MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State volleyball team (13-3, 5-3 NSIC) plays two matches this week; First, the Mavericks travel to Sioux Falls to take on the Cougars (11-6, 6-3 NSIC) on Thursday Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. A few days later, MSU hosts the No. 8 Wildcats of Wayne State (14-3, 8-1 NSIC) on Saturday Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.
 
About the Mavericks
Last week was very successful for the Minnesota State volleyball squad. After a pair of tough losses, the Mavericks went into Romano Gymnasium and defeated the No. 20 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on their home court in a three-set sweep. It was the second consecutive game MSU has won in Duluth. Then, over the weekend, the Mavericks hosted a pair of matches against Minot State and UMary, defeating both teams from N.D. to improve to 13-3 with a 5-3 conference record.
 
Two players really stood out for the Mavericks last week. On offense, freshman Avery Klein continued her stretch of excellent play; the New Prague, Minn. native set a career-high in kills against Minnesota Duluth, ending with 13. She tied that career-best against UMary. Overall, Klein had 35 kills (.365 %), five total blocks and six digs in the three matches last week. Senior middle blocker Kiya Durant had 16 total blocks in 10 sets last week, along with 19 kills. Durant had three solo blocks in both matches against Minot State and UMary, which included a seven-block performance against the Marauders. She now leads the team in total blocks with 64, averaging 1.19 blocks per set, which ranks third in the NSIC.
 
Minnesota State is one of the best blocking teams in the conference in 2024. The team averages 2.52 blocks per set, which ranks second amongst NSIC teams, and has 139 total blocks this fall. Opponents also only average 1.6 blocks per set against the Mavericks, which is fourth in the conference.
 
Defensively, the Mavericks are the top team in opponent hitting percentage, allowing players on the other side of the net to hit just .141 against them. The team also ranks third in the NSIC in digs, averaging 17.55 per set.
 
The Mavericks' kills leader is senior outside hitter Toryn Richards, who has 164 kills this season. Richards also ranks second on the team in digs (184) and service aces (15). Graduate senior outside hitter Emma Loveall is second on the team with 133 kills and fifth in blocks with 20 total.
 
After Durant, junior middle Emily Kern is next up in blocks; the Cleveland, Minn. native has 53 total blocks in 2024.
 
Minnesota State has benefited greatly this season from its newcomers; Klein has 118 kills and 28 total blocks this season, which rank third and fourth amongst her teammates. Fellow freshman Jadyn Lester leads the team at the service line with 26 aces and has 246 assists this season as the team's rotational setter. She also has 107 digs. FIU Transfer Madisen Miller has slid in nicely to the Maverick rotation; she ranks third in digs and aces, with 133 and 14, respectively.
 
Senior setter Brooke Bolwerk has 324 assists in 2024 and is rapidly approaching 2,000 career assists, currently with 1,962. The Appleton, Wis. native also has 119 digs and 11 service aces this season. Libero Ellie Kline is the Maverick digs leader with 198.
 
Mavericks head coach Corey Phelps has led this team to a great start. This is his fourth season as full-time head coach; He served as the interim head coach for a year and a half before earning the head coaching job. Phelps has a 47-51 record with the Minnesota State volleyball team.
 
 
About the Cougars
After entering conference play with a 5-3 record, Sioux Falls is 6-3 heading into the week against NSIC opponents. The Cougars, like MSU, defeated the Bulldogs in Duluth for their biggest win of the season. The team is coming off two wins against Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State at home.
 
Sioux Falls averages 13.3 kills, 12.4 assists, 1.4 aces, 15.4 digs and two blocks per set this fall.
 
Sadie Voss is the Cougars best player so far this season; The junior leads the team with 183 kills, 190 digs and ranks second on the team with 19 service aces.
 
Jordan Kuper ranks third on the team with 167 kills and leads the team with 66 blocks. Jordyn Hamm is second with 48 total blocks, fourth in kills with 117 and is the aces leader with 23. Abby Haus has 171 kills and 40 blocks in 2024.
 
Elise Gillen leads this USF squad with 404 assists this season. She also has 173 digs.
 
The Cougars are led by head coach Dan Matthews who is in the midst of his fourth season at the helm of the Sioux Falls volleyball program. Matthews was previously the coach at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, where he coached both men's and women's volleyball. Matthews has amassed a 48-36 record with the Cougars.
 
USF leads the all-time series against the Mavericks, with a 9-6 record and having won the last four previous matchups.
 
 
About the Wildcats
Wayne State has been excellent this season. The No. 8 Wildcats were 6-2 heading into conference play, then they won their first eight NSIC matches before falling to St. Cloud State in a five-set thriller in their most recent game. WSC is 14-3 heading into the weekend.
 
The Wildcats are the best hitting team in the NSIC, with a team hit percentage of .287. The team ranks second in total blocks (185) and service aces per set (1.84). Wayne State also allows the fewest opponent blocks, allowing just 79 blocks against them in 2024.
 
Taya Beller, a senior hitter, leads the team with 214 kills and 75 total blocks; both totals rank second in the NSIC. Molly Romano leads the Wildcats with 631 assists and is second in digs with 137. Romano's assist total ranks fifth in the conference.
 
Wildcat digs leader Brooke Peltz is fifth in the conference with 287 digs. She also has 18 aces this season. Channatee Robles is second with 174 kills and third on the team in both digs (135) and aces (15). Maggie Brahmer has 164 kills and 51 total blocks this season. Wayne State's aces leader is Brooklyn Kusler.
 
Scott Kneifl is the Wildcat head coach and he has been at the head of the Wayne State volleyball program for the past 20 years. In that time, he has been named the AVCA National Coach of the Year, has led his team to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and 16 AVCA No. 1 Rankings. Kneifl is 451-145 overall in his career at Wayne State.
 
Minnesota State is 13-21 against the Wildcats, losing the last five matches against them.