MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team will return home for the final weekend of the 2018 regular season with a match Friday, at 6:00 p.m., against Wayne State, and Saturday, at 2:00 p.m., against Augustana.

Mavericks at a Glance: The Mavericks enter the week with a 16-10 (9-9 NSIC) overall record after dropping a pair of matches against Sioux Falls, and #12 Southwest Minnesota State. 

Impact Mavericks: Morgan Olson leads the Mavericks with a team best 414 kills and a .375 attacking percentage.  Olson is closing in the single season kills record for Minnesota State which stands at 499 set by Kris Wolle in 1999.  Alivia Garbe has the second most kills for Minnesota State with 295, and is also second on the team in digs with 265 on the season.  Mara Quam has compiled 472 digs this season which is closing in on the single season record of 480 set by Alli Rice in 2009, and Micayla Porter leads the teams in assists with 629.

By the Numbers: As a team this season, Minnesota State has posted 13.3 kills per set in comparison to its opponents 11.9.  Additionally, the Mavericks add 12.8 assists per set and 14.3 digs per set.  

Young Talent: The freshman class has contributed 235 digs, 598 assists, 143 kills and 54 blocks this season. Freshman Lauren Lowry is second on the team with 488 assists and Dana Schindler is fifth on the team with 118 kills.

Scouting Wayne State:  Wayne State is located in Wayne, Neb., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  The Wildcats are 21-7 (12-6 NSIC) so far this season. Wayne State is led by head coach Scott Kneifl, who is in his 14th season with the Wildcats.

As a team this season, Wayne State posts 12.1 kills per set while their opponents average 12.1. The Wildcats also total 11.2 assists per set and 17.5 digs per set. 

Junior Katie Stephens is the leading attacker for Wayne State, with 280 kills on the season, and is joined by sophomore Alyssa Ballenger, who has 248 kills.  Senior Megan Gebhart is the primary setter for the Wildcats and has 943 assists on the season.  On the defensive end, junior Haley Kauth is the team leader in digs with 433.  

Scouting Augustana: Augustana is located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  The Vikings are 10-16 (5-13 NSIC) so far this season. Augustana is led by second year head coach, and Maverick Hall of Fame member, Jen Jacobs.  

As a team this season, the Vikings total 12.2 kills in comparison to its opponents' 13.4. Additionally, Augustana posts 11.5 assists per set and 16.8 digs per set. 

Senior Courtney Place is the leading attacker for the Vikings with 385 kills on the season.  Freshmen Avery Thorson is the primary setter for Augustana and leads the team with 864 assists.  Senior Libero Kaylea Ahrens leads the Vikings in digs this season with 368.  

Looking Ahead: If the Mavericks finish this weekend in the top eight of the NSIC standings, they would begin postseason play on Tuesday, Nov. 6.