Independent file photo SMSU’s Alisa Bengen sets the ball during their match against MSU Moorhead on Saturday. The Mustangs will face Upper Iowa and Winona State this weekend.

MARSHALL — The No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (10-2, 4-0 NSIC) hosts No. 22 Upper Iowa on Friday in the annual “Red Out” match, sponsored by Avera.

•SMSU will then host Winona State on Saturday at 2 p.m.

•SMSU went 2-0 in the home opener with a thriling five-set victory over, then-ranked, No. 8 Northern State on Friday and a sweep over MSU Moorhead on Saturday.

What you need

to know

•SMSU moves to No. 8 in the latest AVCA poll released on Monday. This marks the 179th poll that SMSU has been featured in the Top-25.

•SMSU is one of eight NSIC schools ranked in the Top-25. Minnesota Duluth leads the way at No. 3. Concordia-St. Paul is ranked No. 7, followed by SMSU at No 8, Northern State at No. 9, St. Cloud State at No. 12, Wayne State at No. 15, Sioux Falls at No. 19 and Upper Iowa at No. 22

•SMSU is one of two teams remaining in the NSIC that is undefeated in conference play. The other team at a 4-0 mark in the NSIC is No. 3 Minnesota Duluth.

•SMSU’s match versus Concordia-St. Paul is next Friday, Oct. 11.

•The game can be seen on the NSIC Network, on the Division II, NSIC, Concordia-St. Paul and Southwest Minnesota State Facebook pages (pending your approval), on the DII Twitter page at @NCAADII and through the Periscope app at @NCAADII.

•The game will also be available in Concordia’s video portal. The game will be produced by the NCAA’s production partner, Niles Media Group.

Mustang leaders

•Junior Angela Young leads the team offensively with 179 kills and a 3.98 kills per set average.

•Emma Thomssen leads in assists with 283 and Alisa Bengen is right behind with 274.

•Payton Hjerleid leads the team defensively with 158 digs and 3.51 digs per set.

•Hjerleid also leads in service aces with 17.

•Zoe Lier leads in blocks with 42 including 31 block assist and 11 block solos.

•SMSU has a 15.16 kills per set average and a .253 hitting percentage.

Upper Iowa

match preview

2019 Record: 10-2 overall, 2-2 NSIC

Head Coach: Aaron Nelson, ninth season

Mascot: Peacocks

Series History

•SMSU remains undefeated in the all-time series with a 25-0 advantage dating back to 2004.

•SMSU has won all matches in the series with the last being a five-set victory in Fayette on Nov. 2, 2018.

Upper Iowa notes

•Head coach Aaron Nelson in his ninth season holds a 117-117 overall record and 67-93 record in the conference.

•Anna Winter leads the Peacocks with 190 kills this season and a 4.63 kills per set average.

•Leading the Peacocks defense is Haley Weepie with 195 digs.

•Sarah Johnson leads UIU in service aces with 16 and Carlee Ketchum paces the Peacocks with 426 assists.

•The Peacocks hold a 13.46 kills per set average and a team .281 hitting percentage.

•UIU opened conference play undefeated before suffering its first two losses in the conference opening weekend falling to Minnesota Duluth in three sets and St. Cloud State in five sets.

Winona State

match preview

2019 Record: 10-2 overall, 2-2 NSIC

Head Coach: Joe Getzin, sixth season

Mascot: Warriors

Series History

•SMSU holds a 66-31-1 advantage over MSUM in the all-time series, dating back to 1975.

•The Mustangs have won the last three of four matches after going 1-1 last season.

•WSU swept SMSU on Sept. 14, 2018, in Marshall. SMSU then earned a four-set victory over WSU in Winona on Nov. 3, 2018.

Winona State notes

•Head coach Joe Getzin is in his sixth season and has a 100-47 overall record and 67-33 in the NSIC.

•Madison Larson leads the offensive with 117 kills and 3.16 kills per set.

•Becca Pagel leads the Warrior defense with 191 digs and 4.24 digs per set.

•Bre Maloney paces WSU with 415 assists and 9.88 assist per set average.

•Madison Rizner leads the Warriors at the net with 52 blocks and 1.16 blocks per set.

•WSU entered NSIC play undefeated before suffering a weekend sweep at the hand of St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth with a four-set loss to SCSU and a sweep by UMD.

Conference rankings

•SMSU leads the conference in team assists with 649, team kills with 683, and team total blocks with 95.0.

•SMSU also ranks in the top-five, ranking second in the NSIC in assists per set with 14.42, fifth in blocks per set with 2.11, second in kills per set with 15.18, third in team attacks per set with 37.38, and third in team total attacks with 1,682.

•Lydia Sussner is fifth in the conference in hittting percentage with a 0.387 mark.

•Angela Young ranks fifth in kills per set with 3.98 and fourth in total attacks with 447 and fourth in total kills with 179.

•Payton Hjerleid ranks fifth in service aces with 17.

NCAA rankings

•SMSU ranks third in the nation in assists per set with 14.42 and kills per set with 15.18.

•SMSU is 21st in the nation in team kills with 683 and 26th in hitting percentage with 0.254.

•Angela Young ranks 27th in the nation in kills per set with 3.98.

Up next

The Mustangs head on the road on Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. at Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications