MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team will take to the road this weekend to face off against the Sioux Falls Cougars Friday, at 6:00 p.m., before challenging #12 Southwest Minnesota State Saturday, at 2:00 p.m.

Mavericks at a Glance: The Mavericks enter the week with a 16-8 (9-7 NSIC) overall record after dropping a match against #7 Minnesota Duluth 3-0 and defeating St. Cloud State 3-2 last weekend.

Impact Mavericks: Morgan Olson leads the Mavericks with a team best 390 kills and a .391 attacking percentage.  Olson is closing in the single season kills record for Minnesota State which stands at 499 set by Kris Wolle in 1999.  Alivia Garbe has the second most kills for Minnesota State with 277, and is also second on the team in digs with 258 on the season.  Mara Quam has compiled 441 digs this season which is closing in on the single season record of 480 set by Alli Rice in 2009, and Micayla Porter leads the teams in assists with 586.

By the Numbers: As a team this season, Minnesota State has posted 13.4 kills per set in comparison to its opponents 11.8.  Additionally, the Mavericks add 12.9 assists per set and 14.6 digs per set.  

Young Talent: The freshman class has contributed 214 digs, 431 assists, 110 kills and 48 blocks this season. Freshman Lauren Lowry is second on the team with 460 assists and Dana Schindler is fifth on the team with 109 kills.

Scouting Sioux Falls:  Sioux Falls is located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  The Cougars are 16-8 (11-5 NSIC) so far this season. Sioux Falls is led by head coach Joel McCartney who is in his 8th season with the Cougars.

As a team this season, Sioux Falls posts 13.8 kills per set while their opponents average 12.1. The Cougars also total 12.9 assists per set and 13.3 digs per set. 

Senior Bria Barfnecht is the leading attacker for Sioux Falls with 291 kills on the season and is joined by senior Lexi Scott with 249 kills, and sophomore Avery Yaksich with 244 kills.  Sophomore Krista
Goerger is the primary setter for the Cougars and has 803 assists on the season.  

Scouting #12 Southwest Minnesota State: Southwest Minnesota State is located in Marshall, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  The Mustangs are 17-7 (12-4 NSIC) so far this season. Southwest Minnesota State is led by 15th year head coach Terry Culhane.  

As a team this season, the Mustangs total 14.5 kills in comparison to its opponents' 11.6. Additionally, Southwest Minnesota State posts 13.8 assists per set and 17.9 digs per set. 

Senior Taylor Reiss leads the Mustangs, and the NSIC, with 509 kills on the season.  Sophomore Emma Thomssen is the primary setter for Southwest Minnesota State and has 998 kills on the season.  

Looking Ahead: The Mavericks will return home for the final weekend of the regular season as they take on Wayne State Friday, Nov. 2, at 6:00 p.m., before facing Augustana Saturday at 2:00 p.m.