MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (19-7 overall, 11-7 NSIC) close out the regular season with a pair of home games against Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State.

-The Mustangs will host Minnesota Crookston for Senior Night at 6 p.m. Friday, and host Bemidji State for Parent’s Day on Saturday at 2 p.m.

-SMSU controls their own destiny to the NSIC tournament as they lead UMD and Sioux Falls by a match with one weekend to go.

Series history

-Minnesota Crookston and SMSU will meet for the 37th time, with SMSU leading the series 35-1 while winning the last 27 meetings.

-The first meeting took place in 1999, while their last meeting took place in September, when SMSU defeated UMC in three sets.

-Bemidji State and SMSU will meet for the 98th time, with SMSU leading the series 67-30.

-The first meeting was in 1977 and their last meeting occurred on Sept. 17, 2021, with the Mustangs defeating the Beavers in four sets.

Fabulous freshmen

-SMSU has received a boost from its youth 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 220 kills, and is second on the team with 95 blocks, and Katelyn Nichols, who leads the team with 107 blocks, and is fourth on the team with 130 kills. Both VanHeel and Nichols have played in every set this season.

-Sophie Johnson has played in 91 of 94 sets for the Mustangs, picking up 139 digs and 198 assists in 14 starts. Johnson averaged 5.33 digs per match last week.

-Halle Jansen has played in all 26 matches for SMSU, collecting 79 kills, 49 digs and 24 blocks.

-Brooklyn Kusler finished Saturday with six kills and four blocks.

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 enters the final two games with a 7-1 home record, their best home win percentage since 2016.

-Angela Young leads the Mustangs with 403 kills and 4.29 kills per set, with Meg Schmidt contributing 322 kills on a .307 hitting percentage.

-The defense is anchored by Payton Hjerleid, who leads the team with 389 digs and Katelyn Nichols, who leads the Mustangs with 107 blocks.

All around

-SMSU can be found all over the top 100 in NCAA statistics.

-SMSU ranks 22nd in the NCAA in kills per set with a 13.76 average and in hitting percentage with a .253 average.

-The Mustangs also rank 52nd in opponents hitting percentage, limiting the opposition to a .145 percentage.

-The defense has also been a strength thanks to the 26th most blocks and blocks per set in the country.

-The service line has also been a strength for SMSU, ranking 54th in aces while the attack has been lifted with the 38th best assists per set total.

Minnesota

Crookston preview

2021 Record: 1-22, 0-18

Head Coach: Sarah Morgan, fifth season

Mascot: Golden Eagles

Minnesota Crookston Notes

-The Golden Eagles travel to Marshall after losing in three sets to Minnesota Duluth, Augustana, and Wayne State at home.

-Augustana has begun the season 1-22, and 0-6 against ranked teams.

-UMC was picked to finish 14th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll.

-The Golden Eagles are led by outside hitter Lauren Wallace, who has tallied 161 kills in 23 matches this season, and Layne Whaley, who leads the team with 186 digs.

Bemidji State

preview

2021 Record: 2-24, 2-16

Head Coach: Kevin Ulmer, sixth season

Mascot: Beavers

Bemidji State Notes

-The Beavers come to town after going 0-3 last week, dropping three set matches to St. Cloud State, Wayne State, and Augustana.

-Bemidji State has begun the season 2-24, and 0-7 against ranked teams.

-The Beavers were picked to finish 13th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll.

-Bemidji State is lead by outside hitter Anna Averkamp, who has tallied 234 kills in 26 matches this season, and Madison Weyker, who leads the team with 255 digs.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications