Complete Release (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The No. 14-ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (13-5, 3-3 NSIC) will travel to Minnesota State Moorhead (12-5, 2-2 NSIC) and Minnesota, Crookston (3-14, 0-5 NSIC) this weekend for a pair of conference contests.  SMSU and MSUM meet up on Friday at 7 p.m., while the Mustangs and Golden Eagles are scheduled for a 5 p.m. match on Saturday.

Series records: Friday's meeting with MSUM will be the 96th meeting between the two programs in a series that began in 1975.  The Mustangs are 49-46 against the Dragons all-time.  Saturday's tilt with UMC will be the 22nd match in the Mustang-Golden Eagle series.  SMSU has lost just once to UMC in school history since the schools first met in 1999.

How they rank:  Neither MSUM nor UMC are ranked in the latest AVCA national poll.  For more information about this weekend's opponents, turn to page 4.

Earler this week: Mary Groth (West Bend, Wis.) recorded a match-high 14 kills and Cara Carson (Omaha, Neb.) dished out a career-high 44 assists to lead SMSU to a 3-0 victory over Winona State Tuesday night in Marshall.  A career night for Carson in the assist category was complimented by eight digs and three blocks from the sophomore.

In a groove:  Setter Cara Carson (Omaha, Neb.) has found her stride running SMSU's offense as of late.  The sophomore has dished out 145 assists in the last three matches for a sparkling 14.50 assists per set average.  Her first start of the season came last Friday against Mary, and as a starter, she has yet to have an outing with anything less than 38 assists.

Now serving:  Outside hitter Crissi Schewe (Sleepy Eye, Minn.) has emerged as the Mustangs' deadliest weapon behind the service line.  The freshman has aced a team-best 21 serves in 2009--a statistic that has her in the top 10 in the NSIC in all matches.

Statistically speaking:  The SMSU volleyball team and a pair of individuals ranked high in the latest national statistics released this week by the NCAA.  The Mustangs were in the top 10 in two categories as a team, while two individuals are in the top 30 in their respective categories.  As a team, SMSU was fourth in the nation in assists per set with 13.75 and fifth in kills per set with 14.52.  Individually, setter Sara Graf (Mount Pleasant, Iowa) was 11th in assists per set with 11.22, while middle blocker Devin Diedrich (Braham, Minn.) was 28th in kills per set with 3.75.

National news:  SMSU stayed at No. 14 in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll released on Sept. 28.  The Mustangs received 375 points in the poll. NSIC neighbor Concordia University, St. Paul retained the top spot in the poll.  Five NSIC teams found their way into this week's rankings.

Senior momentum:  Three seniors will lead the Mustangs through the 2009 season, all with a wealth of experience.  Sara Graf (Mount Pleasant, Iowa), Leah Ashburn (Hector, Minn.) and Tory Brouwer (Maynard, Minn.) hold down the posts as this year's elders.

Newbies:  While SMSU welcomes back eight returners for 2009, the Mustangs have also been introduced to just as many new faces.  Six freshmen and two junior transfers fill out this season's roster.

The coach:  Terry Culhane returns for his sixth season as the head man of Mustang volleyball, and his name might as well be synonymous with success.  The SMSU alum has yet to encounter a losing season or one that he hasn't made the NCAA Tournament.  Culhane boasts a 142-46 record at SMSU.  He is assisted by Jessica Petersen, Paul Soupir, Mike Dalager, Katie Gangelhoff and Raftyn Rignell.

According to the coaches:  The NSIC's 14 head coaches have tabbed SMSU fifth in their annual preseason poll.  The Mustangs received 125 points in the poll.  Concordia University, St. Paul, national champions for the past two seasons, was selected first for the sixth consecutive season with 169 points and 13 first-place votes.  Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State and Wayne State fell in ahead of SMSU.  MSU received one first-place vote.
        Team (first place votes)    Points
    1.    Concordia-St. Paul (13)    169
    2.     Minnesota Duluth    145
    3.     Minnesota State (1)    143
    4.     Wayne State    128
    5.     Southwest Minnesota State    125
    6.     Augustana    122
    7.     Minnesota State Moorhead    99   
    8.     Winona State    82
    9.     St. Cloud State    65
    10.     Northern State    64
    11.     Bemidji State    44
    12.     Minnesota, Crookston    43
    13.     Upper Iowa    26
    14.     Mary    23

Stay connected:  Stay connected with SMSU volleyball all season long at www.smsumustangs.com.  The Mustangs are also on Facebook and Twitter; just log onto www.facebook.com/smsumustangs and www.twitter.com/smsumustangs.  For the latest video highlights and new episodes of the Mustang Minute check out SMSU's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/smsuathletics.

We'll do it live!:  Live statistics for all of SMSU's home games can be viewed by logging onto www.smsumustangs.com and following the live stats link on the right side of the volleyball home page.

Let's see it:  All NSIC volleyball matches are video broadcast live and free of charge on the Penn Atlantic Network.  Check out www.northernsun.tv to learn more.