. Northwest gained 68 points in the balloting to finish behind Central Missouri (113 pts.), Central Oklahoma (110 pts.), Nebraska-Kearney (106 pts.), Washburn (90 pts.) and Missouri Western (81 pts.). Central Missouri tallied five first-place votes, while UCO and UNK each garnered three first-place votes and Washburn gained one.
 
2024 MIAA VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Central Missouri [5] – 113 points
2. Central Oklahoma [3] – 110 points
3. Nebraska Kearney [3] – 106 points
4. Washburn [1] – 90 points
5. Missouri Western – 81 points
6. Northwest Missouri State – 68 points
7. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 62 points
8. Missouri Southern – 49 points
9. Emporia State – 39 points
10. Pittsburg State – 35 points
11. Fort Hays State – 28 points
12. Newman – 11 points 
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes
 
Head coach Amy Woerth has compiled an overall mark of 208-142 and has taken over as the program's all-time winningest coach. Woerth captured her 200th career win in a 3-0 victory at home vs. Fort Hays State to close out the 2023 regular season. 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) - 208
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) - .594 (208-142)
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 added assistant coach Nick Sepulveda in the offseason after former assistant coach Jacquie Cason accepted the head women's volleyball coaching job at Missouri S&T in Rolla, Mo.
 
For the 11th straight year and 18th time overall, the Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team has been honored as a recipient of AVCA Team Academic Award sponsored by INTENT. 
 
The Bearcat volleyball team recorded a 3.87 cumulative team grade point average during the 2023-24 season. Northwest produced a 3.82 team GPA in the fall and a 3.92 team GPA in the spring. Northwest is one of 147 NCAA Division II schools to gain the AVCA Team Academic Award this year. Northwest is one of 31 NCAA Div. II schools to have captured the award in each of the past 11 seasons. Northwest is among 17 programs to have been a recipient of the AVCA Team Award 18 times or more and one of two MIAA schools (Emporia State) with 18 or AVCA Team Academic Awards.
 
For the sixth time in program history, Northwest also gained the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll Award. The additional distinction of Team Academic Honor Roll celebrates programs in the top 20% of GPAs for their division. Northwest has gained the Team Academic Honor Roll in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024.