MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State volleyball team (8-0) begins conference play this week. The Mavericks travel to St. Cloud to take on the #12 Huskies (5-2) on their home court, Thursday, September 19 at 6 p.m. Minnesota State's undefeated start is the program's best since 2010 when the team started 9-0.
 
About the Mavericks
Minnesota State had a very successful weekend down in Owensboro, Ky., winning 3-0 in each of its four matches against Illinois Springfield, West Alabama, Kentucky Wesleyan and Christian Brothers.
 
The Mavericks continue to be at the top of the NSIC standings in blocks. The team has 78 total blocks already this season, averaging 2.79 blocks per set. The team recorded 42 blocks at the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational, which is a 3.5 blocks per set average. This season the Mavericks have 40 more blocks than their opponents.
 
Minnesota State is also top of the conference in opponent hitting percentage (0.94 %), opponent kills (9.93/set) and assists (9.07/set).
 
Senior outside hitter Toryn Richards is leading this Mavericks teams in kills, with 89 so far in 2024. Richards is also second in digs (96) and service aces (10) and ranks fifth on the team in blocks with 14. The Waterville, Minn. native ranks tenth in kills in the NSIC. Emma Loveall, a graduate student from Spirit Lake, Iowa, is second in kills with 74.
 
Moving to the middle, junior Emily Kern is having a great start to the season. Kern leads the team with 34 blocks and ranks third on the team with 50 kills. The Cleveland, Minn. native was dominant in Ky., recording 20 blocks (1.67/set) and 30 kills on a .375 hitting percentage. She had two 10-kill matches against West Alabama and Christian Brothers and had eight block assists versus Illinois Springfield. For her performance down south, Kern earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in her career.
 
Minnesota State's other great middle blocker is senior Kiya Durant. She has 29 blocks and 44 kills this season. Durant tallied six blocks, seven kills and two service aces in the Mavericks' last match of the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational against the Buccaneers. Sophomore middle Avery Rosenberg also had a solid weekend down south, recording 13 blocks including a five-block performance against the Prairie Stars.
 
The Mavericks' setting duties have been split between Brooke Bolwerk and freshman Jadyn Lester. The two setters have combined for 286 assists and 100 digs through the team's first eight matches. Lester also leads the team in aces with 12 points from the service line. Bolwerk has eight service aces of her own.
 
Speaking of freshmen, Avery Klein is having a solid start to her Maverick career. The New Prague, Minn. native has 38 kills and 14 total blocks in 2024. Klein played her best game against Truman State at the Maverick Invite. She had 11 kills and a block in that match.
 
Senior defensive specialist/libero Ellie Kline leads Minnesota State with 116 digs in 2024. She has five service aces this season.
 
This is the best start for Minnesota State under head coach Corey Phelps. Phelps has a 42-48 record and is in his fifth season at the helm of the Mavericks volleyball program.
 
 
About the Huskies
St. Cloud State is 5-2 through non-conference play. The Huskies had a grueling non-conference schedule, playing five Top 25 ranked teams through their first seven matches of 2024. After losing its opener against #21 Cal Poly Pomona, SCSU defeated #12 Chaminade (Hawaii), #8 Cal State San Bernardino and the #1 ranked Cal State LA at the Yotes Classic Showdown. Last weekend, the Huskies won two of their three matches at the UP North Tournament; the team defeated Findlay (Ohio) and #20 Michigan Tech and fell to Northern Michigan in five sets.
 
The Huskies' best player is fifth year outside hitter Kenzie Foley. Foley currently leads the conference in kills and kills per set with 135 (4.82/set). She also has 102 digs, 13 blocks and six service aces in 2024. Foley was named the NSIC's Offensive Player of the Week in week one.
 
St. Cloud State's setter, Emma Berran, leads the team with 294 assists, which ranks sixth in the NSIC. Keely Kurschner sits atop the team's digs and service aces leaderboards, with 109 digs and 17 aces.
 
The Huskies are coached by Chad Braegelmann, who enters his tenth year at the helm of SCSU volleyball. Braegelmann has a 150-92 record with St. Cloud State, two NSIC Tournament Championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
Minnesota State leads the all-time series against the Huskies 33-24, but SCSU has bested the Mavericks in the last three matchups, including a three-set sweep last season.