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MARSHALL, MINN. - The No. 3-ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team hits the road this weekend when it travels to No. 17 Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji for a Halloween weekend doubleheader.  The Mustangs meet up with Bulldogs at 7 p.m. on Friday and play the Beavers at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Conference time:  The Mustangs are 12-2 in NSIC matches after going 2-0 last week in conference play.  That puts SMSU in sole possession of second place in the NSIC heading into this weekend's matches against Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State.

Role reversal:  It will be the second meeting between UMD and SMSU this season when the two team go head to head on Friday.  The Mustangs are hoping to build off their 3-0 sweep the Bulldogs they put together back on Sept. 6 at the Colorado-Colorado Springs Classic.  The 3-0 score was not, however, an indication of the intensity of the match.  Set scores were 27-25, 25-22 and 25-21.   The Mustangs took the underdog role in that match, playing the No. 8 team in the nation when they were ranked No. 16.  This time around the Bulldogs take the underdog role, coming in as the No. 17 team playing No. 3 team.

Dynamic duo:  Two Mustang athletes were honored by the NSIC this week.  Junior setter Sara Graf (Mount Pleasant, Iowa) was recognized as the conference setter of the week, while freshman middle blocker Devin Diedrich (Braham, Minn.) got the nod for offensive player of the week.  Graf compiled 99 assists in last weekend's two conference matches, and Diedrich paced SMSU's offense with 28 kills on the weekend.  This was Graf's second setter of the week selection and Diedrich's first offensive player of the week honor.

Mr. Perfect:  In eight meetings with BSU, SMSU head coach Terry Culhane has never been on the losing end in a Mustang-Beaver showdown.  In fact, Culhane has lost just one set to BSU, that coming back in 2006.

Milestone met:  Graf had a career night on Saturday in her 58-assist performance against Wayne State.  Not only did she clip the 1,000-assist mark for the season, she also moved into the No. 3 spot at SMSU in career assists, surpassing Jill Dauenhauer's 3,179 career assists.  Graf now has 3,181 assists in her tenure as a Mustang.  Her 597 assists (11.26/set) in conference matches put in her fourth in the NSIC.

Senior momentum:  Experienced hitters are leading the way for the Mustang offense.  Kasey Loeslie (Tracy, Minn.) and Laura Hegerle (Dodge Center, Minn.) are SMSU's two top spikers in conference matches.  The senior twosome has combined for 330 kills in NSIC play as Loeslie is averaging 3.31 kills per set, while Hegerle checks in with 2.98 per set.

National news:  The Mustangs are ranked No. 3 in the latest CBS College Sports/AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll released Oct. 27.  The Mustangs moved up one spot from their No. 4 ranking a week ago.  SMSU's No. 3 ranking is its highest in school history.  The highest ranking prior to this week was No. 4; the Mustangs reached that spot just last week on Oct. 20, 2008, and back on Sept. 24, 2007.

How they rank: One of SMSU's opponents this weekend is ranked in the top 25 in the latest national poll.  UMD checked in at No. 17, while BSU enters Saturday's match unranked.

Best year ever:  The Mustangs are off to their best start in school history.  SMSU's 23-3 record heading into its matches against UMD and BSU has trumped any start by a Mustang volleyball squad since the sport was introduced at the school in 1971.

He's back: Terry Culhane returns for his fifth year as the head coach of SMSU.  Culhane boasts a 124-38 record as the leader the Mustangs.  He's led his teams to four straight NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the regional semifinals last  year.  Culhane is assisted by Jessica Schumacher (second season), Paul Soupir (fifth season) and Mike Dalager (sixth season).

The Bulldogs are coached by Jim Boos (seventh season, 188-30) ... finished 19-11 last season ... playing first season in the NSIC ... played in the NCC last season ...  return eight letterwinners and three starters ... currently have record of 19-6 (10-3, NSIC) and in third place in NSIC ... No. 17 in latest national poll ... hitting .237 as a team ... junior middle blocker Sarah Wyffels leads the Bulldogs in kills with 271 (3.19/set)... the defense is anchored by junior defensive specialist Rachel Jacobson, who has posted 325 digs (3.82/set) ... senior setter Katie Gangelhoff directs the UMD offense and has recorded 788 assists (11.76/set) so far this season ... the Bulldogs  lead the series between the two schools 52-9... inaugural meeting was in 1973 ... second contest between SMSU and UMD this season ... last meeting was Sept. 6, 2008; SMSU won that match 3-0.


The Beavers are coached by Laurie Bitter (second season, 16-36) ... finished 10-17 last season ... return seven letterwinners and four starters ... currently have record of 6-19 (2-11, NSIC) and in 13th place in the NSIC ... hitting .142 as a team ... sophomore middle blocker Nicole Olson is the team's top hitter, checking in with 175 kills (2.24/set) so far this season ... freshman setter Courtney Bitter quarterbacks the Beaver offense and has compiled 682 assists (8.22/set) ... freshman libero Jessi-Beth leads the defense with 252 digs (3.11/set) ... SMSU leads the series between the two schools 48-30 ... first meeting was in 1977 ... last played on Oct. 27, 2007; SMSU won that match 3-0.