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MARSHALL, MINN.:  It will be a match-up of two top-10 teams when the No. 8 ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team meets up with No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a conference match in Marshall.

Conference time:  The Mustangs are perfect in conference play thus far after picking up wins against Wayne State (Neb.) and Minneosta State, Mankato last week.  SMSU's 2-0 conference record ties it for third in the NSIC behind Concordia-St. Paul's and Augustana's 3-0 records.

Streakers:  SMSU has won 12 matches in a row heading into Tuesday night's match against Concordia-St. Paul.

Mustang territory:  Volleyball is back at the PE Gym, a place notorious for packing the house.  Last season, SMSU ranked second in NCAA Division II in home attendance with a total of 9,220 spectators over 13 home dates.  That's an average of 709 per match.  The Mustangs drew 836 fans for their season opener against Minnesota State.

Best year ever:  The Mustangs are off to their best start in school history.  SMSU's 13-1 record heading into its match against Concordia-St. Paul has trumped any start by a Mustang volleyball squad since the sport was introduced at the school in 1971.

High-powered offense:  As a team, the Mustangs rank second in the NSIC in two hitting categories;  SMSU is second in team hitting percentage with a .242 average and second in kills with 731.  Individually, Kasey Loeslie (Tracy, Minn.) sits at fifth in hitting percentage with .337 and fourth in kills with 179 (3.44/set).  Devin Diedrich (Braham, Minn.) is fifth in hitting percentage with .321, while Laura Hegerle (Dodge Center, Minn.) is eighth in kills with 175 (3.37/set)

The Q-Factor:  Despite playing the first five matches of the season at outside hitter, libero Sarah Quiram is putting up big defensive numbers for the Mustangs.  Her 246 digs (4.73/set) is good for second most in the NSIC.

Set it Sara:  Sara Graf (Mt. Pleasant, Iowa) is putting together another solid season from her setter position.  The junior had a season-high 55 assists on Saturday against Minnesota State.  Her performance last week earned her NSIC setter of the week honors.  Graf has compiled 551 assists (11.02/set) this season and is fourth in the NSIC the category.  Her 22 service aces (.44/set) ranks third in the conference.

Freshmen phenoms: SMSU welcomes several new faces to the team for the 2008 campaign.  Seven freshmen dot the Mustang roster for this season.  Two of them, Diedrich and Maggie Geske (Shakopee, Minn.), have broken the starting line-up, while Brittany Wenzel (Chaska, Minn.) has dug up her share of balls.

National news:  The Mustangs are ranked No. 8 in the latest CBS College Sports/AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll released Sept. 22.  The Mustangs moved up four spots from their No. 13 ranking two weeks ago.

How they rank: Concordia-St. Paul is ranked No. 2 in the latest CBS College Sports/AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 poll.

He's back: Terry Culhane returns for his fifth year as the head coach of SMSU.  Culhane boasts a 114-36 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 Golden Bears are coached by Brady Starkey (sixth season, 179-20) ... are the defending NCAA Division II National Champions ... finished 36-4 last season ... return five starters ... currently have record of 14-1 and ranked No. 2 in the nation ... only loss of season came to No. 1 Cal State Bernardino ... offense is directed by junior setter Maggie McNamara, who has 597 assists (12.7/set) ... Sophomore middle hitter Emily Palkert leads the team with 180 kills (3.83/set), while senior outside hitter Whitney Meierotto has a team-high 141 digs (3.00/set).

The Mustangs lead the series against the Mavericks 19-15.  The two teams last met in the 2007 NCAA Tournament; Concordia-St. Paul won the match 3-0.  The Mustangs last beat the Golden Bears on Sept. 22, 2007, snapping the Golden Bears' 69 conference match winning streak.