The Pitt State volleyball team opened their season with the Gorilla Classic Tournament, where they, along with four other teams, would take turns facing off against one other over this past Friday and Saturday. The Gorillas finished the tournament with a 3-1 record across their four matches, two of their victories being sweeps.
The tournament opened with a dominant sweep of the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps, where the Gorillas ended the match with a .208 hitting percentage while keeping the Chaps at a percentage of .047. Senior Anna Dean set the tone at the net, leading the Gorillas with 11 kills, an ace, and eight blocks, anchoring both sides of play.
Junior Vix Vilott provided a spark with 10 kills and four aces, while junior Maliyah Johnson added another nine kills and two blocks. Senior Don’Yah Cosie chipped in four kills and four blocks. The setting duties were split between junior Jesa Wallace and redshirt freshman transfer Abby Carr, who recorded 19 and 14 assists, respectively. At the defensive end, senior Josie McCroskey picked up 15 digs, as she led the team in digs in each match of the tournament.
The Gorillas fell just short in their Friday night game against the Missouri Western Griffons. Despite finishing the match with a higher hitting percentage, more points scored, less errors committed, and a two-set lead against the Griffons, Pitt State lost the final three sets by a combined eight points. On the positive side, redshirt sophomore Maddi LaPointe delivered her best performance of the weekend with 13 kills and eight blocks, while Johnson added 11 kills and five blocks. Cosie turned in a double-double effort, tallying 10 kills and 11 blocks. Wallace and Carr distributed setting duties equally with 22 assists apiece. McCroskey again anchored the defense with a match-high 27 digs, with Wallace adding another 13.
Pitt State rebounded the next day in their third match, earning a four-set victory over the Southern Arkansas Lady Muleriders. Johnson once again paced the attack with 11 kills, while freshman Addyson Rebmann made her presence felt with 11 kills and a block. LaPointe and Vilott each added another seven kills, with Vilott also contributing four aces, a block, and 10 digs. Jesa Wallace registered 26 assists while Abby Carr added 15 off the bench. Josie McCroskey once again led the team in digs with 14.
Pitt State concluded the tournament with a convincing sweep over the Truman State Bulldogs, where the Gorillas had a so far season best hitting percentage of .310. Vilott led the charge with 10 kills and two aces, while Rebmann followed closely with 10 kills and an ace of her own. Johnson chipped in eight kills, and Cosie provided four kills with two blocks at the net. Wallace orchestrated the offense with 22 assists while also picking up 11 digs, and Carr added 12 assists to round out the setting rotation. McCroskey closed the tournament strong with 13 digs, maintaining her role as the team’s defensive anchor.
With a 3-1 record leaving the Gorilla Classic Tournament, the Pitt State volleyball team gears up for the next tournament where they will host the Maryville Saints, Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm, and the number nine ranked Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs this upcoming weekend.