TOMORROW
• The Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (10-0) hosts Augustana University (6-4) tomorrow, Sept. 24, for a non-conference match against the Vikings at 6 p.m.

MATCH COVERAGE
• Live stats and video for all matches will be available at SMSUmustangs.com
• The match will be broadcast on Marshall Radio on 107.5 THE FAN with Anthony Rohlik on the call
• Stay up to date on the Mustangs throughout the weekend by downloading the official SMSU Athletics app on your smartphone.

SERIES HISTORY
• Tomorrow will be the 72nd meeting between SMSU and Augustana.
• The first meeting happened in 1972, and their most recent meeting came on Oct. 24, 2023, which resulted in a four-set road victory for the Mustangs.
• The Mustangs have won two of the last three meetings, with SMSU claiming victory twice in the last three matches in Marshall.
• SMSU is 19-16 all-time at home against Augustana.

MORE ABOUT AUGUSTANA
• The Augustana volleyball team is 6-4 on the season and last played on Sept. 21 earning a road sweep over Minot State 25-11, 25-23, 25-16 to wrap up its opening weekend of conference action in North Dakota.
• Reagan Jansen leads the Vikings with 112 kills, while Maya Wente follows with 108 kills and 35 blocks. Kiyah Franke and Gabby Jones lead Augustana with 105 digs apiece, while Franke leads the team in aces (15) and ranks fourth in kills (81). 
• Excelling on the Vikings front line are Brooke Berens (87 kills, 28 blocks) and Sydney Tims (40 kills, 50 blocks).
• Lucy Bartee has put together an all-around contribution, adding 390 assists, 97 digs, 16 blocks, and 11 aces.

MUSTANG MACHINES
• SMSU ranks first in NSIC play in assists per set (15.17), kills per set (16.17), team hitting pct. (.313), and digs per set (22.83). The Mustangs are tied for first in the league in opponent hitting pct. (.077), while coming in fourth in service aces (1.50).
• Senior outside hitter Saari Kuehl leads SMSU in hitting at 3.70 kills per set with 122 total kills, followed by senior middle blocker Emma VanHeel with 94 kills (2.85 per set). Sophomore outside hitter Leah Jones adds 92 kills.
• VanHeel also leads the Mustang blockers with 34 blocks.
• Redshirt freshman setter Sydney Thein ranks first in league play with 12.17 assists per set while junior libero McKenzie Tolk ranks second in digs per set (8.60) with 48 total digs.

LAST TIME OUT
• The No. 5 Mustangs continued their winning streak with a sweep over UMary 25-9, 25-17, and 29-27 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball at the McDowell Activity Center on Saturday night.
• Saari Kuehl led the Mustangs offense with a match-high 14 kills on .333 hitting, while adding two block assists, and one dig. Leah Jones tallied nine kills on .429 hitting, while adding 10 digs and one block assist. Karli Arkell and Ashley Peltier recorded seven kills apiece, and both tallying two block assists.
• Sydney Thein supported the attack by recording 37 assists and seven digs. McKenzie Tolk anchored the back line with 24 digs, followed by Kennedy Drake securing 11 digs. 

SMSU AND THE NSIC IN THE POLLS
• The Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team, after going undefeated in North Dakota last week, has climbed to No. 4 in the third regular season American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFLEX Top 25 Division II poll released on Monday afternoon.
• SMSU is one of six NSIC schools ranked in the top 25 with Wayne State coming in at No. 8, followed by Concordia-St. Paul at No. 9 and St. Cloud State at No. 12, while Minnesota Duluth ranks No. 15. Northern State clocks in at No. 22. Minnesota State is currently receiving votes.

UP NEXT
• The Mustangs then return to conference play with a home match versus Northern State (9-1, 1-1 NSIC) on Friday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m., and MSU Moorhead (5-4, 0-1 NSIC) on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m.