MANKATO, Minn. – The No. 24 Minnesota State volleyball team heads north for a weekend road trip, beginning with a matchup against Minot State on Friday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. inside the Minot State Dome. The Mavericks will then continue their trip to Bismarck, N.D., to take on the University of Mary on Saturday, Nov. 1, with first serve set for 10 a.m.

About the Mavericks
The Mavericks (17-5, 9-5 NSIC) continue to shine under the leadership of Head Coach Corey Phelps, posting an impressive .773 winning percentage this season. With consistent performances and key victories throughout conference play, Minnesota State currently sits tied for fifth in the NSIC standings. The Mavericks are ranked No. 24 in the latest AVCA Top-25 Poll, marking the fourth consecutive week the team has earned national recognition.

Minnesota State went 1-2 last week, facing a challenging slate that included two nationally ranked opponents. The Mavericks opened the week on the road, falling in straight sets to then-No. 11 St. Cloud State, marking their second loss to the Huskies this season. The Mavericks returned home to the Taylor Center for its second-ever meeting against Jamestown, where MSU earned a dominant straight-set victory over the Jimmies. The team closed out the week on Saturday, Oct. 25, with a four-set loss to then-No. 22 Northern State, in what featured several tightly contested sets against the Wolves.

The team continues to post strong numbers both in the NSIC and at the national level, as the Mavericks lead the conference in aces per set (2.34), a mark that ranks 11th nationally. 

MSU also ranks third in the NSIC in total points (18.11 per set), eighth in hitting percentage (.243), seventh in assists (12.52 per set), and seventh in kills (13.73 per set). Defensively, the Mavericks sit sixth in the conference in blocks (2.04 per set) and second in digs (17.01 per set).

Emily Kern, a senior middle blocker from Cleveland, Minn., continues to be a dominant presence at the net, ranking first in the NSIC with 1.18 blocks per set while averaging 3.02 kills and 3.83 points per set, which ranks tenth in the conference. She posted an impressive .476 hitting percentage against the Jimmies and recorded seven blocks in both the Jamestown and Northern State matches.

Ellie Kline anchored the defense with 57 digs across three matches, including 25 against No. 22 Northern State. She also contributed a service ace in each contest and currently ranks third in the NSIC and twentieth in the nation with 5.25 digs per set, leading a Maverick defense that ranks second in the conference in total digs.

Redshirt junior Mary Satori continues to stand out as one of the top servers in Division II, ranking ninth nationally and second in the NSIC in service aces per set with an average of 0.63. She has tallied 46 aces this season while adding 16 kills, seven digs, and a block against Northern State. 

MSU's sophomore setter from Rochester, Minn., Jadyn Lester, leads the NSIC and ranks eighth nationally in service aces per set with 0.66 while also placing fifth in the conference with 11.07 assists per set. She set a career high with 58 assists against NSU and totaled 109 assists over the weekend, continuing to guide the Maverick offense with poise and precision.

About the Beavers
Minot State enters the week with a 3-20 overall record, including a 1-13 mark in NSIC play. The Beavers are currently riding a five-match losing streak, having recently fallen to UMary in five sets and suffering straight-set defeats to both Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul. Their win against UMary last week marked their first conference victory of the season.

Head coach Alex Courtney leads the Beavers this year.

In the NSIC standings, Minot State holds a .088 hitting percentage, averaging 9.04 assists, 10.09 kills, 1.45 blocks, 1.09 service aces, and 14.68 digs per set.

Offensively, Katelyn Onespot-Danforth, a native of Helena, Mont., leads the team with 2.06 kills per set and a team-high 146 total kills on the year. Defensively, Maya Vibeto and Caton Pearcy anchor the back row, combining for 458 digs this season. At the net, Mia Thompson has been a steady presence, recording 43 blocks and averaging 0.66 per set.

Earlier this season, the Mavericks swept the Beavers in three sets inside the Taylor Center. Minnesota State currently rides a 16-match win streak over Minot State, with its only loss in the series coming in Oct. 2013. On the road, MSU holds a 7-1 record against the Beavers.

About the Marauders
Under first-year head coach Rob Frost, the University of Mary holds a 6-16 overall record and sits at 3-11 in NSIC play. The Marauders have posted a 2-4 record at home this season. Last week, UMary claimed a five-set victory over Minot State before falling in straight sets to then-No. 10 Concordia-St. Paul and Winona State on the road.

Within the NSIC, the Marauders maintain a .181 hitting percentage, while averaging 10.57 assists, 11.39 kills, 1.54 blocks, 1.46 service aces, and 13.08 digs per set.

Leading the offensive charge is Judith Burke, who averages a team-high 3.35 kills per set. Dani Highum adds consistent production with 2.82 kills per set and 25 service aces on the season. On the defensive end, Katie Bleeker anchors the back row, averaging 13.08 digs per game while holding a .942 receiving percentage.

Earlier this season, the Mavericks swept the Marauders in straight sets at the Taylor Center. This matchup marks the 25th meeting all-time between the programs, with Minnesota State holding a 23-1 series advantage.

All contests can be streamed live on NSIC Network.