Game Notes
Live Stats (SMSU)
Live Stats (USF)
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MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team is now 9-12 overall and 5-9 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Last week, the Dragons faced Augustana University (S.D.) and (RV) Wayne State College and dropped both matches by scores of 3-1 and 3-0. MSUM is back on the road this week to take on No. 16 Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday at 6 p.m. and the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
No. 16 Southwest Minnesota State
The Mustangs are 15-7 overall and 10-4 in the NSIC. Last week, SMSU went 2-1 which featured a 3-2 loss to Sioux Falls and two 3-0 wins of Minot State and U-Mary. Outside hitter, reigning AVCA DII National Player of the Year, Taylor Reiss carries a huge offensive load for her team. Reiss has 1,132 attempts on the year—over 600 more than the next closest player. Her 460 kills (5.68 k/s) leads the NSIC and NCAA DII. Emma Thomssen has 902 assists in 75 sets and averages 12.03 assists per set which ranks fourth in the NSIC. Sarina Smith and Meg Schmidt are the team's top blocker with 49 and 48 total blocks, respectively. Kaylee Burmeister averages 4.07 digs per set to lead the Mustangs, and her .46 aces per set ranks second in the NSIC. As a team, SMSU posts 14.25 kills per set compared to 11.63 from the opposition and ranks second in the NSIC in digs per set with 17.93.
 
University of Sioux Falls
The Cougars are 15-7 overall and 10-4 in the NSIC. Last week, USF went 3-0 after defeating SMSU (3-2), U-Mary (3-0), and Minot State (3-0). Bria Barfnecht leads the team with 262 kills (3.20 k/s), and three additional players average over two kills per set. As a team, the Cougars are hitting .282 on the year and hold their opponents to .216. Setter Krista Goerger has 728 assists this season and averages 10.11 assists per set. Lexi Scott averages 1.04 blocks per set which ranks in the top five in the NSIC. With 253 digs, Kasandra Springer leads the team. With 1.67 aces per set, the team ranks third in the NSIC. In last year's meeting, the Cougars defeated the Dragons 3-1.
 
About MSUM      
Vega Keeps Digging
Senior libero Monica Vega has 1,723 career digs and is averaging 4.96 digs per set. In Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action, Vega is averaging 5.06 digs per set. She needs 84 digs to surpass Emily Hegg's 1,807 digs from 1994-1997. With six regular-season matches left, Vega needs to average over 14 digs per match to move into third place.
 
Freshman Contributors
Outside hitter Amanda Carlson has been a steady force for the Dragons as she leads the team with 211 kills (2.93 k/s). Carlson has 734 attempts which is 300 more than any other player. She has had over 40 attempts in four of her last five appearances. Katelyn Selensky has been another versatile player in her first year. Selensky has seen time at setter and averages 3.28 assists per set to go along with 2.08 digs per set. Madison Wassink has seen time as an outside hitter and averages 1.80 kills per set. Lexi Gilbertson has worked her way into the starting lineup and averages 1.31 kills per set.
 
Strength in Blocking
The Dragons continue to out-block their opponents and hold a 2.17 to 1.68 blocks per set edge. In conference action, MSUM is averaging 2.33 blocks per set. Kylie Kanwischer ranks third in the NSIC with 1.05 blocks per set, while Kaylyn Jenkins ranks seventh with 1.03 b/s. In conference-only matches, Kanwischer and Jenkins rank second and third with 1.12 and 1.10 blocks per set, respectively.
 
Back at Home
The Dragons return to Nemzek Fieldhouse for their final home matches as they take on St. Cloud State on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. and No. 7 Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 27 at 4 p.m.