SIOUX FALLS- The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball team, under the direction of head coach Joel McCartney, have a pair of matches this week, starting with a home match against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) travel partner No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State on Halloween The Cougars will then take to the road for a Saturday afternoon match with No. 12 Wayne State.

The Rundown (2019 Record):
Thur., Oct. 31, 6 p.m. vs. No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (13-8, 7-6 NSIC)
Sat., Nov. 2, 1 p.m. at No. 12 Wayne State Wildcats (18-4, 9-4 NSIC)

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No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State State Mustangs (13-8, 7-6 NSIC):
The Mustangs, led by 16th-year head coach Terry Culhane, started the season with a 6-2 record in non-conference matches, dropping losses to Michigan Tech to begin the season, then in the non-conference finale against NSIC foe, Concordia-St. Paul.

The Mustangs started NSIC action with a 5-0 stretch, only dropping two sets in a five-set thriller at home against Northern State. Since that stretch of wins, the Mustangs have hit a rough patch, going 2-6 in their last eight matches, including back-to-back losses to St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth last weekend.

Angela Young and Meg Schmidt lead the Mustangs offensively, combining for 591 kills on the season. Young has also compiled an impressive 21 service aces so far in the 2019 campaign. Emma Thomssen has converted 587 second touches into assists, putting Thomssen at 7.93 assists per set.

Payton Hjerleid has handled the defensive side of the Mustangs' gameplan, recording 318 digs on the season.

No. 12 Wayne State Wildcats (18-4, 9-4 NSIC):
The Wildcats, under the leadership of 15th-year head coach Scott Kneifl, has compiled a record of 18-4, 9-4 NSIC on the season. The Wildcats finished non-conference play prior to conference play 8-0, losing only one set in their fourth match against CSU-Pueblo. The Wildcats have not lost consecutive matches this season, dropping matches to Northern State, Concordia-St. Paul, and Minnesota Duluth before being upset on the road by Bemidji State in four sets in their most recent match.

Before the Cougars go to Wayne, Neb., on Saturday, the Wildcats will come to Sioux Falls to face Augustana on Friday.

The trio of Tarrin Beller, Kelsie Cada, and Katie Stephens have led the Wildcat offense, recording 209, 178, and 177 kills, respectively. Hope Carter has been the most successful Wildcat on serve, recording 37 service aces on the season. The offense has run immensely through Rachel Walker who has 778 assists (9.97 assist per set) in 2019.

Defensively, the Wildcats have three players with over 200 digs.

Sioux Falls Cougars (14-7, 6-7 NSIC):
For the Cougars, who started the season on a historic pace, conference play has tested the Cougars' mettle, with the Cougars going on a three-match winning stream at the beginning, followed by five straight heartbreakers. The Cougars then ended that streak with a five set thriller of a win against in-city rival Augustana. Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State also became win for the Cougars, before losing their road weekend matches to Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State.

Three Cougars have recorded 150 or more kills, with senior KaSandra Springer leading the way with 251 kills. Behind her is redshirt senior Abby Feyereisen (189) and redshirt sophomore (156).

Springer, who has recorded 37 service aces, is tied for the highest service aces per set percentage in all of NCAA Division II, alongside Mckenna Wharton of West Georgia at 0.62 aces per set.

Defensively, the Cougars have leaned on senior Allie Maloney and Springer. Maloey, the defensive specialist transfer from Emporia State where she set the all-time digs program record in three seasons with the Hornets, has recorded 266 digs on the year. Alongside her is Springer who has amassed 205 digs on the season.

Historical weekend for Goerger:
Despite the Cougars dropping both of their matches this past weekend, junior Krista Goerger put her name in the history books for the Cougars' Division II program history, recording her 2,141st career assist on Saturday against St. Cloud State to become the Division II leader at Sioux Falls in the category.

Where the Cougars, Mustangs, and Wildcats stand in the NSIC: