MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The MSU Moorhead volleyball team will hit the road for a pair of matches this week as they continue NSIC play. The Dragons will take on Minot State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before battling Minnesota State on Friday at 6 p.m.

MSUM last played at home against second-ranked Concordia, St. Paul and Winona State. The Golden Bears won in four sets as the Dragons would gain their first set win over CSP in six years in the loss. Senior Bridget Witzmann led the way in that match with 20 kills and 13 digs for the Dragons. Witzmann leads the team with 164 kills so far in 2023 as she sits 181 kills shy of 1,000 for her MSUM career. The senior is hitting the ball at a .211 clip so far this season. 

In their second game of the weekend, MSUM fell in straight sets to Winona State on Saturday afternoon. Witzmann added 11 kills in the loss while Abby Thompson pitched in five kills as well as two block solos. The junior middle blocker leads the Dragons in block solos with 12 on the season and 21 blocks overall. Jadyn Feist and Raiah Mandell lead MSUM in total blocks with 22 a piece. 

Kari Thompson is in her first season as head coach of the Dragons. 

Scouting Minot State

The Beavers (2-12, 1-5 NSIC) are coming off a pair of losses against Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota State at home last weekend. Minot State's lone conference victory came against Minnesota Crookston on September 22. The Beavers are led by Maggie Machado, who has spiked down 80 kills so far in 2023 at a .134 hitting clip. Setter Jaina Macaulay leads the Beavers with 223 set assists so far this year with just 23 set errors. Defensively for Minot State, Bailee Brommenchenkel leads the way with 27 total blocks including five block solos. 

The Beavers are led by second-year head coach Alex Lehocky. 

Scouting Minnesota State

Minnesota State (7-7, 2-4 NSIC) collected a pair of valuable road wins a week ago with victories over Mary and Minot State. Both matches only required three sets for the Mavericks. Sophie Tietz leads Minnesota State with 131 kills while Kiya Durant is not far behind with 106 and a team-best .370 hitting percentage. Setter Brooke Bolwerk leads the team with 342 set assists in 2023. On the defensive side of the net, Durant leads the team with 50 total blocks including 10 block solos. Emily Kern is not far behind Durant's mark, accumulating 49 total blocks so far in 2023. 

Third-year head coach Corey Phelps leads the Mavericks.