MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota State Mavericks volleyball team will conclude its current home stand on Tuesday, September 23. They are set to face the No. 16-ranked St. Cloud State Huskies at 6 p.m. in the Taylor Center. Following this matchup, the Mavericks will embark on a road trip to compete against No. 15 Northern State on Friday, September 26, at 6 p.m. in Wachs Arena and will meet Jamestown for the first time on Saturday, September 27, at 2 p.m. at Harold Newman Arena in Jamestown, N.D.
Overview of the Mavericks
The Mavericks, currently unranked but boasting an impressive 10-0 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), are enjoying a successful start to the season. They have achieved consecutive home victories, including dominant sweeps against the University of Mary and Minot State, demonstrating both offensive strength and defensive reliability.
In terms of individual performance, junior setter Jadyn Lester leads the team by ranking first in the NSIC with an average of 13.0 assists per set. On defense, sophomore Ellie Kline tops the conference with 5.5 digs per set. Offensively, the Mavericks are spearheaded by Avery Rosenberg, who leads the conference with 4.67 kills per set, and Avery Klein, whose hitting percentage exceeds .525 in recent matches. Additionally, Mary Satori stands out with remarkable service pressure, leading the NSIC with 1.33 aces per set. Freshman Jaelyn LaPlante has also made a notable impact with a hitting percentage of .583, contributing seven kills in a recent match against Minot State.
Under the guidance of head coach Corey Phelps, now in his fifth season, the Mavericks are off to their best start in program history.
About the Huskies
The St. Cloud State Huskies enter the season as reigning NSIC Regular Season and Tournament champions, having been favored to finish first in the 2025 NSIC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Holding a record of 7-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play, they recently secured sweeps against Minot State and the University of Mary. Earlier in the season, the Huskies participated in the Best Western/Kelly Inn of St. Cloud UP North Tournament, achieving a 3-1 record.
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson, recognized as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year and a previous AVCA Second Team All-American, has recorded 107 kills and 23 blocks across ten games. Setter Braya LaPlant has also played a crucial role, accumulating 301 assists and averaging 10.38 per match. Additionally, Laurin Hamann and Mollie Hobson have combined for 24 aces, making them key contributors to the team’s scoring potential.
History of the Matchup
Historically, the Mavericks have an advantage over the Huskies, leading the overall series 33-26. When the teams face off in Mankato, the Mavericks hold a 14-11 all-time record. In their last encounter in November 2024, the Huskies triumphed in three sets.
Insights on the Wolves
The Northern State Wolves are experiencing a rocky start to their NSIC campaign, having lost their first two conference matches against Winona State and No. 14 Concordia St. Paul. Last season, they concluded with a 21-7 overall record and reached the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament.
Sophomore outside hitter Linnea Nesheim leads the Wolves with 129 kills this season, showcasing her skills in a notable 17-kill performance during a recent victory. The starting setter, Ava Nilsson, ranks high in the NSIC, averaging 12.06 assists per set. As a team, the Wolves are tallying 1.7 aces, 15.3 digs, 14.1 kills, and 2.1 blocks per set. They are led by veteran coach Brent Aldridge, who has an impressive coaching record over his previous seasons.
Details on the Jimmies
The Jamestown Jimmies, having recently entered NSIC competition, faced tough matches last weekend. They lost in straight sets to No. 14 Concordia-St. Paul and then fell 3-1 to Winona State. Currently, they hold a 5-4 record after being projected to finish 11th in the preseason polls.
Offensively, junior Corbyn Menz leads the Jimmies with 82 kills, while defensively, junior Momoka Minamiya ranks among the top ten in the NSIC with 129 digs, averaging 4.03 per set. Under the leadership of head coach Jon Hegerle, who is in his 17th season, the Jimmies are looking to establish themselves in this competitive conference.
In an upcoming match, Minnesota State will clash with Jamestown for the first time, marking a significant point in both programs’ histories as the Jimmies navigate their inaugural year in the NSIC.
