Last TIME OUT
- SMSU displayed its true resilience Tuesday evening, fending off an offensive surge by Augustana to win in five sets in non-conference volleyball at the SMSU PE Gym.
- Leah Jones led the Mustang attacking crew on Tuesday, posting a match-high and tying her career-high with 18 kills in the win. Saari Kuehl followed with 15 kills and three block assists in support, while Karli Arkell and Ashley Peltier each tallied 12 kills in their efforts.
- Sydney Thein did what she does best on Tuesday, posting a career-high 56 assists in the setter role, while tallying three kills, 20 digs, and a pair of blocks.
- McKenzie Tolk anchored SMSU defensively, bumping 23 digs and grabbing two service aces on the back line. Tolk also dished five assists in the win.
- SMSU out-hit AU .183-.164 and recorded 67 kills in comparison to the Vikings’ 62.
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 3.61 kills per set with 137 total kills, followed by sophomore outside hitter Leah Jones with 110 kills (2.89 per set). Senior middle blocker Emma VanHeel adds 101 kills.
- VanHeel also leads the Mustang blockers with 39 blocks.
- Redshirt freshman setter Sydney Thein anchors the offense with 443 assists (11.66 per set) while supporting the attack with 35 kills on .353 hitting. Thein adds 125 digs and 10 service aces.
- Junior libero McKenzie Tolk leads the defense with 220 digs (5.79 per set) while supporting the offense with 37 assists.
SMSU IN THE NATIONAL RANKS
- The Mustangs currently hold multiple team and individual placements amongst the NCAA statistical leader boards.
- SMSU ranks first in the nation in digs per set (20.42), third in the nation in assists per set (14.16), and fourth in kills per set (14.95).
- The Mustangs sit at No. 16 in opponent hitting pct. (.121), No. 25 in total assists (538), and No. 32 in total kills (568)
- Sydney Thein comes in at No. 6 in assists per set (11.66) and No. 19 in total assists (443), while McKenzie Tolk ranks ninth in digs per set (5.79) and No. 22 in total digs (220).
SERIES HISTORY
- Today will be the 75th meeting between SMSU and NSU, with the Mustangs leading the series 63-11.
- The first meeting happened in 1978, and the most recent meeting happened in October of 2023 with the Mustangs capturing a sweep.
- SMSU is 28-2 all-time against NSU in Marshall.
- SMSU and MSUM will meet for the 135th time, with the Mustangs leading the series 68-46.
- The Mustangs defeated the Dragons a season ago with a sweep by scores of 25-5, 25-19, and 25-15.
- SMSU is 27-17 all-time at home against MSUM.
MORE ON NORTHERN STATE
- NSU is 9-1 on the season and last played on Sept. 21 suffering a 3-0 home loss to No. 8 Wayne State. The Wolves are 2-0 on the road this season.
- The reigning NSIC Offensive Player of the Week, Natalia Szybinska, leads the Wolves in scoring at 3.69 kills per set with a team-high 129 kills.
- Morissen Samuels follows behind with 99 kills while coming in third with 27 blocks.
- Abby Meister leads the team on the back line with 196 digs while supporting the offense with 14 assists and seven aces.
- Abby Brooks leads the Wolves’ blocking crew with 44 blocks while rounding out the teams top attackers with 75 kills.
- NSU is averaging 13.5 kills per set on 12.7 percent hitting while opponents average 11.7 kills on 16.0 percent hitting.