MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play when it travels to defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. The Mavericks will then return home to take on U-Mary on Friday at 6:00 p.m. MSU wraps up the week on Saturday hosting Minot State at noon.
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State enters the week with a 6-4 overall record and 0-2 NSIC record. Minnesota State fell to No. 11 Winona State, 3-0, in its home opener before dropping at 3-1 decision at Upper Iowa.
Impact Mavericks: Junior Sydney Powell leads the Mavericks with at team-best 3.35 kills per set this season. Freshman Micayla Porter sets the standard with a team-high 5.21 assists per set. Freshman Mara Quam has contributed a team-leading 4.26 digs per set .
By the Numbers: As a team this season, Minnesota State has posted 12.9 kills per set in comparison to its opponents' 11.1. Additionally, the Mavericks add 12.0 assists per set and 14.3 digs per set to round out the top performers.
Young Talent: Freshman Micayla Porter contributed match-high 27 assists to go along with a season-best 17 digs against Upper Iowa last weekend. She has reached the 20 assists plateau three times this season. Freshman Mara Quam totaled a match-best 20 digs against the Peacocks. She also added a team-best 16 digs facing No. 11 Winona State earlier in the week.
Servin' Aces: Minnesota State leads the NSIC in service aces with 66. Three Mavericks have reached double-digits in service aces this season: freshman Alivia Garbe (13), freshman Micayla Porter (12), and redshirt freshman Ashton Lee (10)
Block Party: Minnesota State has tallied 47 blocks this season. Sophomore Anissa Janzig sets the standard with a team-best 24 blocks.
Scouting #2 Concordia-St. Paul: Concordia-St. Paul is located in St. Paul, Minn. The defending National Champions enter the week ranked No. 2 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll with a 9-1 overall record and 2-0 NSIC. Most recently, Concordia-St. Paul topped #11 Winona State, 3-1, on the road. The Golden Bears are led by head coach Brady Starkey who is in his 15th season.
In its most recent meeting, Concordia-St. Paul blanked Minnesota State, 3-0, in the first round of the NSIC Tournament last season. The Golden Bears lead the all-time series, 26-4.
Junior Elizabeth Mohr leads Concordia-St. Paul with 13.41 assists per set which leads the NSIC. She also is contributing 1.85 digs per set. Offensively, sophomore Sara Macik has a .387 hitting percentage slotting her fifth in the NSIC. She also adds 3.10 kills per set with 36 blocks this season.
Scouting U-Mary: U-Mary is located in Bismarck, N.D. The Marauders enter the week with a 4-7 overall record and 0-2 NSIC record. U-Mary is currently on a three match losing streak and most recently fell to MSU Moorhead, 3-1. The Marauders are led by head coach Thais Franca who is in her third season.
In their most recent match up, Minnesota State downed U-Mary, 3-1, in Bismarck, N.D last season. The Mavericks are 13-0 all-time facing the Marauders.
Senior Lauren Randall leads U-Mary with a .220 hitting percentage to go along with 4.79 kills per set. Junior Amanda Lopes is handing out a team-best 9.09 assists per set to round out the top performers.
Scouting Minot State: Minot State is located in Minot, N.D., and enter the week with a 3-7 overall record and 0-2 NSIC. The Beavers on a six match losing skid after falling to #24 Northern State, 3-0. Minot State is led by first year head coach Dana Cordova.
Earlier this season, the Mavericks blanked the Beavers, 3-0, at the Max & Erma's Classic in Aberdeen, S.D. Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 5-1.
Sophomore Shelby Spuller is totaling a team-high 4.08 kills per set with a .185 hitting percentage. Junior Kelsey Dewulf is dishing out 9.71 assists per set while freshman Karli Coza is contributing 5.11 digs per frame.
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will travel to Aberdeen, S.D., to take on Northern State on Sept. 29. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m
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