Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State University volleyball team will travel to Missouri to continue nonconference play taking part in the Gold & Green Challenge over the weekend.
On the first day of action, MSU will take on No. 24 Rockhurst at 9:00 a.m. before squaring off with Northwest Missouri State at 6:00 p.m in Maryville, Mo. On the final day competition, the Mavericks will travel to St. Joseph, Mo., to battle Missouri S&T at 11:00 a.m. and close the road trip with Missouri Western State with first serve set for 6:00 p.m.
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State enters the weekend with a 4-0 overall record and 0-0 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) action. The Mavericks opened the season with back-to-back sweeps over Franklin Pierce and Pitt.-Johnstown. MSU then closed the weekend with a 3-1 win over Henderson State and capped the four game road trip with an upset win over No. 7 University of Tampa , 3-1.
By The Numbers: As a team this season, Minnesota State is averaging 13.6 kills per set to its opponents 9.7. The Mavericks are also posting 12.4 assists per set and 16.1 digs per set. Additionally, Minnesota State adds 21 aces in comparison to their opponents 16 and 20 total blocks to the competitions 12.
Climbing the Ranks: After a strong opening weekend, Minnesota State is receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll. The Mavericks sit on the outside of the top 25 but garnered 53 votes in the first regular season poll. Concordia-St. Paul holds the top spot with 1,118 points and 39 first place votes.
Impact Mavericks: Senior
Krista Hassing and senior
Sydney Geisness lead the MSU offense with 50 kills (3.57 per set) each while sophomore
Sydney Powell adds 37 kills (2.64 per set) of her own. Sophomore
Autumn Risch contributes a team-best 142 assists (10.14 per set). Defensively, senior
Haley Fogarty leads the Mavericks with 78 digs (5.57 per set) while sophomore
Maddie Keute contributes 31 digs (2.21 digs per set) .
Scouting Rockhurst: Rockhurst is located in Kansas City, Mo., and has an overall record of 2-2 and 0-0 conference record. The Hawks are members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). In their most recent match, the Hawks fell to Nova Southeastern in five sets, 3-2. Rockhurst entered week one of the season ranked No. 11 nationally and has since fallen to No. 24 in most recent AVCA Coaches poll. The Hawks are led by Tracy Rietzke, who enters his 28th season at the helm.
Through the first four games of the season, Rockhurst is averaging 12.6 kills per set and carry a .212 hitting percentage. The Hawks are also averaging 11.7 assists per set and 18.7 digs per set. Rockhurst added 23 aces and 30 blocks over the first four games.
The Hawks are led by freshman Alyssa Woodman who currently leads the team with 65 kills (3.61 per set) while senior Morgan Rietzke adds 49 kills (2.72 per set). Defensively, junior Holli Hogge leads the team with 16 blocks (.89 per set) with two solo on the season.
Scouting Northwest Missouri State: Northwest Missouri State is located in Maryville, Mo., and has an overall record of 4-0 and 0-0 conference record. The Bearcats are members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). In their most recent match, the Bearcats swept Georgian Court, 3-0. Northwest Missouri State is led by Amy Woerth, who is in her fifth season.
Through the first four games, Northwest Missouri State is averaging 13.3 kills per game and is posting a .221 hitting percentage. The Bearcats also add 12.8 assists per set and 14.0 digs per set.
Northwest Missouri State is led by sophomore Maddy Brauder who leads the team in kills with 64 (4.00 per set) while junior Sarah Dannettell adds a team-best 159 assists (9.94 per set). Defensively, sophomore Olivia Nowakowski notches at team-high 64 digs (4.00 per set) to round the Bearcat top performers.
Scouting Missouri S&T: Missouri S&T is located in Rolla, Mo.,and has an overall record of 0-4 and 0-0 conference record. The Miners are members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). In their most recent match, the Miners fell to Concordia-Portland, 3-0. The Miners are led by head coach Jason Holt, who is in his 10th season at the helm.
Through the first four games of the season, Missouri S&T is averaging 11.5 kills per set and is posting a .152 hitting percentage. The Miners are also averaging 10.6 assists per set and 17.6 digs per set. Missouri S&T totals 19 blocks and nine aces on the season.
The Miners are led by sophomore Carlie Combs who leads the team in kills with 49 (3.77 per set) while junior Alexis White contributes a team-high 71 assists (5.92 per set). Defensively, freshman Corinne Stulce is notching a team-best 73 digs (5.62 per set) to close out the Missouri S&T top performers.
Scouting Missouri Western State: Missouri Western State is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and enters the weekend with an overall record of 2-2 and 0-0 conference record. The Griffons are members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). In their most recent match, the Griffons downed Midwestern State, 3-0. Missouri Western State is led by head coach Marian Carbin, who is in her fourth season.
Through the first four games, the Griffons are averaging 11.5 kills per set and have a team hitting percentage of .196. Missouri Western State also adds 10.6 assists per set and 14.2 digs per set. The Griffons are totaling 20 blocks and 27 aces on the season .
Missouri Western State is led by freshman Stephanie Doak who leads the team in kills with 39 (2.29 kills per set) while senior Kortney Blaufuss adds a team-best 91 assists (10.11 assists per set). Senior Kelsey Olion leads the Griffons with a team-high 40 digs (2.35 per set) to round out the top performers.
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will travel to Winona State on Sept. 3 to battle the Warriors at 7:00 p.m. The Mavericks will open their regular season home schedule on Sept. 17 against Upper Iowa at 4:00 p.m.
