MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play when it travels to No. 14 Northern State on Friday at 6:00 p.m. The Mavericks will conclude the weekend trip at MSU Moorhead on Saturday. First serve is set for 3:00 p.m.  

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State enters the week with a 8-5 (2-3 NSIC) record.  The Mavericks are currently riding a two match win streak after recording back-to-back sweeps over U-Mary and Minot State last weekend at Taylor Center. 

Impact Mavericks: Junior Sydney Powell leads the Mavericks with at team-best 3.39 kills per set this season. Freshman Micayla Porter and junior Autumn Risch are each handing out a team-high 5.30 assists per set. Freshman Mara Quam rounds out the top performers with 4.09 digs per set.  

By the Numbers: As a team this season, Minnesota State has totaled 12.0 kills per set in comparison to its opponents' 10.9. Additionally, the Mavericks add 12.0 assists per set and 14.0 digs per set.

Young Talent: Freshman Mara Quam reached double-digits in digs in her last eight matches including a match-high 15 at No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul last week. Freshman Micayla Porter handed out at match-best 22 assists vs. Minot State. She has reached the 20 assist plateau four times this season. Freshman Alivia Garbe dished out a team-best 12 digs vs.U-Mary before totaling a team-leading 11 kills against Minot State. 

Servin' Aces: Minnesota State leads the NSIC in service aces with 89. Five Mavericks have reached double-digits in service aces this season: freshman Micayla Porter (17), junior Sydney Powell (16), freshman Alivia Garbe (15), junior Autumn Risch (11), and redshirt freshman Ashton Lee (11).

Block Party: Minnesota State has tallied 68 blocks this season. Sophomore Anissa Janzig sets the standard with a team-best 26 blocks while redshirt freshman Ashton Lee has also reached the 20 block plateau with 23 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: The Mavericks are 0-3 this season when facing a top-25 opponent. Most recently, Minnesota State dropped a 3-1 decision at No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul last week. 

Scouting #14 Northern State: Northern State is located in Aberdeen, S.D., and enters the week ranked No. 14 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. The Wolves are currently on an 11 match win streak after most recently upending Upper Iowa, 3-1, on the road. Northern State is led by head coach Brent Aldridge who is in his seventh season. 

Earlier this season, Northern State blanked Minnesota State, 3-0, on Sept. 8 at the Max and Erma's Invitational in Aberdeen, S.D. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 18-8. 

Redshirt sophomore Ashley Rozell was named the NSIC Setter of the Week after posting 146 assists (13.27/s) last week. She also leads the NSIC in service aces with 31. Freshman Laura  Snyder was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week last week after totaling 46 kills with a .519 attack percentage . 

Scouting MSU Moorhead: MSU Moorhead is located in in Moorhead, Minn. The Dragons enter the week with a 7-6 (2-3 NSIC) record. MSU Moorhead has dropped its last three match ups and most recently dropped a 3-0 decision at No. 9 Winona State. The Dragons are led by Tammy Blake who is in her 21st season at the helm. 

Last season, Minnesota State edged MSU Moorhead, 3-2, at Taylor Center. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 21-11. 

Sophomore Kaylyn Jenkins leads the Dragons with a team-high 104 (2.26/s) kills this season to go along with .259 attack percentage. Freshman Ellie Hoyt is distributing a team-leading 388 (8.43/s) assists this season. 

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will travel to No. 6 Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 6. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m.