MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State Volleyball (9-9, 4-6) is on the road this week, taking on Minnesota Duluth (14-5, 7-4) and St. Cloud State (14-6, 7-4). The Mavericks play the Bulldogs on Friday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. and play the Huskies the following day at 2 p.m. 

About the Mavericks 

The Mavericks are currently ranked ninth in the NSIC with a conference record of 4-6. The team ranks third in the conference in blocks with 139. 

Minnesota State's kills and service aces leader is senior Sophie Tietz, who has recorded 160 kills and 27 aces so far this season. Tietz also has 54 blocks, ranking third. Junior middle blocker Kiya Durant is second on the team in kills with 130 and tied for first in blocks with Emily Kern with 61. Durant is also hitting at a rate of .358, which ranks fifth in the NSIC. Brooke Bolwerk leads the team in assists with 417 and has 119 digs. Ellie Kline leads the Mavericks in digs with 254. 

About the Bulldogs 

Minnesota Duluth is ranked fifth in the NSIC with a conference record of 7-4. The Bulldogs are third in hitting percentage in the conference, at .252. 

The Bulldogs are led offensively by Cianna Selbitschka, who leads the team in kills with 242 (which ranks third in the NSIC) and aces with 20. She also has 225 digs in 2023. Madison Gordon has 701 assists on the season to lead Minnesota Duluth. Hope Schjenken and Grace Daak lead the Bulldogs in blocks, with each recording 60 and 58, respectively. Kaylyn Madison ranks third in the conference in digs with 332, averaging nearly five per set. The Bulldogs are coached by Jim Boos, the winningest coach in Minnesota Duluth Volleyball history. Minnesota State trails the all-time series against Minnesota Duluth, 20-51-3. 

About the Huskies 

St. Cloud State sits at sixth in the NSIC with a conference record of 7-4. The Huskies rank second in the conference in kills (989), assists (910) and service aces (124). 

St. Cloud State is led offensively by the NSIC kills leader, Kenzie Foley, who has 343 kills so far this season. Foley has also recorded 219 digs, 31 blocks and 23 service aces. Emma Berran has 791 assists on the season, ranking second in the conference, and 28 aces. Keely Kurschner has 298 digs to lead the Huskies. Hannah Bruskiewicz and Sam Zimmerman lead the Huskies with 55 and 54 blocks in 2023. Both Bruskiewicz and Zimmerman have also combined for 340 kills. The Huskies are coached by ninth-year coach Chad Braegelmann. The Huskies have the edge on the Mavericks in the all-time series, 53-50-1.