Independent file photo Southwest Minnesota State University setter Alisa Bengen throws up a serve in the first set of SMSU’s annual “White Out” game against Winona State University on Sept. 9, 2022.

MARSHALL — After spending the first two weeks of the season on the road at tournaments in Alabama and Kansas, the No. 11 Southwest Minnesota State University returns to the PE Gym this week for the home opener tonight against Minnesota State University. Opening serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Tonight’s opener is the annual ‘White Out’ game. Fans in attendance are encouraged to wear white to support the Mustangs.

The Mustangs enter the home opener on a hot streak, winning six consecutive matches. All seven SMSU wins to begin the season have ended in sweeps, with the lone loss coming to Springhill Suites Invitational host Spring Hill (Ala.) in four sets.

The Mustangs also enter tonight’s match on a hot streak in the series history against the Mavericks. SMSU has won three consecutive matches and holds a 21-4 record over the last 25 matches versus MSU, dating back to the start of the 2007 season. The Mavericks held a 27-9 advantage in the series prior to 2007.

The Mustangs are 30-7 overall and 15-5 in the NSIC under second-year coach Tyler Boddy. The Mustangs are 2-0 against MSU in Boddy’s tenure.

Senior setter Alisa Bengen leads a young group of Mustangs into tonight’s action. Through the first eight matches and 25 sets of the season, she ranks sixth in Division II in assists per set (11.28), while her 282 total assists ranks 33rd nationally.

Bengen is coming off a career weekend at the Pittsburg State Classic, where she was named tournament MVP. In four matches over two days, Bengen recorded 126 assists and 13 kills on a .344 hitting percentage, while adding 43 digs defensively.

Bengen currently ranks eighth in program history with 2,677 total assists and eighth in assists per set at 8.92.

The Mustangs enter the week second in the nation in assists per set (14.00) and tied for second in Division II in kills per set with 14.96.

Leading a balanced offensive attack for the Mustangs is true freshman outside hitterLeah Jones. The Marshall product has 82 kills in 25 sets played for a 3.28 kills per set average, just ahead of junior Brooklyn Kusler’s 81 kills in 25 sets played (3.24 k/s). Also averaging over two kills per set for SMSU are junior outside hitter Saari Kuehl (2.72), sophomore right side and middle blocker Karli Arkell (2.20) and junior middle blocker Emma VanHeel (2.04).

After tonights match, the Mustangs will return to the road on Saturday for a match at the University of Sioux Falls. It will be the 22nd meeting against the Cougars all-time, with SMSU holding a 17-4 advantage. However, USF has won three of the last five matchups in the series.