Independent file photo SMSU’s Meg Schmidt follows through on a kill during their Sept. 14, 2018 match against Winona State University. The Mustangs will compete in the Colorado Premier Classic this weekend in Denver, Colo.

MARSHALL – The No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (3-1) prepares to travel to the Colorado Premier Classic this weekend in Denver, Colo. SMSU will open the tournament with two games of pool play versus No. 9 Tarleton State (3-1) at 12 p.m. today, followed by a 7 p.m. versus MSU Denver (4-0). The Mustangs will then be placed into a bracket to be played out on Saturday.

SMSU notes

•SMSU opened play at the Michigan Tech Classic in Houghton, Mich. last weekend and went 3-1.

•SMSU suffered the only loss of the weekend in the season opener against Michigan Tech, only to finish the tournament with three consecutive wins.

•Meg Schmidt was named to the Keweenaw Classic All-Tournament team.

•SMSU also ranked No. 15 in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll released on Monday.

•SMSU went 3-1 last year at the Colorado Premier Challenge, winning the first three games and suffering the only loss in the championship match to NSIC opponent, Concordia-St. Paul.

What you need

to know

•SMSU was slated at No. 15 in the latest AVCA poll released on Monday. This marks the 177th poll that SMSU has been featured in the Top-25.

•Mustangs were picked to finish fifth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll for the 2019 season.

•Mustangs return one All-Conference award winner, Sarina Smith, who was named NSIC Second Team All-Conference.

•Junior outside hitter Angela Young was named SMSU’s Player to Watch. Young finished second on the team a season ago in kills with 332 and a .270 hitting percentage.

New Mustang faces

•SMSU welcomed three new teammates all who made their collegiate appearances in the opening weekend.

•Freshman outside hitter, No. 4 Rachel Fink, recorded 22 kills and 33 digs.

•Freshman setter, No. 6. Alisa Bengen dished out 47 assists and recorded nine digs.

•Freshman middle blocker, No. 8 Lydia Sussner, added 25 kills and 10 block assists.

Mustang leaders

•Sophomore Meg Schmidt leads the team offensively with 49 kills, including two matches with double-digit kills. Schmidt also leads in service aces with eight.

•Emma Thomssen leads in assists with 117 while Alisa Bengen added 47.

•Payton Hjerleid leads the team defensively with 41 digs and 2.93 digs per set.

•Zoe Lier leads in blocks with 14 including 12 block assist and two block solos.

Tarleton State

match preview

2018 Record: 32-5

2019 Record: 3-1

Head Coach: Mary Schindler, 15th season

Mascot: Texan Rider

Series History

•Tarleton State and SMSU will meet for the second time in program history, with SMSU winning the first match 3-1 in 2017.

•Sarina Smith recorded 11 kills in the Mustang victory.

Tarleton State notes

•Head Coach Mary Schindler in her 15th season with the Texans has a 295-159 overall record and a 149-71 record in the conference.

•Kayla Brannon and Sofia Tonga were LSC Defensive Player and Setter of the Week.

•Lauren Kersey and Tatyana Tuilalii-Umi tie to lead the Texans offensively, both with 44 kills.

•Brannon is leading the team in assists with 78.

•Michaela Rodriguez leads the team defensively with 78 digs and 5.20 digs per set. Tonga adds 15 blocks to lead the team in at the net defense.

•Tarleton State was ranked No. 9 in the latest AVCA poll released on Monday.

MSU Denver

match preview

2018 Record: 21-10

2019 Record: 4-0

Head Coach: Jenny Glenn, 4th season

Mascot: Roadrunners

Series History

•This will be the eighth meeting in program history with SMSU leading the series 4-3.

•SMSU has swept the last two matches.

MSU Denver notes

•Head Coach Jenny Glenn is in her fourth season and has a 70-24 overall record and 49-5 record in conference play.

•MSU Denver opened the season going undefeated in the Concordia Volleyball Classic in Portland, Ore.

•Kayla White leads the Roadrunners offensively with 40 kills and 3.08 kills per set.

•Jessa Megenhardt has dished out 73 assists with a 5.62 assists per set average. Megenhardt also leads the team with 11 service aces.

•Caiden Rexius leads the team with 50 digs.

Southwest Minnesota State (3-1) will open the conference on Friday, Sept. 20, at UMary at 6 p.m. and will face Minot State on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. The Mustangs will host Northern State on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. in the home opener in the PE Gym.

– Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications