Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern volleyball team will finish its home portion of the schedule this weekend as the Lions play host to Pittsburg State on Friday and 15th-ranked Central Oklahoma on Saturday. 

Friday's match starts at 6 pm and will be the Lions' Pink Night. Saturday's match with Central Oklahoma starts at noon and will be Senior Day for the two seniors on the roster, Erica Freudinger and Addison Berry. 

The Lions are coming off of a big win on Tuesday night as Southern took out Southwest Baptist in five sets. Southern (3-19, 3-9 MIAA) got a stellar night from Janelle Brehm as she posted a double-double with 24 kills and 14 digs. Kylee Kaaihue had 57 assists, while Morgan Nashhad 21 digs. Mikayla Monk had nine kills and three digs, while Alicia Pickett had five kills and seven blocks.

In its last three matches, Southern has been led by Brehm as she is averaging 3.58 kills per set and 3.00 digs per set. Alicia Pickett is averaging 1.18 blocks per set, while CC Pollard and Monk are both averaging 0.73 blocks per set. Kaaihue is dishing out 9.58 assists per set, while Nash is averaging 5.08 digs per set. 

Scouting the Opposition

Pittsburg State (15-10, 4-8 MIAA) is led by Lauren Regier at 2.91 kills per set. The Gorillas run a two-setter offense with Camryn Blanton getting the bulk of the time and she averages 8.90 assists per set. Lauren Dunn leads the Gorillas with 4.36 digs per set. 

Central Oklahoma (22-4, 10-2 MIAA) is ranked 15th nationally and the Bronchos are led by Taylor Bevis at 3.73 kills per set. Bevis also averages 2.96 digs per set, while Dominique Lipari leads the team with 5.32 digs per set. The Bronchos also run a two-setter attack with Ericka Scholl getting the bulk of the action at 5.89 assists per set. 

Extras

Nebraska-Kearney and Washburn have both clinched spots in the 2019 MIAA Volleyball Tournament. Both teams are tied for the league lead with an 11-1 record. Central Oklahoma is third, while Pittsburg State is tied for seventh. The Lions are in tenth, but with a win over PSU, could slide into a tie for eighth, the final spot in the Tournament. 

Up Next

The Lions will be on the road next weekend as Southern travels to Northwest Missouri on Friday and Missouri Western on Saturday. 

Live stats and video will be available for both matches this weekend and links to each can be found above in the story links.