Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team will wrap up its 2013 campaign on the road as it looks to earn a spot in the NSIC/U.S. Bank Conference Tournament. The Mavericks are currently tied for eighth in the conference standings with MSU-Moorhead and Minnesota Crookston, the top eight teams will earn a spot in the tournament.
The Mavericks finished the home portion of their schedule with two big wins over Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State. MSU defeated UMC 3-2 on Friday evening before earning the straight-set victory over the Beavers on Saturday. Sophomore Chandra Honebrink (Waconia, Minn.) led the offensive charge posting back-to-back double-digit kill performances.
Honebrink amassed 35 kills (4.38 per set), while posting a .300 attacking percentage, in addition to 22 digs, three blocks, one service ace and one assist. Sophomore setter Ellie Van De Steeg (Hutchinson, Minn.) recorded 113 assists in the two matches, establishing a career-high 72 assists in the Mavericks 3-2 win over Minnesota Crookston. Defensively, it was freshman libero Haley Fogarty (Belle Plaine, Minn.), who posted 48 digs in the Mavericks' eight sets this past week.
Scouting the Opponent: The Mavericks defeated St. Cloud State 3-0 in Taylor Center on Sept. 27, before falling to Minnesota Duluth, 3-0 on Sept. 28. Sophomore Chandra Honebrink (Waconia, Minn.) paced the Mavericks against the Huskies recording 18 kills, Honebrink and junior Jenna McNallan (Andover, Minn.) each tallied eight kills against Minnesota Duluth.
UMD enters the final week of NSIC action as the third-rated team in the nation, boasting a 26-2 overall record with a 16-2 mark in conference action. The Bulldogs are coached by Jim Boos, who is in his 13th season as the head coach at UMD. Boos has guided the Bulldogs to 11 straight NCAA Tournaments. UMD is led by Kate Lange who averaged 5.39 kills per set (507 total kills), while reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week Julie Rainey has posted 518 digs this season.
St. Cloud State enters the final week of conference action with an 13-13 overall record (7-11 NSIC). The Huskies are coached by Michelle Blaeser who is in her fourth season as head coach. SCSU is led by senior Ellie Dietzen, who has recorded 264 kills while hitting .320. Defensively, sophomore Brianne Stamer leads the way with 415 digs to date.
Killin' It: The Mavericks have posted 1,242 kills compared to 1,138 kills by their opponents. MSU has amassed a .208 attacking percentage, compared to .239 by its opponents.
Serving It Up: MSU has tallied 129 service aces compared to 118 by its opponents, but the Mavericks have recorded 224 service errors to their opponents' 170.
Double-Down: There have been seven double-doubles by Mavericks this season, as sophomores Chandra Honebrink and Ellie Van De Steeg each have three double-doubles to their names, while junior Jenna McNallan has recorded one.
Player - Stats - Opponent, Date
Chandra Honebrink - 11 kills, 11 digs - Western Oregon, Sept. 07
Jenna McNallan - 16 kills, 12 digs - Upper Iowa, Sept. 21
Ellie Van De Steeg - 52 assists, 12 digs - Bemidji State, Oct. 4
Chandra Honebrink - 16 kills, 14 digs - Augustana,Oct. 11
Ellie Van De Steeg - 42 assists, 17 digs - Augustana, Oct. 11
Ellie Van De Steeg - 72 assists, 13 digs - UMC, Nov. 8
Chandra Honebrink - 21 kills, 13 digs - UMC, Nov. 8
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