The Minnesota State University volleyball team will return home for the final home match of the season against Upper Iowa, before they take to the road to face Winona State on Saturday.

About the Opposition:  The No. 20 Mavericks (16-8, 10-6 NSIC) will host the Peacocks from Upper Iowa (15-10, 9-7 NSIC) on Thursday evening in the Taylor Center, Minnesota State will be recognizing its seniors prior to first serve. The Mavericks have never lost to the Peacocks sporting an impressive 11-0 all-time record. Saturday will see Minnesota State traveling to Winona, Minn. for a match-up against conference-foe, Winona State (18-8, 10-6 NSIC). The Mavericks hold a 45-12 all-time advantage over the Warriors, and have not lost to them since 2005.

Looking Back:  Minnesota State took to the road this past weekend as it got swept by Augustana and Wayne State (Neb.) in a pair of conference matches, with the losses the Mavericks fell to 16-8 on the season and 10-6 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Collectively Minnesota State hit just .097 in the two matches and committed 43 attacking errors in six total sets.

Sweep or be Swept: The Mavericks have swept their opponents five times this season, defeating Dominican (N.Y.), Truman State, Minot State, Bemidji State, and Minnesota, Crookston all in three sets. Minnesota State has been swept five times this season, as they suffered three-set losses to No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State, No. 5 Minnesota, Duluth, No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul, No. 16 Wayne State (Neb.) and Augustana.

Way Back When: The last time that Minnesota State has played a match that has lasted more than three sets was against the University of Mary, on Oct. 12, the Mavericks won the match 3-1.

Top 25: Southwest Minnesota State is the No. 1 ranked team in the country for the third week with an overall record of 23-1, it is 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. 16 Wayne State (Neb.), and No. 20 Minnesota State University.

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.

She’s a Freshman!: Freshman setter Ellie Van De Steeg (Hutchinson, Minn.) is having an outstanding freshman campaign for the Mavericks, who are currently ranked fourth in the conference in assists per set, 34th in the nation in assists per set, and individually Van De Steeg ranks fourth in the conference with 12.53 assists per set, and 11th 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 107 total blocks during the 2012 campaign, including 16 solo-blocks. Storlie is currently ranked third in the conference with 1.19 blocks per set and 28th in the nation, collectively, Minnesota State sits at ninth in the nation in block per set averaging 2.53 through 24 matches.

Bump, Set, Stein: Senior outside hitter Courteney Steinhauser (New Ulm, Minn.)  currently ranks sixth in the conference in blocks per set, tallying 101 total blocks this season. Steinhauser is second on the team in total blocks with 101, and has also recorded 218 kills while hitting a team high .279.

Double-Double: Senior outside hitter Chelsea Fogarty (Belle Plaine, Minn.) has been getting it done offensively and defensively for the Mavericks, she has recorded 15 double-doubles through the Mavericks first 24 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 1,492 kills and eighth on the all-time digs list with 1,126 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.

For the complete release in PDF form, click HERE