MANKATO, Minn. — The No. 25-ranked Minnesota State volleyball team (15-2, 7-2 NSIC) hosts Winona State (10-7, 5-4 NSIC) on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. before traveling to face No. 10 Concordia-St. Paul (12-4, 8-1 NSIC) on Saturday, Oct. 18 with first serve set for 2 p.m. 

About the Mavericks
The No. 25 Minnesota State Mavericks continue to impress under head coach Corey Phelps, posting a strong 15-2 overall record and 7-2 mark in NSIC play this season. The Mavericks, who were ranked No. 22 in last week's AVCA Division II Poll, slipped three spots after splitting last week's matches, falling in three straight sets to then-No. 11 Wayne State, marking their second loss of the season to a ranked opponent, before bouncing back with a four set victory over Augustana. MSU has been dominant at home with an 8-1 record while also showing consistency on the road with a 4-1 mark and three victories at neutral sites.

In the NSIC, Minnesota State continues to be one of the league's most balanced and efficient teams, holding a .257 hitting percentage that ranks eighth in the conference. The Mavericks stand sixth in both assists (12.67 per set) and kills (14.02 per set), while sitting seventh in blocks (2.04 per set). Defensively, MSU ranks second in the NSIC with 17.04 digs per set and leads the conference in service aces with an impressive 2.49 per set.

Sophomore right side hitter Avery Klein has played a pivotal role this season, appearing in all 17 of Minnesota State's matches. She has been a consistent offensive force, posting a .307 hitting percentage and totaling 170 kills on the year. Klein's impact extends to the defensive side as well, contributing 32 blocks to the Mavericks' efforts at the net.

Jadyn Lester, a Rochester, Minn. native, has been the driving force behind the MSU offense this season. Over the past weekend, she tallied 83 total assists against Wayne State and Augustana while adding two service aces versus Augie. Lester continues to lead the NSIC in average aces per set (0.75) and ranks fifth in assists per set with 11.16, showcasing her dual-threat ability as both a setter and server.

Emily Kern has been a standout performer for the Mavericks at the center of the net. She recorded a career-high 16 kills against Augustana, totaling 19.5 points in that match alone. Kern also tallied a season-high two service aces and added 14 kills in three sets against WSC, totaling 30 kills over the weekend. Her defensive contributions remain key, with seven block assists keeping her third in the NSIC for average blocks per set (1.11). Offensively, she boasts a .328 hitting percentage, ranking twelfth in the conference and further emphasizing her efficiency and consistency at the net.

About the Warriors
The Winona State Warriors enter this week with a 10-7 overall record and a 5-4 mark in NSIC play. The Warriors are looking to bounce back after dropping their last two matches, falling to Sioux Falls and then-No. 17 Southwest Minnesota State last weekend. Against ranked opponents, Winona State is 1-3 on the season, with their signature win coming against then-No. 15 Northern State in a four-set battle earlier in the year.

Statistically, the Warriors have been strong across several key categories in the NSIC leaderboard. They hold a .215 hitting percentage, while averaging 11.81 assists (10th in NSIC), 12.80 kills (9th in NSIC), 2.28 blocks (1st in NSIC), 1.81 service aces (5th in NSIC), and 15.20 digs (10th in NSIC) per set. 

Leading the charge offensively is junior outside hitter Kenna Kornely, who has been a standout performer all season. Kornely leads the Warriors with 247 kills, averaging 3.98 kills per set, which ranks third in the NSIC. She also sits second in the conference in points, averaging 4.46 points per set.

Defensively, senior middle blocker Gianna Vollrath has been a dominant force at the net. Hailing from Fall Creek, Wis., Vollrath leads the team with 76 total blocks, averaging 1.19 per set, and currently sits atop the NSIC leaderboard in blocks. Her presence has been instrumental in making the Warriors one of the top blocking teams in the conference.

The Warriors are guided by Head Coach Kristine Pelky, who took over the program in Feb. 2025 after serving as an assistant coach since April 2019. 

In series history, Winona State trails Minnesota State 10-23 all-time. The Mavericks once held a ten-match winning streak over the Warriors from Sep. 9, 2011, to Oct. 19, 2004. Last season, MSU swept in both meetings, defeating Winona State in straight sets and then in four. 

About the Golden Bears
The No. 10 Concordia–St. Paul Golden Bears enter the week tied for first in the NSIC standings with an 8-1 conference record (15-2 overall). Their resume includes key victories over then-No. 2 Angelo State and then-No. 5 West Texas A&M at the Colorado Premier Challenge. The Bears have gone 4-2 against ranked opponents this season. They visit No. 11 St. Cloud State on Thursday, Oct. 16, before hosting the Mavericks on Saturday, Oct. 18 in St. Paul.

Statistically, Concordia–St. Paul continues to set the standard across the NSIC. The team leads the conference in hitting percentage at .296 and in assists per set with 13.66. They also rank second in kills per set (14.61) and blocks per set (2.14), while sitting third in service aces (1.93) and eighth in digs (15.46). These numbers highlight the Bears' well-rounded dominance and balance between offensive precision and defensive stability.

Offensively, sophomore outside hitter Makenna Nold has been the driving force for the Golden Bears. The 5'10" standout from Jamestown, N.D., leads the team with 236 kills, averaging an NSIC-best 4.21 kills per set. Nold is also a consistent threat from the service line, leading the squad with 28 aces this season. Setter Reagan Hickey commands the offense with poise, averaging 8.09 assists per set, which ranks eighth in the conference. Her ability to distribute the ball efficiently has been instrumental in maintaining Concordia's high offensive output.

At the helm is longtime head coach Brady Starkey, now in his 23rd season leading the Golden Bears. One of the most accomplished coaches in NCAA Division II volleyball, Starkey has guided his program to 14 NSIC championships, including six undefeated conference campaigns, and nine NCAA National Championships. He is also a three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, recognized for building one of the most dominant dynasties in division II collegiate volleyball.

Historically, Minnesota State will look to end a long drought against Concordia–St. Paul, as the Mavericks seek their first victory over the Golden Bears in 11 years and their first-ever road win in St. Paul. The last time MSU defeated Concordia came in 2014, when the Mavericks claimed a four-set victory. In last year's matchup, Minnesota State fell in four sets during their visit to the Golden Bears, adding extra motivation heading into this season's meeting.

All Minnesota State volleyball games can all be viewed on the NSIC Network.