MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State University volleyball team squares off with Concordia-St. Paul in the opening round of the NSIC tournament on Wednesday with first serve set for 7:00 p.m. 

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State enters the week with an 16-12 overall record and a 10-10 NSIC record. The Mavericks have won seven of their last eight match ups and are coming off sweeps over Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. Following last weekend, Minnesota State qualified for the NSIC Tournament for the third consecutive season.  

By the Numbers: As a team this season, the Mavericks are posting 12.8 kills per set compared to its opponents 12.3. Additionally, Minnesota State adds 12.1 assists per set and 14.9 digs per set.  

Impact Mavericks: Sophomore Autumn Risch leads the Mavericks with a team-high 10.6 assists per set. Senior Krista Hassing is totaling a team-leading 3.5 kills per set while senior Haley Fogarty contributes a team-best 3.9 digs per set. 

NSIC Tournament History: This will mark the third straight meeting between Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament. Last season, Minnesota State came up short, 3-2, in St. Paul, Minn. The Mavericks held a 2-1 lead after three sets and lost by scores of 17-25, 25-19, 26-24, 18-25, and 13-15. Krista Hassing led the Mavericks with a match-high 21 kills and added five blocks. 

The Last Time: The last time Minnesota State won a post season match was during the 2002 season. The Mavericks toppled North Dakota State, 3-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Greeley, Colo. 

On the Attack: The Mavericks posted a season-high .406 hitting percentage vs. Minnesota Crookston. MSU has posted a team hitting percentage above .300 five times this season. 

Hot Streak: Minnesota State has won seven of its last eight matches including back-to-back sweeps over Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston last weekend. 

Scouting Concordia-St. Paul: Concordia-St Paul enters the week with an overall record of 26-2 and 18-2 NSIC record. The Golden Bears enter the week on a 10 match win streak and have swept their last three opponents. Concordia-St. Paul is currently ranked No. 1 in this weeks AVCA Coaches Poll and is the No. 1 overall seed in the NSIC Tournament.In their most recent match, the Golden Bears swept Bemidji State, 3-0, in St. Paul, Minn. Concordia-St. Paul is led by Brady Starkey, who is in his 14th season. 

These two teams have met twice this season. In the first match-up, Minnesota State dropped a 3-1 decision at Taylor Center on Sept. 20. In the second meeting, the Golden Bears swept the Mavericks, 3-0, in St. Paul, Minn. Concordia-St. Paul leads the all-time series, 4-23. 

As team this season, Concordia-St. Paul ranks first in the NSIC in hitting percentage with  .334. Additionally, the Golden Bears are totaling 14.9 kills per set, 14.1 assists per set and 15.9 digs per set. 

Freshman Sara Macek ranks first in the NSIC in hitting percentage with .484 while senior Riley Hanson is slotted second with a .446 hitting percentage. Senior Kasey Williams is posting a team-best 12.2 assists per set while senior Emily McDonough rounds out the top performers with 4.49 digs per set.