Complete Release (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The No. 14-ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (10-5, 0-3 NSIC) will host a pair of conference foes this weekend as Northern State and Mary head to Marshall for NSIC contests.  SMSU and NSU are set to battle on Friday at 7 p.m., while the Mustangs and Marauders will tangle on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Series record: The Mustangs have fared extremely well against both of this weekend's opponents.  SMSU is 46-8 against NSU all-time, including picking up a 3-0 win against the Wolves earlier this season.  The Mustangs have never lost a match to U-Mary in seven meetings.  In fact, SMSU has yet to lose a set to the Marauders in the history of the series, which dates back to 2006.

How they rank:  Neither NSU nor U-Mary are ranked in the latest national poll heading into this weekend's matches.  For more information about this weekend's opponents, turn to page 4.

Earlier this week: Emily Palkert recorded 13 kills and Maggie McNamara dished out 42 assists to lead No. 1 Concordia University, St. Paul to a 3-0 victory over SMSU Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minn.  Mary Groth (West Bend, Wis.) was the lone Mustang to crack double figures in the kill column as the freshman tallied 10 on the evening. Tory Brouwer (Maynard, Minn.) was two shy of double figures with eight.  Sara Graf (Mount Pleasant, Iowa) assisted on 25 kills, and Kenzie Niesche (Chaska, Minn.) finished with a team-high 10 digs.

Tough schedule:  SMSU's 0-3 record to open NSIC play this season marks the first time since 1998 that the Mustangs have begun conference competition with three losses.  1998's NSIC campaign began with losses to Minnesota Duluth, Bemidji State and Minnesota-Morris.  The 0-3 start, however, is likely the result of a taxing slate as all of SMSU's three NSIC losses have been to nationally ranked teams or teams that at least received votes in the national poll.

Closing in:  Senior setter Sara Graf (Mount Pleasant, Iowa) is rapidly approaching the all-time assists record at SMSU.  Graf is just 107 assists away from tying Sarah Rittenhouse's career record of 4,245.  Rittenhouse, a three-time All-NSIC selection, set for the Mustangs from 2000 to 2003.  Graf's current assist total is 4,138, so a strong weekend from the Mount Pleasant, Iowa, native could push her past Rittenhouse.  No stranger to the SMSU record book, Graf already holds the single season record (1,671 in 2007) and single-match record (73 versus Minnesota State Moorhead on Oct. 3, 2008) for assists.

National news:  SMSU fell four spots and is ranked No. 14 in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll released on Sept. 21.  The Mustangs received 360 points in the poll. NSIC neighbor Concordia University, St. Paul retained the top spot in the poll.  Four 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 139-46 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.