Independent file photo SMSU’s Rachel Fink tips the ball over the net during their Oct. 4 match against Upper Iowa University. The Mustangs will hit the road to face No. 15 Wayne State today.

MARSHALL — The No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (11-5, 5-3 NSIC) travels No. 15 Wayne State today for a midweek contest in Wayne, Neb.

•SMSU notched the No. 12 spot in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll released on Monday. SMSU is one of eight NSIC schools featured in this weeks poll.

•SMSU went 0-2 last weekend with a four-set loss to No. 7 Concordia-St. Paul on Friday and a sweep by Minnesota State on Saturday.

•Angela Young led both matches with 21 kills versus CSP and 11 against MSU.

Mustang leaders

•Junior Angela Young leads the team offensively with 236 kills and a 4.07 kills per set average.

•Emma Thomssen leads in assists with 363 and Alisa Bengen is right behind with 346.

•Payton Hjerleid leads the team defensively with 208 digs and 3.59 digs per set.

•Hjerleid also leads in service aces with 20.

•Zoe Lier leads in blocks with 53 including 38 block assist and 15 block solos.

•SMSU has a 14.83 kills per set average and a .245 hitting percentage.

Wayne State

match preview

2019 Record: 15-2, 6-2 NSIC

Head Coach: Scott Kneifl, 15th season

Mascot: Wildcats

Series History

•SMSU holds a 29-28-1 advantage over WSC in the all-time series dating back to 1980.

•SMSU is on a six-match winning streak over WSC dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.

•SMSU won the last meeting, a 3-0 victory over Marshall on Nov. 6, 2018, in the first round of the NSIC Tournament in Marshall.

•SMSU also earned a five-set victory over WSC in Wayne, Neb., on Sept. 8, 2018.

Wayne State notes

•Head coach Scott Kneifl in his 15th season holds a 253-56 overall record and 202-76 record in the conference.

•Kneifl and the Wildcats finished 22-9 a season ago and were featured on the AVCA Top 25 Poll for the four weeks of the season, making the first time the Wildcats were featured since 2006.

•WSC has remained in the poll this season and is ranked No. 15 in the latest poll.

•WSC went 2-0 last weekend facing No. 19 Winona State in four sets

•Kelsie Cada leads the Wildcats with 138 kills and a 2.94 kills per set average and Tarrin Beller is close behind with 161.

•Payton Nutter paces WSC with 598 assists with a 10.31 assist per set average.

•Hope Carter leads the defense with 225 digs and 3.88 digs per set.

Up next

The Mustangs return home for a weekend homestead facing Bemidji State on Friday at 6 p.m., and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 2 p.m., both in the PE Gym.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications