Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State University volleyball team will return to the Taylor Center to take on St. Cloud State Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. The Mavericks will then welcome No. 2 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday with first serve set for 4:00 p.m. 

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State enters the week with an 8-5 and 2-3 record in the Northern Sun Collegiate Conference (NSIC). In their most recent match, the Mavericks fell to Minnesota Crookston, 3-2, in Crookston, Minn. 

By the Numbers: As a team this season, Minnesota State is averaging 12.7 kills per set to its opponents 11.7. The Mavericks are also posting 11.8 assists per set and 16.1 digs per set. Additionally, Minnesota State adds 54 aces and 83.5 blocks. 

Impact Mavericks: Senior Haley Fogarty leads the Mavericks with a team-best 5.38 digs per set which slots her third in the NSIC. Senior Krista Hassing adds a team-high 3.73 kills per set while sophomore Autumn Risch contributes 10.10 assists per set. 

Offensive Attack: Over the last three matches, Minnesota State has totaled 136 kills. The Mavericks posted 53 kills on their way to a 3-0 win over Bemidji State. 

Helping Hand: Sophomore Autumn Risch is averaging 33.33 assists per match over the last three matches including a match-high 45 assist performance at Bemidji State. 

Under the Radar: Senior Rissi McNallan is coming off a season-high 18 kill performance at Minnesota Crookston and leads the Mavericks with a team-best 13 service aces. 

Milestone Watch: Senior Haley Fogarty will look to become the all-time Maverick dig leader and is slotted in second place with 1,522 career digs. Forgarty lies 44 digs outside of the top slot which is currently held by Jen Jacobs with 1,623 career digs. 

Scouting St. Cloud State: St. Cloud State is located in St. Cloud, Minn., and has an overall record of 5-8 and a 1-4 conference record. The Huskies are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). St. Cloud State enters the week on a three game losing skid and are coming off a 3-0 loss to Upper Iowa in St. Cloud, Minn. The Huskies are led by Chad Braegelman, who is in his second season. 

These two schools last met during the 2015 season, Minnesota State swept St. Cloud State, 3-0, at the Taylor Center. The Huskies hold a slight edge in the all-time series, 49-46-1, but have not beaten the Mavericks since 2013. 

As a team this season, St. Cloud State is posting 11.8 kills per set and 11.0 assists per set .The Huskies also add 13.1 digs per set and 1.6 blocks per set.  

St. Cloud State is led by senior Macy Weller who currently averages 2.68 kills per set and has made 12 starts this season. Senior Marissa Kline is posting a team-best 9.40 assists while freshman Clara Krenz contributes a team-high 3.57 digs per set.

Scouting Minnesota Duluth: Minnesota Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and has an overall record of 13-0 and 5-0 conference record. The Bulldogs are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Minnesota Duluth is currently ranked No. 2 in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll. In their most recent match, the Bulldogs downed No. 9 Winona State, 3-1, at Duluth, Minn. Minnesota Duluth is led by Jim Boos, who has been the head coach since 2002 and is the winningest coach in program history. 

The last time these two schools met, Minnesota State upset the No. 8 ranked Bulldogs, 3-1, a the Taylor Center. Minneosta Duluth is 6-2 in the last eight meetings since 2010 and hold a 43-19-3 lead in the all-time series. 

As a team this season,  the Bulldogs rank third in the NSIC in hitting percentage (.293) and also rank fifth in both assists (13.3 per set) and kills (14.30). Minnesota Duluth adds14.6 digs per set and 2.3 blocks per set. 

The Bulldogs are led by freshman Emily Torve who is notching 11.93 assists per set which ranks fourth in the NSIC and recently earned NSIC Setter of the Week honors. Sophomore Makenzie Morgen is posting a team-high 3.14 kills per set while sophomore Erin Schindler adds a team-best 4.86 digs per set and was recently named the NSIC Defensive Player of the week. 

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will travel to Wayne State on Oct. 7 with first serve set for 7:00 p.m.