Pittsburg State and the rest of the MIAA will get into full conference volleyball action this weekend.
The Gorillas (10-2, 0-1 MIAA) are currently ranked No. 16 in the nation and will play host to conference newcomer Nebraska-Omaha (4-6, 0-0 MIAA) on Friday night and No. 17 Central Missouri on Saturday at John Lance Arena.
PSU and Central Missouri have already clashed this season, last week in Warrensburg, Mo., as part of the UCM Challenge.
The Jennies snapped PSU's six-match win streak with a sweep at the Multipurpose Building but, in the process, senior middle hitter Linda Igbinigie moved into ninth place on the MIAA's career blocks list with her 21 blocks (2 solos, 19 assists) during the Central Missouri Challenge last weekend.
She now has 502 total blocks (153 solos, 351 assists) to pass Northwest Missouri State's Jill Quast (1997-2000 — 487) for the No. 9 spot on the list.
Igbinigie needs just 14 more blocks to pass Truman's Gretchen Bouton (1994-97 — 515) for eighth place.
UCM junior setter Caitlin Pankratz posted her 27th career assists-digs double-double vs. PSU, recording 47 assists and 14 digs.
Central Missouri plays at Missouri Southern (4-5, 0-0 MIAA) Friday before visiting Pitt State
Elsewhere, No. 11 Truman State (9-3, 0-0 MIAA) will take on third-ranked Washburn (11-0, 0-0 MIAA)
The Bulldogs have been forced out of Pershing Arena due to repair damage to the hardwood court caused by flooding in late July. Truman also will play Fort Hays State (5-3, 0-0 MIAA) at Kirksville Primary Saturday (Sept. 20).
Washburn is 11-0 for the first time since 2005, and has lost just two sets so far this season (33-2) — with each of those matches away from home. The Lady Blues face Northwest Missouri State (3-8, 0-0 MIAA) at Lee Arena Wednesday for their home opener before heading to Truman, and then play at Missouri Western (3-9, 0-0 MIAA) Saturday.
Should WU escape the week unscathed, the Lady Blues will match their best start in school history, 14-0 in 2004.
Emporia State (10-1, 0-0 MIAA) have won seven in a row after going 4-0 at the Central Missouri Challenge presented by Comfort Inn last weekend. ESU has dropped only one set during this run of success (21-1).
PITTSBURG —
