MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State volleyball team (8-1, 0-1 NSIC) hosts its first two home conference matches of the 2024 season this weekend. The Mavericks play the Golden Eagles of Minnesota Crookston (3-7, 0-2 NSIC) and the Warriors from Winona State (8-4, 1-0 NSIC) on Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28, respectively. MSU plays Minnesota Crookston at 6 p.m. and Winona State at 2 p.m.
 
About the Mavericks
After winning eight-straight games to open the 2024 campaign, the Mavericks dropped their first match in four sets to the No. 12 St. Cloud State Huskies in their NSIC opener last week. Minnesota State ended the match with 12 total blocks, but the Mavericks failed to score a point at the service line and the Huskies had three players record 14 or more kills.
 
Minnesota State had the best start to a season since the team went 9-0 to start the 2010 campaign.
 
The Mavericks are one of the best defensive teams in the NSIC. The team leads the conference in blocks (90 total, 2.81/set) and opponent hitting percentage (0.113).
 
The defensive front is anchored by Emily Kern and Kiya Durant, two experienced and skilled middle blockers. Kern currently has 37 blocks to lead the team and Durant is right behind her with 36. Kern was named the NSIC's Defensive Player of the Week after the Mavericks' trip to the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational, where she had 20 total blocks and 30 kills. Durant put up seven blocks in the loss to St. Cloud State.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Avery Rosenberg has also gotten in on the action up front, contributing 27 blocks. The Chaska, Minn. native also had seven total blocks in the match against the Huskies, a new career high.
 
Senior outside hitter Toryn Richards continues to be one of the best all-around players on this Mavericks team. She leads the team with 96 kills, ranks second in digs (109) and service aces (10) and has tallied 14 blocks in 2024.
 
Graduate student Emma Loveall has 82 kills this year. She recorded a career-high 21 kills in a five-set thriller against Northern Michigan. She also led Minnesota State in kills against SCSU.
 
The Mavericks' two main setters are senior Brooke Bolwerk and freshman Jadyn Lester. The two have combined for 315 assists and 114 digs in 2024 thus far.
 
Senior defensive specialist and libero Ellie Kline leads the team with 124 digs in 2024. The Holmen, Wis. native looks to lead the team in digs for the second consecutive season.
 
Minnesota State is led by head coach Corey Phelps. Phelps 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 42-49 record with the Minnesota State volleyball team.
 
 
About the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston is 3-6 to start the 2024 season, also losing its conference opener against the Huskies of SCSU. This upcoming weekend, the Golden Eagles take on the Mavericks and travel to St. Paul, Minn. to take on the #10 CSP Golden Bears.
 
UMC ranks first in the NSIC in opponent blocks, allowing just 1.38 blocks per set from opposing teams.
 
Three Golden Eagles have 80 or more kills this fall. Maya Jones leads the team with 85 kills. Jones also has 11 blocks this season. Carizma Muth and Madison Carsten had 82 and 80 kills, respectively. Carsten leads the team with 12 service aces and is second on the team with 102 digs.
 
Emma Malek leads Minnesota Crookston with 19 total blocks through its first nine matches. Kailee Waasdorp leads with 174 digs. Baily Teveldal has 300 total assists on the year. Teveldal also has 12 aces from the service line.
 
Minnesota Crookston is coached by fourth-year head coach Nick Meseck. He is 9-45 with the Golden Eagles.
 
Minnesota State dominates the all-time series against Minnesota Crookston, 21-5. The Mavericks have won nine-straight against the Golden Eagles.
 
 
About the Warriors
The Winona State volleyball team upset the No. 11 ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in its conference opener last Thursday, defeating the Bulldogs in five sets on their home court. The team played two more matches on Saturday, losing to Northwest Missouri State 3-1 and defeating the Peacocks from Upper Iowa in a three-set sweep. The Warriors are currently 8-4.
 
The Warriors have 540 team kills this season, 24 more than their opponents. The team also leads the conference in assists with 512 in total.
 
Sidney Paulson leads the Warriors attack with 128 kills. Paulson also has 21 blocks in 2024. Abigail Savatski leads the team in blocks and ranks third in the NSIC with 48 total blocks, averaging 1.12 per set.
 
The Warriors have three players with over 100 digs. Kylie Welch leads the squad with 197 digs. Paulson and Anna Hennessy have 110 and 105 digs, respectively. Hennessy is the team's service leader, with 16 aces.
 
Winona State has excellent setters, with Jaci Winchell leading the way with 245 assists. Ashlyn Steding has tallied 197 assists on top of Winchell's total.
 
Joe Getzin is the head coach of the Winona State volleyball team. Prior to his hire at WSU, Getzin was a two-time SEC Coach of the Year winner with the Ole Miss volleyball program. He has a 179-85 record with the Warriors and a 355-334 record overall throughout his 26-year career.
 
The Mavericks lead the all-time series lead against the Warriors, 21-10, however, the Winona State team has bested the Mavericks in each of the last five matchups.