Last TIME OUT
- The then-No. 10 ranked SMSU team broke its losing streak at home with a 16-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 win over Sioux Falls last Saturday afternoon.
- SMSU was led by a trio of hitters who registered double-digit kills. Emma VanHeel led the attack with 15 kills on an efficient .323 hitting percentage, putting up a pair of solo blocks in the process. Ashley Peltier followed with 13 kills on .370 hitting and three block assists, while Saari Kuehl swung for 10 kills.
- Sydney Thein supported the attack with 50 set assists and helped defensively with 11 digs, good enough for a double-double.
- McKenzie Tolkwas the anchor for the Mustangs on the back line, tallying 18 digs and an ace while recording three assists. Leah Jones added 12 digs.
- SMSU posted 57 kills on .182 hitting percentage with 10 total blocks, while USF swung for 52 kills on .214 hitting.
MUSTANG MACHINES
- SMSU ranks first in the NSIC in digs per set (19.29), and assists per set (13.93), while ranking second in kills per set (14.66), fifth in blocks per set (2.09) and sixth in team hitting pct. (.238).
- Senior outside hitter Saari Kuehl leads SMSU in hitting with 280 kills (3.26 per set), followed by sophomore outside hitter Leah Jones with 255 kills (2.97 per set). Senior middle blocker Emma VanHeel comes in third with 239 kills while sophomore right side hitter Ashley Peltier adds 219 kills.
- VanHeel also leads the Mustang blockers with 90 blocks.
- Redshirt freshman setter Sydney Thein anchors the offense with 1,012 assists (11.77 per set) while supporting the attack with 62 kills on .317 hitting. Thein adds 278 digs and 24 service aces.
- Junior libero McKenzie Tolk leads the defense with 461 digs (5.36 per set) while supporting the offense with 79 assists.
SMSU IN THE NATIONAL RANKS
- The Mustangs currently hold multiple team and individual placements amongst the weekly NCAA statistical leader boards.
- SMSU ranks third in the nation in assists per set (13.93), fifth in Division II in kills per set (14.66) and in digs per set (19.29).
- The Mustangs sit at No. 8 in total assists (1,198), No. 13 in total kills (1,261), and No. 17 in total digs (1,659).
- Sydney Thein comes in at No. 6 in assists per set (11.77) and No. 5 in total assists (1,012), while McKenzie Tolk ranks No. 18 in digs per set (5.36) and No. 21 in total digs (461).
SERIES HISTORY
- Today will be the 39th meeting between SMSU and UMC, with the Mustangs leading the all-time series 38-1.
- The Mustangs have won the last 30 matches in the series, dating back to 2003.
- SMSU is 18-0 all-time at home versus USF.
MORE ON minnesota crookston
- Minnesota Crookston went 0-2 last week. On Friday, the team fell in a four-setter against MSU Moorhead before suffering a sweep loss to No. 21 Northern State on Saturday.
- Maya Jones leads the Golden Eagles on offense with 216 kills and ranks second defensively with 37 blocks. Jones adds 22 service aces.
- Baily Teveldal leads the team with 727 assists and has tallied 195 digs. She ranks first on the Golden Eagles with 29 service aces.
- Madison Carsten ranks second on the team with 199 kills and 264 digs thus far. She also has 23 service aces and 15 blocks.
- Kailee Waasdorp has a team-high 406 digs this season and supports the offense with 62 assists and 14 service aces.
- Carizma Muth comes in third with 189 kills. Muth ranks second on the team in service aces with 28 and fourth with 18 blocks. Baily Schaefer, another defensive specialist, is third with 196 digs.
- Emma Malek ranks fourth on the team in kills with 145, and consistently is one of the team's leading hitters at the end of matches. Malek has also recorded a team-high 46 total blocks this season.
- UMC is averaging 11.5 kills per set on 15.0 percent hitting while opponents average 13.2 kills on 22.3 percent hitting.