This week

The Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team closes out a three-game week hosting Concordia-St. Paul on Friday at 6 p.m., for senior day and “Red Out”, and Minnesota State on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Last time out

The Mustangs started their three-game week with a loss against Sioux Falls, 12-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 on Tuesday night inside the Stewart Center.

Emma VanHeel collected a career-high 21 kills on a .333 hitting percentage, adding eight blocks and six digs. Meg Schmidt had 11 kills, six digs, and four blocks, and Karli Arkell tallied 11 kills and three blocks. Alisa Bengen picked up 46 assists and tied a career-high 17 digs, and Natalee Rolbiecki had 24 digs to lead defensively. The Mustangs also excelled at the service line, with Rachel Fink (4), Abby Meister (3), and Rolbiecki (2) combining for nine SMSU aces.

About SMSU

SMSU is coming off its first win over a top-ranked team since defeating Concordia-St. Paul on October 26, 2018.

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

SMSU is ranked in the top five of the AVCA poll for the third week since the 2018 preseason poll.

Their 20 victories through 23 matches to open the season were the third most wins through 23 matches in program history.

Saari Kuehl leads the Mustangs with 245 kills, while Meg Schmidt and Emma VanHeelhave contributed 241 abd 231 respectively..

Schmidt has been on fire as of late, recording an NSIC-best 165 kills, and is third in the conference with 3.93 kills per set in her last 10 matches.

Karli Arkell has made a great adjustment to the college game, recording 182 kills on a .300 hitting percentage.

Alisa Bengen has done a little of everything from the setter position, dishing out 955 assists, 175 digs, 95 kills, and 29 blocks.

The defense is anchored by Natalee Rolbiecki and McKenzie Tolk, a pair of freshmen from Minneota who lead the team with 262 digs and 224 digs, respectively.

VanHeel and Arkell have held down the front line defensively, recording 86 and 85 blocks, respectively.

SMSU AND THE NSIC IN THE POLLS

After a road loss to Augustana and a victory over then-No. 1 Wayne State, the Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team remained steady at No. 5 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Poll released on Monday afternoon.

The Mustangs are one of five NSIC schools ranked in the AVCA Top 25 with Concordia-St. Paul jumping one spot to No. 2 with three first place votes, Wayne State falling two spots to No. 3, receiving 18 first place votes, Minnesota Duluth hanging on at No. 4 and St. Cloud State staying at No. 7.

Mustangs crack first central region rankings

The Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team is in the first NCAA Division II Central Region rankings released Wednesday afternoon by the NCAA national committee. The rankings take into account matches played before Oct. 24.

SMSU is one of five NSIC schools to appear in the region rankings along with Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State, and Wayne State. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) has four teams listed, with Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma, Nebraska-Kearney, Northwest Missouri State, and Washburn. The third conference in the region, the Great American Conference (GAC) does not have a team ranked.

Mustangs on the leaderboards

SMSU can be found all over the NCAA DII Leaderboard

The Mustangs attack ranks 21st in the nation in kills per set (13.82), and 26th in assists per set (12.60)

The offense has also been powered by the 30th best hitting percentage in the nation (.245)

The defense has also been a strength thanks to the 53rd most blocks per set (2.13) in the country.

Senior Alisa Bengen has been the offensive catalyst, ranking 21st in the nation with 10.70 assists per set.

Sophomore Emma VanHeel and Freshman Karli Arkell has been efficient at the net, ranking 67th (86) and 74th (85) in total blocks.

Series history

-SMSU will match up with Concordia-St. Paul for the 69th time, with CSP holding a 40-28 advantage.

The first meeting was in 1976 and the last meeting occurred in mid-September with the Mustangs dropping a road match in three sets.

CSP has won six of the last eight meetings.

SMSU is 11-13 all-time at home in the series.

SMSU and Minnesota State will meet for the 61st time, with the Mavericks leading the series 31-29.

Their first meeting came in 1971, and their most recent meeting came earlier this season, with the Mustangs surviving in five sets over the Mavericks.

SMSU has won 21 of 25 meetings over MSU since 2006.

SMSU is 17-12 all-time in Marshall against the Mavericks.

Concordia-St. Paul preview

2022 Record: 22-2, 15-1 NSIC

Head Coach: Brady Starkey, 20th season

Mascot: Golden Bears

NSIC Preseason Rank: 1st

AVCA Rank: 3rd

Concordia-St. Paul Notes

The Golden Bears have gone 3-0 in the last week, defeating Upper Iowa in four sets on Friday before sweeping Winona State on Saturday and Minnesota State on Tuesday.

CSP is led by Jasmine Mulvihill, whose 347 kills lead the team, and Ellie Sieling, who leads the team with 285 digs.

Minnesota State preview

2022 Record: 6-18, 5-11 NSIC

Head Coach: Corey Phelps, 2nd season

Mascot: Mavericks

NSIC Preseason Rank: 9th

Minnesota State Notes

The Mavericks went 0-3 last week, losing to Winona State in four sets on Friday before getting swept by Upper Iowa on Saturday and Concordia-St. Paul on Tuesday.

MSU is led offensively by Sophie Tietz, who has delivered 189 kills, and Kiya Durant, who has collected 99 blocks.