MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State volleyball team (21-5, 13-5 NSIC) concludes regular season play this weekend with a road trip to MSU Moorhead (14-13, 7-11 NSIC) and Minnesota Crookston (6-20, 0-18). The Mavericks open the weekend on Friday, Nov. 14, taking on the Dragons at the Nemzek Fieldhouse with the first serve set for 6 p.m. The team will then travel to face the Golden Eagles on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. inside the Lysaker Gymnasium. Both matches will be streamed live on the NSIC Network. 

About the Mavericks
Under the leadership of Head Coach Corey Phelps, the Mavericks have continued to establish themselves as one of the top programs in the NSIC this season. Phelps, now in his fifth season at the helm, holds an overall record of 73-62 (.541) and a 46-48 (.472) mark in conference play.

This season, Minnesota State has compiled an impressive 21-5 overall record and stands 13-5 in NSIC competition. The Mavericks are currently ranked No. 23 and sit fourth in the NSIC standings, positioning themselves strongly heading into postseason play.

MSU closed out its final home weekend in dominant fashion. On Friday, Nov. 7, the Mavericks swept Bemidji State in three sets, led by an all-around team effort that included 11 service aces and consistent offensive pressure.

The following day, the Mavericks returned to the court to celebrate Senior Day and delivered another commanding sweep, this time over then-No. 25 Minnesota Duluth. MSU controlled play at the net, finishing with an 11 to 5 advantage in total team blocks to secure its second straight win of the weekend.

As a team this season, Minnesota State holds a .247 hitting percentage and averages 12.47 assists, 13.75 kills, 2.01 blocks, 2.51 service aces, and 17.02 digs per set.

Leading the way for the Mavericks last weekend was junior outside hitter Avery Rosenberg from Chaska, Minnesota. Rosenberg powered the Mavericks' offense with 15 kills and a .520 hitting percentage against Bemidji State before adding 8 kills and 6 blocks while hitting .412 against Minnesota Duluth. She totaled 17 points in the win over Bemidji State and added 11.5 more against the Bulldogs. Currently ranking 11th in the NSIC in hitting percentage at .328, Rosenberg continues to be a steady top three offensive contributor for the Mavericks this season.

At the setter position, Jadyn Lester kept the Mavericks' offense running efficiently throughout the weekend. The Rochester, Minn. native recorded 4 kills while hitting .571 and dished out 26 assists against Bemidji State, also adding one service ace and 11 digs in the sweep. Lester followed with 32 assists and three service aces against UMD. She ranks second in the NSIC in service aces with 0.65 per set and 55 total on the year, trailing only teammate Mary Satori, and sits fifth in the conference in assists per set, averaging 11.0.

Defensively, senior libero Ellie Kline provided the steady presence that has defined her season. Kline tallied three service aces and 14 digs against Bemidji State, followed by 15 digs and a kill in the win over Minnesota Duluth. Her consistency in the back row continues to anchor Minnesota State's defense, as she ranks third in the NSIC in digs per set at 5.28 with 449 total on the season and 20th nationally in digs per set.

Sophomore right side hitter Avery Klein showcased her offensive versatility over the weekend. Klein posted 12 kills and added one service ace while finishing with 14.5 points against UMD, hitting .346 in the contest. She also tallied two blocks in each match and continues to lead the Mavericks' attack this season with 250 total kills, averaging 2.98 kills per set.

About the Dragons
Kari Thompson is in her third season as the head volleyball coach at MSU Moorhead, having been promoted to the position in April 2023 after serving two seasons as the program's top assistant coach. The Dragons currently hold a 14-13 overall record and a 7-11 mark in NSIC play. They enter the week on a two-match losing streak after dropping consecutive road contests to Winona State and then-No. 9 Concordia-St. Paul, each in three sets. The Dragons have yet to secure a match win over a nationally ranked opponent this season.

Within the NSIC, MSU Moorhead holds a .218 hitting percentage while averaging 11.67 assists, 12.59 kills, 1.76 blocks, 1.32 service aces, and 14.16 digs per set. 

Junior Raiah Mandell leads the Dragons offensively with 281 kills, averaging 2.87 per set. Outside hitter Brielle Riess follows closely behind with 266 kills, averaging 2.77 per set, and leads the team with 32 service aces. At the net, Leah Laqua has been a key defensive presence, totaling 52 blocks this season and averaging 0.66 blocks per set.

Minnesota State holds a 23-5 advantage in the all-time series against MSU Moorhead. The Dragons claimed the most recent meeting in Moorhead, Minn., with a four-set win, while the Mavericks have been successful on the road in the matchup, boasting a 9-3 record when playing at MSUM.

About the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston enters the week with a 6-20 overall record and remains winless in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles are currently enduring a 19-match losing streak, with their last victory coming on Sep. 13 at the Maverick Invite against Lake Superior State, where they swept the Lakers in three sets. Minnesota Crookston nearly pulled off an upset against then-No. 15 Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 16, falling in a tightly contested five-set match.

Head coach Nick Meseck is in his fourth season at the helm of the program and fifth overall with the Golden Eagles, having previously served as an assistant coach in 2021. Under Meseck's leadership, Minnesota Crookston holds a cumulative record of 23-108 and currently sits in last place in the NSIC standings. As a team, the Golden Eagles are hitting .141 while averaging 10.20 assists, 11.21 kills, 1.34 blocks, 1.17 service aces, and 16.47 digs per set.

Junior Madison Carsten leads the offensive effort with 328 total kills, averaging 3.77 per set. Carizma Muth ranks second on the team with 230 kills (2.64 per set) and leads the squad in service aces with 23 this season. Defensively, Kailee Waasdrop anchors the back row with 385 digs and an impressive 5.66 digs-per-set average, along with a .951 receiving percentage.

Minnesota State holds a dominant 23-5 record over Minnesota Crookston and currently rides an 11-match win streak against the Golden Eagles. The most recent meeting between the two programs came in Nov. 2024 in Crookston, Minn., where the Mavericks earned a four-set victory.