MARSHALL, Minn. - The No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (14-9, 8-7 NSIC) prepares for a midweek battle hosting No. 12 Wayne State (19-5, 10-5 NSIC) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the PE Gym.
•SMSU notches the No. 15 spot in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll released on Monday, Oct. 28. SMSU is one of eight NSIC schools featured.
•SMSU split last week with a sweep over Sioux Falls on Thursday and a 3-0 loss to Augustana on Saturday.
•There are five regular season matches left before the conference tournament, which will start on Nov. 22., at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., and will include the top eight teams in the conference.
Head Coach Terry Culhane
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Terry Culhane is in his 16th season as head coach in 2019.
•He is decorated as the program's all-time winningest head coach.
•His overall record in the 2019 season is 405-115 and 240-58 in the conference. His home record is 139-33.
Mustang Leaders
•Junior
Angela Young leads the team offensively with 362 kills and a 4.26 kills per set average.
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Emma Thomssen leads in assists with 618 and
Alisa Bengen is right behind with 424.
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Payton Hjerleid leads the team defensively with 345 digs and 4.06 digs per set.
•Hjerleid also leads in service aces with 27.
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Zoe Lier leads in blocks with 70 including 52 block assist and 18 block solos.
•SMSU has a 15.04 kills per set average and a .254 hitting percentage.
Wayne State: Match Preview
2019 Record: 19-5. 10-5 NSIC
Head Coach: Scott Kneifl, 14th season
Mascot: Wildcats
Series History
•Wayne State and SMSU are locked with a 29-29-1 record in the all-time series dating back to 1980.
•SMSU snapped a six-match winning streak earlier this season for a five-set loss to the Wildcats in Wayne, Neb.
•The Mustangs went up in the first two sets before the Wildcats strong offensive pushed the match to the fifth set to earn the victory.
Wayne State Notes
•Head Coach, Scott Kneifl, in his 14th season has a 363-129 overall record at WSC and is 206-79 in conference play.
•The Wildcats record 12.31 kills per set with a .252 hitting percentage.
•Tarrin Beller leads the team with 238 kills and 2.77 kills per set.
•The Wildcats run their offense through Rachel Walk er who has 854 assists on the season with 9.93 assists per set.
•On the defensive end, the Wildcats are led by an evenly matched due of Hope Carter and Haley Kauth who have 299 and 298 digs on the season.
•At the net, Beller is the Wildcats biggest threat with 104 total blocks on the season including 94 block assists and 10 blocks solo.
•WSC was ranked No. 12 in the AVCA Top-25 poll released on Monday, Oct. 28.
Up Next: The Mustangs travel for the final road series of the season at Northern State at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, and MSU Moorhead at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9.
