Mankato, Minn. ---The Minnesota State volleyball team (8-7) will return home after back to back weekends on the road as they continue NSIC competition. Friday the Mavericks take on Minnesota Crookston at Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn., with first serve at 6:00 p.m., Then the Mavericks wrap up the weekend with a match against Bemidji State at home with first serve slated for 2:00 p.m.

Mavericks at a Glance: The Mavericks are coming off another weekend on the road of NSIC competition where they went 0-2. Junior Mariah Edgington led the team with 18 kills (3.00 K/S). Senior Dana Schindler led the team with 30 assists. Senior defensive specialist and libero Mara Quam led the Mavericks with 26 digs on the weekend. This puts her 49 digs away from taking the Minnesota State all-time digs lead. Freshman Kiya Durant led the team with 6 blocks on the weekend.-

Impact Mavericks: Minnesota State is led on defense by senior defensive specialist Mara Quam who has recorded 272 digs (4.77/s) on the season. With these digs Quam leads the NSIC. Junior outside hitter Mariah Edgington leads the way in kills with 160 (2.96/s) this season.  Freshman middle blocker Kiya Durant has recorded 62.0 blocks (1.24/s). With 62 blocks Durant is third in the NSIC in blocks as a freshman.

Looking Back: The Mavericks recorded an 0-2 record this past weekend in their second weekend on the road in NSIC competition. Losing to #22 Minnesota Duluth and #16 St. Cloud State.

By the Numbers: This past weekend the Mavericks recorded 60  kills (10/s). Additionally, Minnesota State  added 57 assists (9.5/s) and 87 digs (14.5/s). 

Minnesota State History: The 2021 season marks the 53rd season in Minnesota State volleyball history dating back to 1968. Over that span the Mavericks have compiled an all-time record of 849-671-8 (.555).

Walking the Sidelines: Head coach Corey Phelps enters his first official season after serving as the interim head coach in 2019 and 2020. In 2019 coach Phelps posted a 19-12 record. So far in 2021 coach Phelps has earned a 8-7 record.

Scouting Minnesota Crookston: Minnesota Crookston is located in Crookston, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagles are 1-11 in 2021 with an 0-7 conference record. Minnesota Crookston is coached by Sarah Morgan who is in her 5th year with the team.

As a team in 2021, Minnesota Duluth has averaged 8.6 kills per set compared to its opponents 13.0. Additionally, the Golden Eagles average 7.5 assists per set and 10.9 digs per set. 

Minnesota Crookston is led on offense by Lauren Wallace who has recorded 88 kills so far in 2021-22 season. Natalie Koke is the primary setter for the team and has 242 assists. Layne Whaley leads the Golden Eagles on defense with 88 digs on the 2021-22 season. 

Scouting Bemidji State:  Bemidji State is located in Bemidji, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Beavers are 0-15 with an 0-7 conference record on the 2021-22 season. Bemidji State is led by head coach Kevin Ulmer who is currently in his sixth year with the team.

As a team in the 2021-22 season, the Beavers average 9.6 kills per set while their opponents notched 13.7. Bemidji State has also averaged 8.9 assists per set and 12.4 digs per set. 

Anna Averkamp leads the Beavers offense with 124 kills on the 2021-22 season. Emily Wade is the primary setter for Bemidji State having recorded 368 assists. Madison Weyker has 178 digs so far in the 2021-22 season.

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will return to action with another home weekend as they take on Augustana Friday, October 16th with first serve at 6:00 p.m., Then, the Mavericks square off against #7 Wayne State Saturday, October 16th with first serve slated for 2:00 p.m., Both matches are at Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn.