Independent file photo SMSU’s Emma Thomssen sets the ball during their Oct. 19 match against the University of Minnesota Crookston. The Mustangs will host Wayne State College today.

MARSHALL — The No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (14-9, 8-7 NSIC) prepares for a midweek battle hosting No. 12 Wayne State (19-5, 10-5 NSIC) today at 6 p.m. in the PE Gym.

•SMSU notched the No. 15 spot in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll released on Monday. SMSU is one of eight NSIC schools featured.

•SMSU split last week with a sweep over Sioux Falls on Thursday and a 3-0 loss to Augustana on Saturday.

•There are five regular season matches left before the conference tournament, which will start on Nov. 22., at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., and will include the top eight teams in the conference.

Mustang leaders

•Junior Angela Young leads the team offensively with 362 kills and a 4.26 kills per set average.

•Emma Thomssen leads in assists with 618 and Alisa Bengen is right behind with 424.

•Payton Hjerleid leads the team defensively with 345 digs and 4.06 digs per set.

•Hjerleid also leads in service aces with 27.

•Zoe Lier leads in blocks with 70 including 52 block assist and 18 block solos.

•SMSU has a 15.04 kills per set average and a .254 hitting percentage.

Wayne State

match preview

2019 Record: 19-5. 10-5 NSIC

Head coach: Scott Kneifl, 14th season

Mascot: Wildcats

Series History

•Wayne State and SMSU are locked with a 29-29-1 record in the all-time series dating back to 1980.

•SMSU snapped a six-match winning streak earlier this season for a five-set loss to the Wildcats in Wayne, Neb.

•The Mustangs went up in the first two sets before the Wildcats strong offensive pushed the match to the fifth set to earn the victory.

Wayne State notes

•Head coach Scott Kneifl in his 14th season has a 363-129 overall record at WSC and is 206-79 in conference play.

•The Wildcats record 12.31 kills per set with a .252 hitting percentage.

•Tarrin Beller leads the team with 238 kills and 2.77 kills per set.

•The Wildcats run their offense through Rachel Walk er who has 854 assists on the season with 9.93 assists per set.

•On the defensive end, the Wildcats are led by an evenly matched due of Hope Carter and Haley Kauth who have 299 and 298 digs on the season.

•At the net, Beller is the Wildcats biggest threat with 104 total blocks on the season including 94 block assists and 10 blocks solo.

•WSC was ranked No. 12 in the AVCA Top-25 poll released on Monday, Oct. 28.

Up next

The Mustangs travel for the final road series of the season at Northern State at 7 p.m. on Friday and MSU Moorhead at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications