Volleyball | 9/26/2018 2:59:00 PM

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The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team is now 9-5 overall and 5-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Dragons dropped a 3-1 match to No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth but came back the next day to capture a 3-1 victory over St. Cloud State University. The Dragons will be back home to host Minnesota State University Mankato, Friday at 6 p.m. and Concordia-St. Paul, Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
Scouting the Opposition
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato is 10-5 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC. The Mavericks went 0-2 last week after falling 3-1 to Southwest Minnesota State and 3-1 to the University of Sioux Falls. Morgan Olson leads the lead with 243 kills (4.26 k/s) and is followed by Alivia Garbe with 191 kills (3.35 k/s). Olson is hitting .405 on the year to sit third in the conference in that category. In addition, the Mavericks have four players who average over one kill per set to balance the offense. Micayla Porter and Lauren Lowry run the offense and average 6.40 and 5.37 assists per set, respectively. Anissa Janzig leads the team with 44 total blocks and is followed by Ashton Lee with 39 blocks. With 4.89 digs per set, Mara Quam leads the team and sits fourth in the conferences. In the two meetings last season, the Mavericks earned two victories by scores of 3-2 and 3-0.
 
Concordia-St. Paul
Concordia-St. Paul is 13-2 overall and 7-0 in the NSIC. The Golden Bears are on a 10-match winning streak after two-win last week. The team posted a 3-0 victory over the University of Sioux Falls and a 3-2 victory over No. 10 Southwest Minnesota State University. Brooklyn Lewis paces the season with 227 kills (4.28 k/s) and sits second in the NSIC in kills per set. Hope Schiller has posted 176 kills (3.32 k/s) and is followed by Erin Fallers and Sara Macek who average 2.58 kills per set and 2.32 kills per set, respectively. Elizabeth Mohr dishes out 12.96 assists per set which leads the NSIC as well as all of Division II. Sara Macek leads the team in total blocks with 33 and is followed by Lewis with 27. Schiller and Mohr are in the top five in the NSIC in aces per set with an identical .42 aces per set. Tori Hanson has been solid in the backcourt, picking up 5.26 digs per set placing her second in the NSIC. In two meetings last seasons the Dragons were defeated by scores of 3-1 and 3-0.
 
More About MSUM
Vega Keeps Digging
Senior libero Monica Vega continues to put on a show in the backcourt after posting 61 digs last weekend. The match against St. Cloud State University she contributed a season-high 37 digs. Vega is the reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 7.62 digs per set over the weekend. She has 282 digs on the year and currently sits in first place in the NSIC in digs per set with 5.32. In conference-only matches she is averaging 5.88 digs per set. Her 1,628 career digs moves her up to fourth all-time in MSUM history with 13 regular-season matches left to be played.
 
Dragon Wall at the Net
In the 2017 season, blocking was perhaps the biggest strength for the Dragon squad. The Dragons out-blocked opponents with 229.5 total blocks compared to 167.0 total blocks by the opposition. This year has been no different as the MSUM team holds a 119 to 90 total block advantage over its opponents. Kylie Kanwischer ranks fifth in the NSIC in blocks per set with 1.11 and is followed by Kaylyn Jenkins who ranks sixth with 1.06. Last week, the two combined for 26 total blocks.
 
Fresh Faces
The Dragons have freshman contributing in big roles this season. Multiple freshman have seen playing time at the outside hitter position with Amanda Carlson coming on strong in conference action. The freshman from Arizona paced the team with 19 kills in the win over St. Cloud State and had a career-high 20 kills in the win over Bemidji State. Katelyn Selensky shares setting duties at averages 4.03 assists per set. Selensky has been a solid presence defensively after contributing a career-high 24 digs in the win over Bemidji State to lead the team.
 
Keep Winning
With the 3-1 victory over St. Cloud State University, the Dragons have exceeded their conference win total from last season where they went 4-16 in NSIC play. The Dragons will look to continue the upward trend in the remaining regular-season matches.
 
On the Road Again
The Dragons will travel to take on Winona State on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Winona, Minn. MSUM will continue its road trip south where they will face Upper Iowa University on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.