MATCHUPS: Minot State will travel to Wayne State and Augustana this week on Friday and Saturday, September 30 and October 1. The games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively.

RECORDS: Minot State is 5-9 overall and 0-5 in NSIC play after falling in three games last week. Wayne State went 1-2 last week, including a loss to Augustana, to move its record to 10-3. The Wildcats are 2-3 in conference play. Augustana remained undefeated in conference play last week at 5-0 to improve its record to 12-1.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State head coach Ben Kaszeta is in his second season at the front of the Beaver volleyball program. He is 8-31 overall with the Beavers and 20-75 as a head coach. Scott Kneifl is in his 12th season as the head coach of Wayne State. He has made 10 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances while accumulating a 279-95 record. Dan Meske is in his second season as the head coach of Augustana. He recorded a 18-11 overall record in his first year including a 11-9 record in NSIC play.

RANKINGS: Augustana is the eighth ranked volleyball program in the country while Wayne State is the ninth according to the AVCA September 26 coaches poll. Minot State did not receive votes in the rankings.  

SERIES HISTORY: Minot State has yet to defeat either Wayne State or Augustana. With an 0-5 record against the Wildcats and an 0-7 record against the Vikings, the Beavers will be looking for their first win over these opponents.

NOTING THE BEAVERS: The Beavers remain one of the better NSIC teams in terms of aces served as they have racked up 85 so far this season, a total that ranks them third in the conference. Minot State is led in three of the five major statistics by new players this season as freshmen Shelby Spuller and Hayley Swain lead the team in kills (107) and blocks (41) while transfer Janelle Nagy leads in assists (203).

NOTING THE WILDCATS: Wayne State remained in the top 10 in the polls despite losing two games last week. The Wildcats are a tough team defensively as they rank fourth in the NSIC in opponent hitting percentage (.139). They do this with a dual talent of blocking and digging, categories in which they rank second and third in the NSIC, respectively.
 
NOTING THE VIKINGS: Augustana is one of just three NSIC teams left to be undefeated in conference play. The Vikings host one of the top defenders in the conference with junior Tahlyr Banks who leads the NSIC in digs per game (5.71). Augustana also ranks as the fourth best team in the league offensively with 14.45 kills per set which ranks them fourth in the conference.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: The Beavers have two players ranked in the top 10 in the conference in different categories. Kelsey Dewulf leads MSU with 23 aces served, fourth best in the NSIC, while Cindy Pelo leads the team with 222 digs, fifth best in the conference. Pelo, who took a year off, and Dewulf are two of just three returners for Minot State.