Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern volleyball team will be in action this weekend as the Lions head back on the road to take on 14th-ranked Northwest Missouri and 10th-ranked Central Missouri. 

Southern (12-10, 5-7 MIAA) will take on the Bearcats in Maryville at 6 pm on Friday night and then will take on the Jennies at 7 pm from Warrensburg on Saturday evening. 

The Lions got a mid-week win at home over Newman that capped a home stretch where Southern went 4-2, inlcuding winning four of its last five matches. The Lions are in 8th place in the MIAA standings, just a half a game out of seventh and a full game out of sixth. The top eight teams make it to the 2019 MIAA Postseason Tournament held in Hy-Vee Arena in November. 

Janelle Brehm averaged 3.40 kills and 3.70 digs per set last week and Brehm currently ranks 13th nationally in total attacks, while leading the MIAA in that category. Brehm ranks second in attacks per set in the MIAA, as well. Morgan Nash is fourth nationally in triple-double's and second in the MIAA. 

Alicia Pickett leads the MIAA in total blocks and ranks second in blocks per set, while ranking 37th nationally in total blocks. The Lions lead the MIAA in total blocks, total attacks and digs, while ranking second in assists and blocks per set and third in kills. 

Northwest Missouri is 15-5 overall and 8-4 in the MIAA. The Bearcats have lost four of their last six matches and sit in fourth place in the MIAA standings. Hallie Sidney leads the way offensively with 4.12 kills per set, while Bethany Elkins is hitting a team-high .356. Maddy Ahrens is dishing out 10.73 assists per set, while Hannah Koechl averages 3.62 digs per set. 

Central Missouri is 14-6 overall and 8-3 in conference play. The Jennies are hot as of late, with eight wins in their last ten matches, including a win against Northwest Missouri. The Jennies have five different players that average over 2.00 kills per set with Sydney Lierz leading the way at 2.83 kills per set. Ally Offerdahl has a team-high 10.81 assists per set, while Abby Skrastins averages 5.06 digs per set. 

Live stats and video will be available for each match and links can be found above.