THIS WEEK: Minot State University plays its second former Dakota Athletic Conference mate in a row as Valley City State comes to Minot for a Homecoming 2011 showdown. The match begins at 7 p.m. at the MSU Dome.

TRADITION IN TRANSITION: Minot State is in its third season of a four-year transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. MSU advanced to Year Three Provisional status in July and is expected to complete the transition in July 2012. Minot State was selected to join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in 2012-13.

RECORDS: MSU is 4-6 overall as a NCAA Division II Independent institution. VCSU comes into the week at 5-11 overall and 1-0 in the Dakota Athletic Conference.

COACHES CORNER: The Beavers are coached by first-year head coach Travis Ward. Ward is 4-6 overall in his career.  Susan Kolbow is the head coach at Valley City State and is 15-33 in a season and a half.

FOLLOW THE BEAVERS: Minot State volleyball is live on New Media One and the university provides live statistics for all home matches. Both can be accessed at (www.msubeavers.com).

RANKINGS: Minot State was not ranked in the latest AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. VCSU also was not ranked in the NAIA Coaches Poll this week.

RECENT HISTORY: Minot State swept two matches last week, winning its home opener 3-0 over Williston
State College before blanking Dickinson State 3-0 in Dickinson. Valley City State fell in three to both Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines last Friday and Saturday.

NOTING THE VIKINGS: Valley City State is tied with Jamestown College for the lead in the Dakota Athletic Conference with a 1-0 DAC mark. The Vikings, however, are just 4-11 outside of conference play… VCSU plays all three of the former DAC schools making the transition to NCAA Division II over the course of a week as the Vikings played South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State last week… Jill Noeske has hit for a high percentage, leading the team at .315 and has hammered home an impressive 182 kills so far this season… The Vikings setter Anna Neufeld ranks 33rd in the NAIA in total assists, racking up 496 in 16 matches… VCSU plays 26 nonconference matches this season.

DOUBLE DIGITS: Minot State freshman Emily Byrne's (S, Reno, Nev.) 10.16 assists per set would be 37th in NCAA Division II if the Beavers were allowed to be ranked this season. MSU will be able to be a part of the national rankings for statistics next season. Byrne has accumulated 376 assists over 10 matches for far this season.

I'LL HELP YOU OUT: Minot State's blocks leader Kelsey Wingo (Fr., MH, Twain Harte, Calif.) is averaging a block per set through her 38 sets played so far this season. But Wingo has yet to record a solo block. She has 38 block assists on the season. MSU's No. 2, 3 and 4 blocks leaders Janice Rose Reinbolt (Sr., MH, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan), Sara Friesen (So., MH, Brandon, Manitoba) and Chelsey Bryant (So., OH, Brandon, Manitoba) have recorded seven, four and four solo blocks respectively. Reinbolt has 37 total blocks on the season.

SPREADING THE BALL AROUND: MSU has six players with double digit kills on the season as the Beavers have used multiple combinations on the season. Leading the way is Jen Dixon (So., OH, Brandon, Manitoba) with 139 kills so far. Janice Rose Reinbolt is just under 100 with 94 through 10 matches.

TRIPLE UP: Minot State is looking to have it first three-match winning streak in two years. MSU won two matches in a row three times last season, but couldn't stretch it to three. The last time the Beavers won three in a row was Oct. 24, 2009 after a 3-2 win over Mayville State.