SMSU VOLLEYBALL: SMSU starts 2021 season at the Colorado School of Mines Classic
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MARSHALL -- Southwest Minnesota State will take the court for the first time in 657 days when it travels to Golden, Colo. for the Colorado School of Mines Classic on Friday and Saturday.
The Mustangs face No.10 Colorado Mesa at 12:30 p.m. CDT on Friday, and will also face Grand Valley State on Friday at 5 p.m. CDT.
SMSU closes the classic with Colorado Christian at 12:30 p.m. CDT and No. 12 Colorado School of Mines at 5:30 p.m. CDT on Saturday.
About Southwest Minnesota State
Friday will be the first time the Mustangs take the floor in regular season action in 657 days, with their final game ending in a sweep over Minot State at home to end the 2019 regular season.
The Mustangs return after missing their first NSIC Tournament for the first time in program history.
SMSU returns 2019 All-NSIC first team Angela Young and second team All-NSIC Meg Schmidt, as well as three-time Academic All-NSIC Payton Hjerleid.
SMSU was voted seventh in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Meg Schmidt was named NSIC Player to Watch. Schmidt was second on the team with 328 kills, while also finishing second on the team with 62 blocks.
Series history
Colorado Mesa and SMSU will meet for the eighth time in history with SMSU holding a 4-3 advantage.
The first meeting was in 1989 and the last meeting occurred in 2015 with SMSU claiming a five-set victory.
Grand Valley State and SMSU will meet for the seventh in history with the series split 3-3
The first meeting was in 1999 and the last meeting occurred in 2014 with SMSU claiming victory in a sweep
Colorado Christian and SMSU will meet for the third time in history with the series even at one win a piece.
The first meeting was in 1995 and the last meeting occurred in 2018 with SMSU claiming a five-set victory.
Colorado School of Mines and SMSU will meet for the fifth time, with the Mustangs holding a 4-0 advantage.
The first meeting was in 2010 and the last meeting occurred in 2016 with SMSU claiming victory in a sweep.
Colorado Mesa
preview
2021 Spring Record: 15-1
Head Coach: Dave Fleming, 16th season
Mascot: Mavericks
Colorado Mesa Notes
Head Coach, Dave Fleming, in his 16th season with the Mavericks has a 300-159 overall record and a 204-84 record in the conference.
Colorado Mesa opens up the season ranked tenth in the AVCA DII Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll.
The Mavericks were also picked to finish atop the RMAC, receiving seven of 15 first place votes.
Colorado Mesa returns after finishing 15-1, winning every game before falling in their conference semifinal game in the spring of 2021.
Mavericks are lead by senior outside hitter Maddi Foutz, who was named as the RMAC Player of the Year in the spring, while setter Sabrina VanDeList was named as the RMAC Freshman of the Year. Both joined middle blocker Savannah Spitzer on the first team All-RMAC squad.
Grand Valley State preview
2021 Spring Record: 12-4
Head Coach: Jason Johnson, first season
Mascot: Lakers
Grand Valley State Notes
Head Coach, Jason Johnson, was selected as the third head coach in Laker history in July of 2021. He enters his 23rd season with the volleyball program, previously working as the teams full-time assistant, and later as an associate head coach.
The Lakers were voted to win the GLIAC South Division in their annual conference preseason coaches poll.
The Lakers return to action after finishing second in the GLIAC during the spring of 2021.
GVSU are lead by GLIAC Blocker of the Year and First Team All-GLIAC honoree, Jaelianna Primus, as well as First Team All-GLIAC recipient, Ali Thompson.
Colorado Christian preview
2021 Spring Record: 5-13
Head Coach: Bobby Blanken, fifth season
Mascot: Cougars
Colorado Christian Notes
Head Coach, Bobby Blanken, in his fifth season with the Cougars has a 46-55 overall record and a 36-41 record in the conference.
The Cougars were selected to finish sixth in the RMAC this season.
Colorado Christian is lead by All-RMAC Second Teamer Maddie Burns, as well as All-RMAC honorable mention Jasa Scheiderman.
Colorado School of Mines preview
2021 Spring Record: 11-4
Head Coach: Jamie Magaelei, 15th season
Mascot: Orediggers
Colorado School of Mines Notes
Head Coach, Jamie Magaelei returns for her 15th season leading the Orediggers, holding an all-time record of 292-98, a .748 win percentage that ranks in the top-25 all-time for DII volleyball.
Colorado School of Mines opens up the season ranked 12th in the AVCA DII Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll.
The Orediggers were picked to finish third in the RMAC, collecting three first place votes in the process.
Mines finished the spring 2021 season fourth in the RMAC during the regular season, before defeating a pair of top-three DII teams by a total of six sets to one en route to a RMAC Tournament title.
The Orediggers return RMAC Setter of the Year for Drew Stokes, First-Team All-RMAC Stokes, Elle Duis and Taylor Hicken, Second-Team All-RMAC for Amanda Donais and Honorable Mention All-RMAC for Julia Eiken.
On the horizon
The Mustangs compete in the Fort Hays State Classic in Hays, Kansas on Sept 10-11. They will face Black Hills State, Fort Hays State, Emporia State, and Adams State.
SMSU will open its conference schedule at Bemidji State on Friday, Sept. 17, and will host Augustana on Tuesday, Sept. 21 to open their home slate.
All or nothing
SMSU is 54-28 in five-set matches during the Culhane era, including a five-set victory over Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D., on Nov. 8, 2019
The Mustangs finished 3-2 in five-set matches in 2019
Season openers
SMSU is 29-20 all-time in season openers following last season's 3-0 loss to Michigan Tech.
SMSU has opened the season 14-2 since Culhane took the helm in 2004.
-- Content courtesy
of SMSU Athletic
Communications