About the Opposition: No. 14 Minnesota State (16-6, 10-4 NSIC) will take to the road for a pair of NSIC matches this weekend as it travels Sioux Falls, S.D. to square off against Augustana (15-8, 9-4 NSIC), Friday, then will travel to Wayne, Neb. to face No. 18 Wayne State (18-6, 10-4 NSIC). The Mavericks fell to the Vikings earlier in the season by a score of 3-1 and were able to come away with a 3-2 win over the Wildcats. Minnesota State holds a 26-31 all-time record against Augustana, and is 13-7 all-time against the Wildcats.
Looking Back: The Mavericks played a trio of matches this past week as they fell to the No. 2 Golden Bears last Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn. by a score of 3-0, Minnesota State then returned to the friendly confines of the Taylor Center for a pair of matches against Bemidji State and Minnesota, Crookston. The Mavericks were able to sweep both the Beavers and the Golden Eagles last Friday and Saturday respectively.
Get Your Brooms Out: Minnesota State earned the fourth and fifth sweeps of the season this past weekend as they defeated both Bemidji State and Minnesota, Crookston this past weekend.
Give Me a Five!: The Mavericks are a perfect 4-0 in matches that go five sets. Minnesota State has defeated Sioux Falls 3-2, No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 3-2, Northern State 3-2, and most recently No. 18 Wayne State 3-2. All four of the five-set matches have taken place in the Taylor Center.
In the Polls: Southwest Minnesota State is the No. 1 ranked team in the country for the second straight week with an overall record of 21-1, it is just one of five institutions representing the NSIC in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll. The Mustangs are joined by No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul, No. 5 Minnesota, Duluth, No. 14 Minnesota State University and No. 18 Wayne State (Neb.).
Join the Gang: This year the NSIC officially expanded to 16 teams with the addition of Minot State University and the University of Sioux Falls.
Setting the Bar: Freshman setter Ellie Van De Steeg (Hutchinson, Minn.) is having an outstanding freshman campaign for the Mavericks, who are currently ranked fifth in the conference in assists per set, 23rd in the nation in assists per set, and individually Van De Steeg ranks fourth in the conference with 11.93 assists per set, and eighth in the nation in the same category.
Over the Jill: Senior middle-blocker Jill Storlie (Byron, Minn.) continues to be a force to be reckoned with for opposing hitters, Storlie has recorded 102 total blocks during the 2012 campaign, including 15 solo-blocks. Storlie is currently ranked sixth in the conference with 1.06 blocks per set and 25th in the nation in blocks per set with 1.21, collectively, Minnesota State sits at 11th in the nation in block per set averaging 2.49 through 22 matches.
Bump, Set, Stein: Senior outside hitter Courteney Steinhauser (New Ulm, Minn.) currently ranks fourth in the conference in blocks per set, tallying 64 blocks (1.19 per set) this season in NSIC play. Steinhauser is second on the team in total blocks with 90 and has also recorded 209 kills while hitting a team high .289. The Mavericks are currently hitting .227 in conference play this season, which is fourth best in the NSIC.
Double-Double: Senior outside hitter Chelsea Fogarty (Belle Plaine, Minn.) has been getting it done offensively and defensively for the Mavericks, she has recorded 14 double-doubles through the Mavericks first 22 matches of the 2012 campaign. Fogartry recorded a season-high 22 kills against Minnesota State-Moorhead, Sept. 22 and a career-high 21 digs against Wayne State (Neb.) Oct. 5.
One For the Record Books: Senior outside hitter Chelsea Fogarty became the fourth player in Minnesota State University history to post 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs, she currently sits second on the school’s all-time kill list with 1,467 kills and eighth on the all-time digs list with 1,104 digs. Fogarty joins Nichole Rose (2000-’03) who had 1,280 kills and 1,036 digs, Ashley Nachreiner (2005-’08) who finished her career with 1,379 kills and 1,036 digs and Jen Jacobs (2000-’03) who holds Minnesota State’s all-time kill record with 1,555 kills and all-time digs with 1,623.
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