Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State University volleyball team will begin a two match home stand with Sioux Falls on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. The Mavericks will then welcome No. 3 Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday with first serve set for 4:00 p.m.

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State enters the week with a 9-8 overall record and a 3-6 record in the Northern Sun Collegiate Conference (NSIC). In their most recent match, the Mavericks fell to No. 6 Augustana, 3-0, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

By the Numbers: As a team this season, Minnesota State is averaging 12.8 kills per set to its opponents 11.8. The Mavericks are also posting 12.0 assists per set and a .208 hitting percentage. Additionally, Minnesota State adds 71 aces and 38 solo blocks on the season. 

Impact Mavericks: Senior Haley Fogarty leads the Mavericks with a team-best 5.3 digs per set which slots her third in the NSIC. Senior Krista Hassing is contributing a team-high 3.7 kills per set while sophomore Autumn Risch totals 10.4 assists per set. 

All-Time Digs Leader: Senior Haley Fogarty passed Jen Jacobs following her season-high 35 dig performance at Wayne State to become the all-time digs leader with 1,667 career digs. 

Dig Party: The Mavericks posted a season-best 119 digs at Wayne State. Minnesota State is averaging 16.0 digs per set. 

Helping Hand: Sophomore Autumn Risch totaled 93 assists last weekend highlighted by a season-high 60 assist performance at Wayne State. 

Under the Radar: Senior Rissi McNallan is notching a team-high 17 service aces. She posted a season-best three service aces at Minnesota Crookston.

Closing out: The Mavericks are 3-1 in matches ending in the fourth set with the lone loss coming against Concordia-St. Paul this season.  

Bring Out the Brooms: Minnesota State has recorded five sweeps this season. The Mavericks totaled nine sweeps during the 2015 season. 

Scouting Sioux Falls: Sioux Falls is located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and has an overall record of 11-6 and 5-4 conference record. The Cougars are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Sioux Falls enters the week having won five out of it's last six matches and most recently downed Upper Iowa, 3-1, in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Cougars are led by Joel McCartney, who is in his sixth season. 

The Mavericks have won the last two match ups between these two schools. In their most recent meeting during the 2015 season, Minnesota State swept Sioux Falls, 3-0, at Taylor Center. The all-time series between these two teams is knotted at 3-3. 
 
As a team this season, Sioux Falls ranks first in the NSIC with 2.40 blocks per set. The Cougars are posting 13.1 kills per set to the opponents 11.1. Additionally, Sioux Falls adds 12.1 assists per set and 13.0 digs per set. 

The Cougars are led by sophmore Makenna Rockeman who currently averages 3.9 kills per set which slots her third in the NSIC. Defensively, senior Jordan Calef ranks second in the NSIC with 1.23 blocks per set. Senior Abby Folk is notching 3.66 digs per set to round out the top performers.

Scouting Southwest Minnesota State: Southwest Minnesota State is located in Marshall, Minn., and has an overall record of 14-3 and 8-1 conference record. The Mustangs are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Southwest Minnesota State is currently ranked No. 3 in this weeks AVCA Coaches Poll. The Mustangs enter the week riding an eight match win streak. In it's most recent match, Southwest Minnesota State outlasted No. 7 Winona State, 3-2, in Marshall, Minn. The Mustangs are led by Terry Culhane, who is in his 13th season at the helm. 

Southwest Minnesota State has won the last two matches between these two programs. In their most recent meeting, Minnesota State fell to the Cougars, 3-0. However, the Mavericks lead the all-time series, 28-24.

As a team this season, Southwest Minnesota State ranks second in the NSIC in hitting percentage (.319), assists per set (14.10), and kills per set (14.95). Additionally, the Mustangs add 16.47 digs per set and 2.30 blocks per set. 

Southwest Minnesota State is led by junior Megan Larson who was recently named the NSIC Setter of the Week and ranks first in Division II with 12.7 assists per set. Sophomore Taylor Reiss leads the NSIC with 5.12 kills per set while freshman Amber Messner is posting a team-best  4.38 digs per set.

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will travel to Concordia-St. Paul on Oct. 18 with first serve set for 7:00 p.m.