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SMSU VOLLEYBALL: No. 14 SMSU hosts a pair of conference matches

Independent file photo SMSU’s Brooklyn Kusler connects on a kill during their match against the University of Mary on Oct. 9. SMSU will face MSU Mankato and Concordia-St. Paul this weekend.

MARSHALL — The No. 14 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (15-4 overall, 7-4 NSIC) returns home after a pair of road losses, hosting Minnesota State and No. 5 Concordia-St. Paul.

The Mustangs will face Minnesota State today at 6 p.m., before welcoming CSP for a match on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Series history

Minnesota State and SMSU will meet for the 60th time, with MSU leading the series 32-27.

The first meeting took place in 1971, while their last meeting took place in October of 2019, when SMSU fell to MSU in three sets.

Concordia-St. Paul and SMSU will meet for the 67th time, with CSP leading the series 39-27.

The first meeting was in 1976 and the last meeting occurred on Oct. 11, 2019, with the Mustangs falling to CSP in four sets.

Fabulous freshmen

SMSU has received a boost from its youth in the first 19 games this season, with nine different freshmen seeing action, and six playing in at least ten sets.

The group is led by Emma VanHeel, who is third on the team with 158 kills, and is second on the team with 73 blocks, and Katelyn Nichols, who leads the team with 77 blocks, and is fourth on the team with 97 kills. Both VanHeel and Nichols have played in every set this season.

Sophie Johnson has played in 65 of 68 sets for the Mustangs, picking up 96 digs and 75 assists in 14 starts. Johnson averaged 15.5 assists per match over the weekend.

Halle Jansen has played in all 19 games for SMSU, collecting 52 kills, 34 digs and 14 blocks. She tallied a career-high nine kills on Oct. 15 against No. 8 Winona State.

Saari Kuehl has played in 14 games and 26 sets for SMSU, with 24 kills and 12 digs.

Brooklyn Kusler tied a career-high seven kills while also getting three digs and two blocks against Upper Iowa on Oct. 16.

About Southwest Minnesota State

The Mustangs opened the season with 11 straight victories, the second longest streak to start a season in program history.

SMSU has lost back to back games for the first time since being swept by Augustana and Wayne State Nov. 2-5, 2019, and the first time losing consecutive matches in five sets since Sept 15-19, 2009.

Angela Young leads the Mustangs with 276 kills, with Meg Schmidt contributing 233 kills on a .321 hitting percentage.

The defense is anchored by Payton Hjerleid, who leads the team with 279 digs and Katelyn Nichols, who leads the Mustangs with 77 blocks.

All around

SMSU can be found all over the top 70 in national statistics.

SMSU ranks 16th in the country in hitting percentage with a .261 percentage, and is 23rd in the country in kills per set with a 13.66 average.

The Mustangs also rank 28th in opponents hitting percentage, limiting the opposition to a microscopic .133 percentage.

The defense has also been a strength thanks to the 22nd most blocks per set and 24th most total blocks in the nation.

The service line has also been a strength for SMSU, ranking 37th in aces per set at 2.00, while the attack has been lifted with the 50th best assists per set total in the country with 12.13.

Mustangs on the leaderboards

Six separate players find themselves in the top 100 across the NCAA leaderboards five weeks into the season.

Angela Young slots in 10th in total kills, 18th in kills per set, 24th in points per set, and 49th in total attacks.

Alisa Bengen ranks 60th in assists per set and 81st in assists.

Rachel Fink ranks 80st in aces per set and 59th in total aces.

Meg Schmidt currently ranks 36th in points per set, 68th in aces, 71st in kills, 79th in kills per set, and is 98th in aces per set.

She is also one of 29 players in the nation to record a triple-double.

Katelyn Nichols ranks 28th in blocks per set, and is 29th in total blocks.

Emma VanHeel is 39th in blocks, while ranking 43rd in blocks per set.

Minnesota State preview

2021 Record: 11-8, 6-5

Head Coach: Corey Phelps, first season

Mascot: Mavericks

Minnesota State Notes

The Warriors went 1-1 on the week, defeating Augustana 3-2 on Friday and falling to then No. 5 Wayne State 3-0 on Saturday.

Minnesota State has begun the season 11-8, and 0-3 against ranked teams.

The Mavericks were picked to finish tied for ninth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Minnesota State is led by Mariah Edgington, who has tallied 189 kills and 171 digs in 19 matches this season, and Kiya Durant, who leads the team with 80 blocks.

Concordia-St. Paul preview

2021 Record: 17-3, 11-0

Head Coach: Brady Starkey, 19th season

Mascot: Golden Bears

AVCA Ranking: 5

Concordia-St. Paul Notes

The Golden Bears went 2-0 last week, defeating then No. 5 Wayne State in five sets on Friday before defeating Augustana 3-1 on Saturday.

CSP has begun the season 17-3, and is 4-3 against ranked teams.

The Golden Bears were picked to finish first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll.

CSP is led by Jasmine Mulvihill, who has tallied 247 kills and 53 blocks in 20 matches this season, and Tori Hanson, who leads the team with 331 digs.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

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