MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead volleyball is slated to begin the 2025 season as part of the Dallas Classic, hosted by Dallas Baptist University. The Dragons will play four matches across two days on Friday and Saturday this week.
Live video and stats will be available at msumdragons.com. The Dragons open the tournament battling St. Edward's on Friday morning at 11:30 a.m., followed by matchup with East Central University at 4:30 p.m. MSUM will wrap up play at the tournament on Saturday, taking on Southwest Baptist at 9 a.m. before playing host DBU at 2 p.m.
Moorhead was selected 12th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' poll with junior
Raiah Mandell tabbed as the Dragon 'player to watch'. MSUM earned 77 points in the poll which was topped by St. Cloud State with 212 points and eight first-place votes. Concordia-St. Paul (4) and Southwest Minnesota State (4) claimed the number two and three spots and the remaining first--place votes. The ranking comes following a 2024 campaign which saw MSUM go 9-17 overall with four league victories.
"Our entire team has grown this offseason from experience and skill. We have a committed group of returning student-athletes who have established a positive team culture that prioritizes the success of the team and growth of the individual," said MSUM head volleyball coach
Kari Thompson, who enters her third season at the helm in 2025. "We add some competitive incoming freshmen this year and will have experience and depth at every position leading to a very balanced team."
Mandell earns the 'player to watch' nod after seeing steady improvement throughout her sophomore season in 2024. The Mounds View, Minn., native played in all 26 matches for Moorhead a season ago, concluding the year with 88 sets played. Mandell registered 149 kills and 33 total blocks a season ago to go along with a .159 hitting percentage. Of her 33 blocks, 24 were tabbed as assisted blocks with Mandell clipping 1.69 kills per set mark.
"Raiah has the potential to be a force at the net and has showed that in matches her sophomore season. Having experience as a middle gives her the ability to be diverse in her offensive options and to always be an offensive option," said Thompson of Mandell. "Her blocking has the ability to alter the offensive options of our opponents on every play. Raiah's on court impact will continue to grow as she has been working on her overall game this offseason."
Mandell is one of 16 returners for the Dragons this fall as she leads a strong junior class alongside libero Kiara Olech, setter
Madi Colby, middle blocker
Ruby Bones and outside hitter
Maci Martini. Moorhead also bolsters a formidable senior class including stalwarts Emily Skalicy,
Jocelin Feutz,
Amanda Lisi and
Jadyn Feist. Feist missed the entire 2024 season due to a knee injury. MSUM's sophomore group showed incredible promise in 2024, led by outside hitter
Brielle Riess and setter
Annalise Wilson.
Mya Pfeifer and
Leah Laqua are poised for big moments this season as well with redshirt freshmen
Ana Werwie and
Addison Bates also in the mix. The Dragons also brought in three true freshman ahead of 2025 in
Natalie Mix,
Brooke Bowen and
Brenna Beck.
Scouting The Opposition
St. Edward's University
2024 Record: 10-17 (2-14 LSC)
Head Coach: Jeremy Garcia (1st Season)
Nickname: Hilltoppers
Top Returner: Althea Morris, Setter (98 SP, 1,001 A, 10.21 A/S, All-LSC Honorable Mention)
East Central University
2024 Record: 18-14 (11-5 GAC)
Head Coach: Danielle Essix (3rd Season)
Nickname: Tigers
Top Returner: Faiana Halatoa, OH (117 SP, 230 K, 1.97 K/S, .161 PCT)
Southwest Baptist
2024 Record: 14-16 (4-9 GLVC)
Head Coach: James Hanger (6th Season)
Nickname: Bearcats
Top Returner: Hannah Jackson, OH (101 SP, 322 K, 3.19 K/S, .215 PCT)
Dallas Baptist
2024 Record: 20-10 (12-4 LSC)
Head Coach: Jordan Fish (4th Season)
Nickname: Patriots
Top Returner: Karly Wells, OH (110 SP, 377 K, 3.43 K/S, .240 PCT, 52 TB, All-LSC Second Team)
