Mustangs volleyball ready for another challenging season
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MARSHALL -- Expectations are once again high for Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball, and the Mustangs will have plenty of opportunities to prove themselves early in the 2026 season.
SMSU has won at least 20 matches in 21 of the last 22 seasons, establishing itself as one of the most consistent programs in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. With a difficult nonconference schedule and the always-competitive NSIC slate ahead, the Mustangs will be tested from the start.
One of the players looking to lead the way is senior outside hitter Leah Jones, a Marshall High School graduate who is coming off an impressive junior season.
Jones earned All-NSIC first team and AVCA All-Central Region first team honors last season, among several other accolades. Now, she is preparing to take on an even larger leadership role with the Mustangs.
For Jones, being someone younger players can look up to has been one of the most rewarding parts of preparing for the new season.
"It gives me a great sense of confidence," Jones said. "Doing captain-related things is really fun before our official season started, to be able to lead the new incoming freshmen and help them get settled in is a great feeling."
Jones graduated from Marshall High School in 2023 after putting together an accomplished prep career. Among her many honors, she was a 2022 Minnesota Ms. Volleyball finalist, a two-time all-state honoree, a member of the 2022 Class 3A State All-Tournament team and a two-time Class AAA state champion.
Now entering her fourth season at SMSU, Jones has continued that success at the collegiate level. She also appreciates the opportunity to continue her career in her hometown.
"Marshall supports volleyball like nowhere else, it is crazy," Jones said. "Our gym is always packed and I am so grateful for that."
The Mustangs enter the season ranked among the top 15 teams in the country in the preseason rankings and were picked to finish fourth in the NSIC. That combination illustrates just how competitive the conference is expected to be once again.
Junior setter Sydney Thein will also be an important piece of the Mustangs’ lineup. Thein, a MACCRAY graduate, has already established herself as one of the conference’s top setters, earning five NSIC Setter of the Week awards during her collegiate career.
As the Mustangs work to incorporate several new players, Thein said developing chemistry early will be a major focus.
"A key for us is trying to gel together early in the season," Thein said. "We have a lot of new players who are very good and there is a lot of great competition in the gym as we head into the season."
SMSU will once again be led by head coach Tyler Boddy, who enters his fifth season at the helm. Boddy has compiled a 90-26 career record at SMSU, including a 57-19 mark in NSIC play.
Boddy believes the challenging nonconference schedule is an important part of preparing the Mustangs for what awaits them in conference play.
"Our conference is why we continue to schedule tough every year," Boddy said. "We play three very good teams in Florida. From there, we play in a tournament in Missouri against some of the top-25 teams in our region, games that could have big implications come postseason time."
The demanding schedule will give SMSU an opportunity to test itself against quality competition before entering the grind of the NSIC season. Boddy believes those early matches can help the team identify areas for improvement while also preparing players for the intensity they will face later in the year.
The Mustangs will begin their season with an exhibition match at South Dakota State University on Friday, Aug. 21. SMSU will then travel to Florida for the West Florida Invitational on Aug. 28-29.
With experienced players such as Jones and Thein returning, a strong group of newcomers joining the roster and a proven coach leading the way, SMSU will look to continue its long-standing tradition of success.
For a program accustomed to competing for championships, the goal remains clear: use every challenge throughout the season to prepare for another deep postseason run.