MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play as it hits the road for the second straight week at No.6 Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 6:00 p.m. The Mavericks will conclude the weekend at St. Cloud State on Saturday. First serve is set for 11:00 a.m.
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State enters the week with a 9-6 (3-4 NSIC) record. The Mavericks have won three out of their last four matches and most recently topped MSU Moorhead in a thriller, 3-2, last weekend.
Impact Mavericks: Junior Sydney Powell leads the Mavericks with a team-best 3.33 kills per set this season. Freshman Micayla Porter is handing out a team-leading 5.40 assists per set while freshman Mara Quam rounds out the top performers with 4.08 digs per set.
By the Numbers: As a team this season, Minnesota State has totaled 12.7 kills per set in comparison to its opponents' 10.9. Additionally, the Mavericks add 11.9 assists per set to go along with 14.4 digs per set.
Young Talent: Freshman Micayla Porter posted a career-best 32 assists at MSU Moorhead last weekend. She has reached the 20 assist plateau five times this season. Freshman Mara Quam has posted double-digits in her last 10 matches including a team-best 18 at MSU Moorhead. Freshman Alivia Garbe has also reached double-figures in kills her last three times out including a season-high 15 at MSU Moorhead.
Servin' Aces: Minnesota State sets the standard in the NSIC with 107 (1.95/s) service aces. Five Mavericks have reached double-digits in service aces this season: freshman Micayla Porter (20), junior Sydney Powell (18), freshman Alivia Garbe (15), junior Autumn Risch (14), and redshirt freshman Ashton Lee (12).
Winning in Five: Minnesota State is 2-0 in five set matches this season with wins over Gannon and MSU Moorhead earlier this season.
Block Party: MSU has tallied 81 blocks this season. Sophomore Anissa Janzig leads the Mavericks with a team-best 37.0 blocks. Redshirt freshman Ashton Lee has also reached the 30 block plateau with 34 this season.
Bring Out the Brooms: The Mavericks have recorded six sweeps so far this season in comparison to seven sweeps during the 2016 season.
Facing the Top-25: This week marks the fifth week in a row that Minnesota State will face a team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. The Mavericks are 0-4 this season when facing a top-25 opponent. Most recently, Minnesota State fell at No. 14 Northern State, 3-0, last weekend.
Scouting #6 Minnesota Duluth: Minnesota Duluth is located in Duluth, Minn. The Bulldogs enter the week slotted sixth in the in the AVCA poll with a 13-2 overall and 6-1 NSIC record. Most recently, Minnesota Duluth fell to No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State, 3-0, on the road. The Bulldogs are led by head coach Jim Boos who is the winningest coach in program history since taking over in 2002.
Last season, Minnesota State fell to Minnesota Duluth by the scores of 3-1 and 3-2. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 45-20.
Senior Allison Olley leads the NSIC in hitting percentage with .482 and adds 113 kills. Junior Sarah Kelly ranks second in the NSIC with 181 kills and a .480 hitting percentage. Defensively, junior Makenzie Morgan has contributed a team-high 148 digs (3.08/s)
Scouting St. Cloud State: St. Cloud State is located in St. Cloud, Minn., and has an overall record of 10-6 and 3-4 NSIC. The Huskies have lost their last two matches and most recently dropped a 3-1 decision at Sioux Falls. St. Cloud State is led by third year head coach Chad Braegelmann.
In the most recent meeting last season, Minnesota State topped St. Cloud State, 3-1. The Mavericks have won the last five match ups while the Huskies lead the all-time series, 49-48.
Senior Nicole Miller leads the Huskies with a team-high 158 (2.82/s) kills while senior Kayla Crane is handing out a team-best 340 (6.07/s) assists. Sophomore Clara Krenz rounds out the top performers with a team-leading 324 (5.79/s) digs .
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will return home to face on Oct. 13. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m., at Taylor Center.
-30-
