MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (7-3, 2-0) opens a three-match conference homestand on Tuesday facing Sioux Falls (6-4, 1-1) at 6 p.m. in the PE Gym.
SMSU went undefeated in its contests last week sweeping Augustana in the home opener on Thursday and defeating Wayne State in a five-set victory on Saturday.
Emma Thomssen was named NSIC Player of the Week announced on Monday afternoon. This is the first time Thomssen has earned the weekly award in her first season as SMSU's primary setter. She set a career-high of 61 assists and added 17 digs in SMSU's 3-2 road victory over Wayne State on Saturday. She also dished out 48 assists in SMSU's home opening sweep over Augustana last Thursday. Last week she averaged 13.62 assists per set in the two wins and has recorded 441 assists with an average of 11.92 assists per set on the season.
As of Sept. 9,
Taylor Reiss leads the nation as well as the conference in kills per set (5.22) and points per set (5.70). She is also leading the conference in attacks per set (13.65), total attacks (505), and total kills (193). Reiss also moved up to the second in all-time school records for kills with 1675. Reiss also recorded a career-high 94 attacks in the match against Wayne State on Saturday
In addition to Thomssen and Reiss, several er othMustangs recorded career-highs as well.
Sarina Smith earned a career-high 16 kills,
Emma Thomssen, a career-high 61 assists and 17 digs, and
Kaylee Burmeister, a career-high 28 digs.
Opponent at a glance
Cougars have four hitters all recording over 100 kills this season. Lexi Scott (113), Bria Barfnecht (129), Averey Yaksich (102), Makenna Rockeman (104) all contribute 448 of the teams' 561 kills this so far this season.?USF Setter Krista Goerger has dished out 384 assist so far this season. USF won their last match against Augustana on Saturday in five-sets (19-25, 19-25, 25-22, 28-26, 15- 13) after going down two sets. Rockeman and Barfnecht led the match with 17 kills each.
Series history
Mustangs have won the last nine consecutive matches, the last was on Oct. 31, 2017 at home. Mustangs won 3-1 (25, 23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-14).11 of the Mustangs 14 victories were conference matches. Mustangs are 7-1 at home against the Cougars.
Southwest Minnesota State (7-3, 2-0) continues the homestand on Friday against Winona State at 6 p.m. and Saturday against Upper Iowa at 2 p.m. in the PE Gym.
