MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) as it travels west to take on No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State on Friday at 6:00 p.m. The Mavericks will finish their road trip taking on Sioux Falls on Saturday. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m.
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State enters the week with an 11-10 (5-8 NSIC) record. The Mavericks have fell in their last two matches and most recently dropped a 3-1 decision against No. 20 Wayne State.
Impact Mavericks: Junior Sydney Powell leads the Mavericks with a team-best 198 (3.05/s) kills this season. Freshman Micayla Porter is passing out a team-high 423 (5.64/s) assists while freshman Mara Quam rounds out the top performers with 321 (4.28/s) digs .
By the Numbers: As a team this season, Minnesota State has compiled 12.7 kills per set in comparison to its opponents' 11.3. Additionally, the Mavericks add 12.0 assists per set to go along with 14.3 digs per set.
Servin' Aces: Minnesota State totaled 14 service aces last weekend and lead the NSIC with 144 (1.92/s) this season. Freshman Micayla Porter posted six service aces last weekend and ranks second in the NSIC with 34 (.45/s) this season.
On the Defensive End: Freshman Mara Quam contributed 49 digs last weekend including a career-best 32 against Augustana. She has reached double-figures in digs 18 times this season.
Winning in Five: Minnesota State is 2-1 in five set matches this season with wins over Gannon and MSU Moorhead earlier this season.
Block Party: MSU has tallied 137.5 blocks this season. Sophomore Anissa Janzig sets the standard with a team-best 54.0 blocks while redshirt freshman Ashton Lee adds 49.0.
Bring Out the Brooms: The Mavericks have recorded seven sweeps so far this season. Most recently, Minnesota State swept Bemidji State, 3-0, at Taylor Center.
Scouting #1 Southwest Minnesota State: Southwest Minnesota State is located in Marshall, Minn. The Mustangs enter the week ranked No. 1 in this weeks AVCA Coaches Poll with a 20-1 (12-1 NSIC) record. SMSU is currently on a four match win streak and most recently sailed past Upper Iowa, 3-1. The Mustangs are led by Terry Culhane who is in is 14th season at the helm.
In their most recent meeting last season, SMSU blanked Minnesota State, 3-0, at Taylor Center. However, the Mavericks hold the slight edge in the all-time series, 28-25.
Junior Taylor Reiss sets the standard in the NSIC with a league-leading 354 (4.72/s) kills this season. Senior Megan Larson is slotted second in the NSIC with 932 (12.43/s) assists while junior Kaylee Burmeister adds 257 (3.43/s) digs this season.
Scouting Sioux Falls: Sioux Falls is located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and has an overall record of 13-5 (8-5 NSIC) this season. The Cougars are receiving votes in this weeks AVCA Coaches Poll after downing Winona State, 3-1. Sioux Falls is led by sixth year head coach Joel McCartney.
The last time these two programs met last season, the Cougars topped the Mavericks, 3-1, at Taylor Center. Minnesota State holds the advantage in the all-time series, 4-3.
Junior Makenna Rockeman leads the Cougars with a team-best 234 (3.44/s) kills this season. Junior Megan Hamsted is handing out 642 (9.30/s) assists while senior Janelle Lam adds 306 (4.43/s) digs to round out the top performers.
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State returns home on Oct. 31 to take on No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m.
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