SCSU Volleyball (15-11, 7-9 NSIC) will need two wins this weekend to keep themselves in the hunt for a berth in the NSIC tournament.

 

The Huskies currently sit 10th in the NSIC Standings at 7-9, behind three 9-7 squads (Upper Iowa, Augustana, and Wayne State) and 8-8 Sioux Falls. Since 2012, no team has made the Tournament without recording at least 10 conference wins. SCSU has four matches remaining, and elementary mathematics will tell you that a 3-1 stretch run is necessary to put the Huskies in playoff position.

 

St. Cloud State begins the crucial four match stretch on Friday at 6:00 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall. The University of Sioux Falls (13-8, 8-8 NSIC) will take on the Huskies with their own playoff hunt in mind. The Cougars sit at 9th in the conference, and like SCSU will be thirsting for two more conference wins. USF is led by standout Junior Middle Lexi Scott. Scott is hitting .333 on the year, 9th in the NSIC, and sits at 3rd with over one block per set. Junior Mackenna Rockeman ranks 9th in conference with 3.54 kills per set, while fellow outside hitter Bria Barfnecht poses a threat at the pins with her .289 hitting percentage. USF does struggle in the back row at times, sitting at just 13th in the conference in digs.

 

The Huskies then welcome #2 Southwest Minnesota State (22-2, 14-2 NSIC) to St. Cloud on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The Mustangs are a well-established national power, ranking 3rd in the nation in kills per set and 5th in hitting percentage. Standout Senior Setter Megan Larson leads a dynamic attack, slotting in at 3rd in the nation with 12.40 assists per set. Junior Outside and NSIC Player of the Year candidate Taylor Reiss is 6th nation-wide in kills per set at 4.77. Reiss is joined on the offensive by two dominating Middle Hitters: Senior Brooke Borchardt(.408) and Freshman Sarina Smith (.390). The Mustangs also possess an imposing defense, holding opponents to the lowest hitting percentage in the NSIC at .166. SMSU will be hunting for a clean final four matches, as they have already locked up a Tournament spot.

 

Both matches can be heard on the KVSC Sports Stream.