MINOT, N.D.- The Minot State women's volleyball team (0-16, 0-9 NSIC) stays home this week to square off against the 8th ranked Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (15-2, 7-2 NSIC) this Friday Oct. 7th at 7 p.m. at the MSU Dome. The Beavers then await the Sioux Falls Cougars (9-7, 5-4 NSIC) who come into Minot Saturday Oct. 8th at 2 p.m. 

The Mustangs are coming off a 2-1 weekend, first losing 3-2 at home to the UMD Bulldogs, while coming back and upsetting the St. Cloud State Huskies 3-2, before finishing off the three match week with a 3-1 victory against Sioux Falls. The 'Stangs have made 885 kills on the year, while knocking down 90 service aces and 880 digs on the year, and while making 139 blocks. Saari Kuehl leads the 'Stangs attack with 185 kills on the year. Rachel Fink has made 27 service aces to lead SMSU. On the defensive side McKenzie Tolk has saved 175 digs on the year. Emma VanHeel has made 63 blocks on the year. 

The Cougars are coming off an 0-3 weekend losing 3-1 to St. Cloud State and SMSU, while getting swept by UMD. The Cougars have made 766 kills on the year while netting 95 service aces, 834 digs, and 96 blocks. Courtney Holsteen has led the offensive charge for USF having made 172 kills. Brynn Askew leads the Cougars with 19 service aces. Sadie Voss leads the defense with 170 digs while Jordyn Hamm has 52 blocks on the year. 

The Beavers are coming off an 0-3 weekend all 3-0 sweeps by Minnesota State-Mankato, Concordia St. Paul, and Mary, all on the road. MSU has made 468 kills on the year with 56 service aces, 575 digs, and 61 blocks. Alex Koontz leads MSU with 102 kills on the year while Tea Boeckel has 12 service aces. Viktoria Sedova leads the MSU defense with 122 digs while Jenna Pahlen has made 26 blocks on the year. 

The Beavers will then head on the road for one of the toughest trips of the year as MSU first takes on the Augustana Vikings on Friday Oct. 14th in Sioux Falls with start time set for 6 p.m. The Beavers will then head to the first-ranked Wayne State Wildcats on Saturday Oct. 15th with start time set for 2 p.m.