Complete Release (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The No. 13-ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (22-7, 12-5 NSIC) will wrap up its home schedule on Tuesday against Minnesota, Crookston (6-23, 3-14 NSIC) at 7 p.m.  SMSU's three seniors will be recognized prior to the match.

Series record: Tuesday's meeting marks the 23rd contest between SMSU and UMC in a series that dates back to 1999.  The Mustangs are 21-1 against the Golden Eagles all-time.   Tuesday will also be the second meeting this season between the two programs; SMSU posted a 3-0 victory over UMC on Oct. 3.

How they rank:  UMC enters this weekend unranked in the latest AVCA national poll. For more about this week's opponent, turn to page 4.

Last weekend:  In a battle of two top-15 nationally ranked teams, No. 15 SMSU got 15 kills from Devin Diedrich (Braham, Minn.) and 39 assists from Cara Carson (Omaha, Neb.) to sweep No. 13 Minnesota State 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-18) Saturday afternoon in Marshall.  Diedrich's double-figure kill, .516 hitting percentage performance was indicative of SMSU's offensive campaign throughout.  The Mustangs charted a scorching .352 hitting percentage en route to the win.

Super setter:  The NSIC announced Monday that SMSU sophomore Cara Carson (Omaha, Neb.) has been named setter of the week.  Carson tallied a match-high 39 assists (13.00/set) for No. 15  SMSU on Saturday as the Mustangs rolled to a 3-0 victory over No. 13 Minnesota State, Mankato.  The sophomore directed a potent SMSU offense that went off for a .352 hitting percentage.  Not only did Carson quarterback a powerful corps of hitters, she also recorded a career-high six blocks and had six digs in helping the Mustang defensive effort.

Rollin' against ranked opponents:  For the second straight weekend, the Mustangs knocked of a team ranked higher nationally.  Two weekends ago, the Mustangs needed just three sets to take down then No. 11-ranked Minnesota Duluth.  Last weekend, SMSU had little trouble with then No. 13-ranked Minnesota State, Mankato.  Heading into last Friday's tilt with the Bulldogs, the Mustangs had not defeated a nationally ranked team since Sept. 11 when they charted a 3-1 victory in their first go around with UMD.  Two weeks later, SMSU is two for two against nationally ranked squads.

Senior moments:  Three seniors will step onto the court of the P.E. Gym for the last time on Tuesday, leaving behind them a legacy of success. Sara Graf (Mount Pleasant, Iowa), Leah Ashburn (Hector, Minn.) and Tory Brouwer (Maynard, Minn.) held down the posts as this year's elders, and the three have been part of four consecutive NCAA tournament teams.  The trio will be recognized with a short ceremony before Tuesday's match, highlighting their career accomplishments and thanking them for their commitment to SMSU volleyball.

Region rankings:  SMSU was ranked fourth in the second Central Region rankings of 2009 released two weeks ago by the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Committee.  Concordia University, St. Paul took the top spot.
        Team    Overall    In-Region
    1.    Concordia-St. Paul    25-0    17-0
    2.    Nebraska-Kearney    24-1    24-0
    3.    Minnesota Duluth    19-4    16-2
    4.    Southwest Minnesota State    19-7    16-5
    5.    Mesa State    15-9    15-8
    6.    Wayne State (Nebraska)    23-4    20-3
    7.    Minnesota State, Mankato    21-4    13-2
    8.    Metropolitan State    17-6    15-6
    9.    Colorado-Colorado Springs    16-7    16-6
    10.    Colorado School of Mines    18-6    15-6

National news:  SMSU climbed two spots and is ranked No. 13 in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll released on Nov. 9.  The Mustangs received 382 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.

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 151-48 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 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.