MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota State Mavericks volleyball team (4–0) is set to open its home schedule with the Maverick Invite at Taylor Center.

The tournament begins on Thursday, Sept. 11, when the Mavericks face Chadron State (1-3) at 7:30 p.m. Play continues Friday with a 10 a.m. matchup against Lake Superior State (0-0) followed by a 6 p.m. evening showdown with Quincy (3-0). Minnesota State will close out the weekend on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m., hosting Upper Iowa (0-4) in the tournament finale.

About the Mavericks
Minnesota State opened the 2025 season in dominant fashion, winning all four matches at the Missouri S&T Invitational without dropping a single set.

Junior outside hitter Mary Satori led the Mavericks' attack with 36 total kills, averaging 4.29 points per set. Against Northwestern Oklahoma State, Satori posted 17 kills on a .538 hitting percentage to go along with two aces and two blocks in just three sets. Sophomore Avery Klein was another steady presence at the net, recording 32 kills across the weekend and averaging 2.67 kills per set.

Defensively, Ellie Kline anchored the back row with 46 digs, averaging 3.83 per set, while middle blocker Emily Kern controlled the net, contributing 13 blocks and adding five digs to her stat line.

About the Eagles
Chardon State opened the season at the Eagle Classic, where the team faced a tough slate of competition and came away with a 1–3 record. 

Junior middle blocker Kally Kirkwood has been a standout performer, leading the attack with 37 kills through the opening matches. Sophomore Mataya Ward has also been a major contributor, tallying 36 kills while adding three service aces, giving the Eagles an additional threat both at the net and from the service line.

The Eagles are guided by Head Coach Jennifer Stadler, who is now in her seventh season at the helm of the program. The two programs have not faced each other since Aug. 2008, when the Mavericks earned a 3–0 sweep. 

About the Lakers
Lake Superior State will begin its 2025 campaign this weekend at the Maverick Invite. The Lakers are coming off a 7–20 season in which they went 2–14 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play and were picked to finish tenth in this year's GLIAC Preseason Poll.

One of the key returners for the Lakers is 6'3" middle hitter Morgan Deming. The Boyne City, Mich. native turned in a strong sophomore year, hitting .258 while averaging 0.84 blocks per set.

The 2025 season will also mark the debut of head coach Eric Snyder on the bench in Sault Ste. Marie. Snyder brings an accomplished resume highlighted by an NCCAA National Championship in 2020, multiple NCAA Division III and NAIA Final Four appearances, three Conference Coach of the Year honors, and recognition as both the 2020 AVCA and NAIA National Coach of the Year.

MSU holds a perfect 3-0 margin over the Lakers, as the squads last faced one another in Sept. 2021, where Minnesota State won 3-1. 

About the Hawks
Quincy opened the 2025 season with a perfect 3-0 record, sweeping the UIS Tournament. The Hawks rolled past Kentucky Wesleyan College and Roosevelt University in straight sets before defeating the University of Central Missouri 3-1 to close out the weekend.

Last year, QU posted a 25-6 record, marking the program's third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Hawks also went 11-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, earning a share of the regular season title.

Offensively, the attack is paced by Janelle Pye-Blacknard and Susanna Beretti, who have combined for 70 kills through the opening stretch. On the defensive side, libero Lilly Marth anchors the back row, averaging 3.30 digs per set.

Head coach Mark Jones enters his seventh season leading the Quincy program. Minnesota State and Quincy last met in 2021, with the Mavericks edging out a 3-2 victory. MSU holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series.

About the Peacocks
The Peacocks opened their season at the Wayne State Invitational, where they dropped all four matches in tournament play. Upper Iowa entered the year projected 12th in the GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll, collecting 37 points following a 2024 campaign that ended with a 10-17 overall record and a 2-11 finish in league play.

Early on, Grace Fruzen has been a key contributor at the setter position, dishing out 44 assists and adding three service aces against Winona State and Northwood. At the net, Martha Pace has provided steady offense with 28 kills, averaging just over two per set. Head coach Jim Dietz continues to guide the program in his second season in command. 

Minnesota State and Upper Iowa will meet for the 25th time in series history. The Mavericks own a 20-4 advantage in the all-time matchup, including last season's sweep of the Peacocks at the Maverick Invite.