GAMEDAY SPONSOR
Last TIME OUT
- The Winona State defense limited the seventh-ranked Mustangs to a season-low .131 hitting percentage to grab a four set win 25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on Friday night.
- Leah Jones led SMSU with 13 kills and an ace on offense, and recorded 12 digs for a double-double. Karli Arkell followed with 12 kills on .458 hitting and added four block assists on defense.
- Sydney Thein helped on offense with 38 set assists while grabbing 10 digs for a double-double.
- Two other Mustangs totaled double-digit digs with McKenzie Tolk recording a team-high 14 and Mya Krystosek grabbing 13.
- SMSU posted 47 kills on a season-low .131 hitting percentage with eight total blocks, while WSU swung for 58 kills on .260 hitting.
MUSTANG MACHINES
- SMSU ranks first in NSIC play in assists per set (14.97) and kills per set (15.74), second in team hitting pct. (.294) and third in digs per set (18.74).
- Senior outside hitter Saari Kuehl leads SMSU in hitting with 220 kills (3.49 per set), followed by sophomore outside hitter Leah Jones with 194 kills (3.08 per set). Senior middle blocker Emma VanHeel comes in third with 168 kills while sophomore right side hitter Ashley Peltier adds 165 kills.
- VanHeel also leads the Mustang blockers with 70 blocks.
- Redshirt freshman setter Sydney Thein anchors the offense with 751 assists (11.92 per set) while supporting the attack with 54 kills on .362 hitting. Thein adds 209 digs and 17 service aces.
- Junior libero McKenzie Tolkleads the defense with 343 digs (5.44 per set) while supporting the offense with 63 assists.
SMSU IN THE NATIONAL RANKS
- The Mustangs currently hold multiple team and individual placements amongst the weekly NCAA statistical leader boards.
- SMSU ranks first in the nation in assists per set (14.46) and kills per set (15.22), and second in Division II in digs per set (19.37).
- The Mustangs sit at No. 4 in total assists (911), No. 8 in total kills (959), and No. 18 in total digs (1,220).
- Sydney Thein comes in at No. 5 in assists per set (11.92) and total assists (751), while McKenzie Tolk ranks No. 18 in digs per set (5.44) and No. 16 in total digs (343).
SERIES HISTORY
- SMSU and CSP will meet for the 72nd time, with the Golden Bears leading the series 28-43.
- The Mustangs suffered a pair of losses in the series last season.
- SMSU is 11-15 all-time at home against Concordia-St. Paul.
MORE ON concordia-st. paul
- CSP last played on Oct. 12 earning a 3-0 win on the road against MSU Moorhead. The Golden Bears are 4-2 on the road this season.
- Sophia Anderson leads Concordia-St. Paul with 182 kills and comes in fourth on the team with 21 blocks.
- Makenna Nold and Mehlayna Straub follow with 155 kills apiece, with Nold adding 48 blocks and 21 service aces.
- Cassie Sieling offers a bit of everything on the floor, leading the Golden Bears with 267 digs and 23 service aves, while contributing offensively with 128 kills and 35 assists.
- The reigning NSIC Setter of the Week, Teagan Starkey, supports the CSP attack with 786 assists. Starkey adds 131 digs, 20 blocks, and 14 service aces.
- CSP is averaging 14.6 kills per set on 26.0 percent hitting while opponents average 10.7 kills per set on 16.5 percent hitting.