CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL PICKED IN NSIC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Concordia University, St. Paul was picked by the league coaches in the NSIC Preseason Volleyball Poll. The Golden Bears are coming off a 2021 season where they finished 24-9 and advanced to the NCAA Central Region Tournament Championship game. CSP received nine first place votes to tally 217 points.

The defending NSIC regular season and tournament champions of St. Cloud State were picked second with 213 points and had the other six first place votes.  Wayne State was third with 189 points while Augustana was fourth with 179 points. 

The 2022 NSIC Volleyball season will begin with non-conference matches on Thursday, August 25 while the NSIC schedule begins Friday, September 9.  The NSIC regular season champion will be determined by the 20-game conference schedule. The top eight teams will play in the single elimination NSIC Volleyball Tournament on November 11-13. All three rounds of the tournament will take place at the Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia University, St. Paul.  

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• AVCA All-America honorable mention in 2021 & First Team in 2019
• 2019 AVCA Division II, Central Region & NSIC Freshman of the Year
• AVCA All-Region honorable mention in 2021 & First Team in 2019
• Two-time All-NSIC First Team
• Started 30 matches and ranked seventh in the NSIC in points per set (4.31) and eighth in kills per set (3.63)
• Ranked 16th in the NSIC with 33 service aces and 18th with 0.31 aces per set
• Collected a team-best 385 kills on 964 attempts, good for a .243 hitting percentage
• Had 10 double-doubles (k/d) including three 20/10 performances
• Terminated double-digit kills in all but six matches on the season

SEASON PREVIEWS & PLAYERS TO WATCH

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY

The Augustana volleyball team brings in five newcomers who will step onto the court for the first time for the Vikings in 2022 along with 11 players from the 2021 roster that finished with a record of 19-11 and a spot in the NSIC Tournament semifinals.  Among the returners for the Vikings are seniors Avery Thorson and Maddy Guetter. Thorson, a Sioux Falls native, led the Vikings in assists in the 2021 season averaging 10.45 assists per set, a mark that ranked 34th in the nation. Guetter led the Vikings in kills in the 2021 season with a 3.92 kill per set average and earned First Team All-NSIC honors. Also returning for the Vikings is libero Erika Bute. Bute, a Second Team All-NSIC honoree last season, finished with 538 digs while her digs per set total ranked her second in the NSIC.

• All-NSIC Second-Team Honors in 2021
• Ranked 34th in the nation with 10.44 assists per set
• Recorded a season best of 57 assists against St. Cloud St. (9/17) and Winona St. (11/19)
• Led the team with 1191 total assists
• Ranked second in the NSIC in triple doubles
• Finished the season with 30 service aces and 132 kills

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

The Bemidji State University volleyball team returns 13 letter-winners from the 2021 season that saw the Beavers finish with a 2-26 record and 14th in the NSIC with a 2-18 league record. The Beavers graduate 2021’s leading hitter in Anna Averkamp but return four of the team’s five top attackers. Junior Rylie Bjerklie looks to lead the Beavers’ middles after finishing second on the team with 118 kills. Rilee Michaleson and Lauren Sitter look to sure up the middle as well after finishing with 103 and 93 kills, respectively, for third and fourth on the team. Senior Meeghen Dahlager looks to lead the outside hitters after totaling 92 kills last season. Coordinating the Beavers’ attack will be sophomore Emily Wade who had a breakout freshman season for BSU and paced the team with 662 assists and finished 11th in the NSIC with a 7.12 a/s average. Junior Madison Weyker returns after leading the Beavers’ defense with 272 digs while BSU’s preseason player to watch, Lauren Justesen, returns after finishing second with 230 digs. Bemidji State head coach Kevin Ulmer welcomes five newcomers to the 2022 squad with Zayda Priebe, Hally Holker, Kylie Struble, Jada Wlodarczyk and Tiara Diamond all dawning the green and white for the first time.

• Returns for her junior season after finishing second on the team with 230 digs and averaged 3.11 digs per set over 23 matches and 74 sets last season
• Finished second on the team with 15 service aces and third on the team with 38 assists
• Totaled 14 matches with 10 or more digs and two matches with 20 or more
• Recorded a career-high 26 digs at MSU-Moorhead last season
• Last season was Justesen’s first full season with the Beavers after having her freshman campaign canceled due to COVID-19

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL

The Golden Bears enter 2022 coming off of an NCAA Central Region Tournament runner-up finish, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the 17th time in the last 18 years while finishing the season ranked #7 in the final AVCA Division II Top-25 Poll, the 18th year in a row the program finished in the national top-10.  

The squad returns its top five hitters from last year’s regional runner-up finish led by NSIC Preseason Player of the Year Jasmine Mulvihill who averaged 3.63 kills per set and hit .243 while adding defense at the net with 0.7 blocks per set and compiled 2.03 digs per set. 

Joining Mulvihill on the attack are Sophia Anderson (2.87 kps), Emma Schmidt (2.68 kps), Kennedy Brady (2.30 kps) and Katie Mattson (1.87 kps) with Brady (1.02 bps) and Mattson (0.89 bps) adding punch on the block and Schmidt contributed the team’s top returning dig total (2.64 dps).

The team returns a pair of sophomore setters, Teagan Starkey and two-sport athlete Halle Bemmels (softball). Starkey earned 18 starts as a freshman while playing in 24 matches and averaging 7.13 assists per set and contributing 1.37 digs per set. 

One of the largest rosters under head coach Brady Starkey (2003-present), the Golden Bears feature 17 players including several key returners who provided depth and starting experience through the team’s run to the region final in 2021.

The squad, which features only one senior (Brady), is boosted by three newcomers including sophomore transfer Abby Stark (L) from North Dakota State along with freshman sisters Ellie Sieling (OH) and Cassie Sieling (L) from Bloomington Jefferson.

• AVCA All-America honorable mention in 2021 & First Team in 2019
• 2019 AVCA Division II, Central Region & NSIC Freshman of the Year
• AVCA All-Region honorable mention in 2021 & First Team in 2019
• Two-time All-NSIC First Team
• Started 30 matches and ranked seventh in the NSIC in points per set (4.31) and eighth in kills per set (3.63)
• Ranked 16th in the NSIC with 33 service aces and 18th with 0.31 aces per set
• Collected a team-best 385 kills on 964 attempts, good for a .243 hitting percentage
• Had 10 double-doubles (k/d) including three 20/10 performances
• Terminated double-digit kills in all but six matches on the season

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

As the University of Mary enters the 2022 season with 11 players returning, the Marauders look to continue the forward momentum UMary experienced last season under first year head coach Abby Pollart. A former Marauders assistant, Pollart rejoined UMary just prior to the start of the 2021 season. After just one Northern Sun victory the previous two seasons combined, the Marauders claimed four wins in the toughest NCAA Division II league. Three of the wins came in the final seven games. 

Leading the veteran Marauders squad is Nehkyah Ellis. The senior outside hitter from Central Point, Ore., paced UMary in kills/set (2.46). Entering her fourth season in the starting rotation, Ellis was second in aces (.32) and digs (3.02) per set. Sophomore Maddie Cooper (1.63 k/s) and junior Emily Torborg (1.62) provide the Marauders a strong presence in the middle. 

Kameron Selvig directs the Marauders offense. After sharing the post the beginning of the season, the sophomore setter took full control at the end of the year. Kaia Sueker shined on the back row. After running on the Marauders NSIC cross country championship team in 2019, she transitioned to volleyball the next season. In her first full season she paced the Marauders and was 10th in the NSIC in digs/set (3.92). 

The Marauders open their season August 26-27 at a tournament at MSU Billings before heading to Pittsburg, KS, on Labor Day weekend before opening conference play at home on Sept. 9. 

• Entering her 4th season in the Marauders starting rotation
• Led the Marauders in kills (2.46/set) and was 2nd in aces/set (.32) and digs/set (3.02)
• Ranked 19th in digs/set and 15th in aces/set during Northern Sun matches
• Set a career-high with 22 kills in a win at Minot State
• Had seven double-doubles, including 16 kills and 15 digs against Concordia-St. Paul

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

Minnesota Crookston Volleyball will open up a new era in 2022. Nick Meseck will take over as interim Head Coach this season, taking over for Sarah Morgan, who stepped down after five seasons at the helm of the Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles will have a number of returnees in 2022 that saw the floor a season ago. Juniors Mara Weisensel, Charlee Krieg and Madison Klimek are all back and each should play a big role this season. Natalie Koke, a redshirt senior from Caledonia, Wis., will be the Golden Eagles starting setter for the second season in a row. Sophomore Layne Whaley will play a huge role in the back row after leading the Golden Eagles in digs per set with 2.73 and finished with 205 digs, which was the most by a Golden Eagle freshman since 2018. Classmate Bailey Schaefer finished with 10 or more kills in six different matches in 2021 and had a career-high 33 total attacks against UMary. Schaefer led the maroon and gold in kills and kills per set. The Golden Eagles will hope for big steps forward from the likes of Weisensel, Krieg and Schaefer. The Golden Eagles could get some solid production from freshmen Audrey Cariveau and local products Makenna Frazier, who hails from Nevis, Minn., and Kora Norland, a native of Fosston, Minn. The Golden Eagles kick off their 2022 season with four matches at the Northern Michigan Open against host school, Northern Michigan on August 25, at 5 P.M.

• Played in all 81 sets a season ago
• Finished with 549 assists in 2021
• Led the Golden Eagles with 27 service aces
• Had 138 digs on the season
• One of the most experienced Golden Eagles on the roster

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

The UMD Bulldogs are ready more than ever for the 2022 season to begin. After a hard fought 2021 season, going 10-10 in conference play (18-11 overall), The Bulldogs are ready to work.  The Bulldogs are set to return 12 players from their 2021 roster. UMD Graduated two key players with Middle Blocker Summer Ballard and 2019 All-American Outside Hitter Kate Berg, but look to return team standouts Cianna Selbitschka, Sydney Lanoue, Madison Gordon, and Grace Daak

The Bulldogs open their season at the St. Cloud State / Concordia St. Paul tournament in St. Cloud, Minnesota against Drury University and Oklahoma Baptist on Aug 26th. UMD is also set to play Ashland University and Seattle Pacific in the tournament.   Following the St. Cloud Tournament, the Bulldogs will travel to Indianapolis for a quartet of matches against the UMSL Tritons, Ashland University, Grand Valley St., and the University of Indianapolis.  UMD will open conference play on the road against the Minot State Beavers and the UMary Marauders. 

The Bulldogs have their home opener the weekend of Sept. 16th against MSU Moorhead and Northern State. The Bulldogs will also compete at home the following weekend against Augustana and Wayne State.  The Bulldogs are also set to play two mid-week matches against 2021 NSIC regular season and  tournament champs, St. Cloud State, in October. 

• 2021 Second team all-conference
• Appeared in 100 sets 
• Tallied 391 Kills in 1024 attempts, averaged 3.91 kills per set, hitting a.197% on the season
• Had 322 digs on the season averaging 3.22 digs per match
• Finished the year with 35 service aces and 35 total blocks
• Lead the team in points with 446

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

The Minnesota State volleyball team enters the 2022 season on the heels of a 14-14 season from a year ago, which included a 9-11 NSIC record. The 2022 season also marks the second season under head coach Corey Phelps who will see nine letterwinners return from last season’s squad, including three starters in junior Ellie Danielson, sophomore Kiya Durant and junior Sophie Tietz. Danielson ranked third on the team in kills last season with 196, while finishing second in total blocks with 93. Durant led the Maverick defensive effort at the net with 110 total blocks, to go along with 145 kills. Tietz recorded 84 kills and 45 blocks as well. Sophomore Brooke Bolwerk returns after finishing second on the team in assists last season with 343. The Mavericks will also see the return of senior Brenna Hesse, juniors Morgan Ellis and Finley Sims and sophomores Toryn Richards and Abigail Wolfe. Minnesota State will also welcome in seven newcomers, including transfer students Emma Loveall from UW-Milwaukee, Elizabeth Dille from UW-Green Bay and Makayla Snow from Northern State. Freshmen Gianna Trotter, Ellie Kline, Emily Kern and Maci Higgins also the Mavericks this fall. The Mavericks open their 2022 season on the weekend of Augusts 26-27 as they take on Missouri Western, Hillsdale, Black Hills State and Rockhurst at the Rockhurst Classic in Kansas City, Missouri. 

• Started in 10 matches for the Mavericks and appeared in 77 sets
• Recorded 343 assists for an average of 4.45 assists per set
• Notched 140 digs and 17 service aces as well
• Recorded a season-high 29 assists against Michigan Tech
• Posted a season-high 16 digs against UMary

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

MSUM returns 10 letter winners from last season’s team as it looks to climb the standings in the NSIC. That group is led by senior outside hitter Amanda Carlson who was an All-NSIC Second Team honoree led the team kills (342) and service aces (37) and was second with 269 digs. Senior middle blocker Elise Bakke was second on the team with six 80 blocks las season and also added 84 kills. Junior Brooke Walthall had 185 digs and 23 service aces in 2022. Junior Bridget Witzmann had seven double-digit matches in kills a year ago and was second on the team with 187 kills. Sophomore Abby Thompson led MSUM with 74 blocks. 

• Second on team in kills with 187 in 2021
• Fifth on the team with 33 total blocks a year ago
• Had a career-high 20 kills at Minot State (11/2/21)
• H one double-double last season vs. Upper Iowa (11/13/21) with 10 kills and 10 digs

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY

The Minot State volleyball program begins a new era under the leadership of first-year head coach Alex Lehocky, who took over in January. Lehocky brings experience in building a team as she started the program at New Mexico Junior College where she went 38-29 in three seasons (including 2020 which was canceled because of COVID). Coach Lehocky will not have to build from scratch as the Beavers return some young and talented players led by sophomore outside hitter Alexandra Koontz, who led the team in kills with 160, sophomore defensive specialist Tea Boeckel, who led the team with 182 digs, and sophomore middle blocker Jenna Pahlen, who led the team with 47 blocks and added 72 kills. Experienced youth will be key for Minot State, which returns all sophomores, but eight of those players saw action in double-digit matches during the 2021 season, including setter Paige Ammerman who played in 20 matches. She’ll be helped out by incoming freshmen Jaina Macaulay, an all-state performance from Clarkston, Mich., and Lucia Mercolino from Gradara, Italy. Minot State will look to build off the late-season moment of last fall that saw the Beavers sweep Minnesota Crookston and push Minnesota State Moorhead to five sets as a youthful team showed off the experience it had gained throughout the year.

• Entering her first season with Minot State
• Product of Gymnázium Bilíkova in Slovakia

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Northern posted an 18-11 mark in 2022, notching top-25 victories over No. 25 Rockhurst, No. 10 Winona State, No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State, and No. 10 Concordia-St. Paul. The Wolves finished the year fifth in the NSIC standings, holding a 13-7 league record. Three Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams, including first teamer and NSU player to watch Sally Gaul. The Wolves return 11 from a season ago and welcome seven freshman and incoming transfer this fall. Northern enters their 12th season under the direction of head coach Brent Aldridge, who earned NSIC Coach of the Year honors in 2013, 2015, and 2018. NSU opens the 2022 campaign in Golden, Colorado facing Colorado Mesa, Colorado School of Mines, UT Tyler, and Western Colorado August 26 and 27. The Wolves will face two NSIC foes (MSU Moorhead and Augustana) in the second weekend of the year, alongside Truman State and South Dakota Mines. They open the NSIC slate at home on September 9 and 10 versus Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. 

• Led Northern State with 396 kills, averaging 3.63 per set in 2021
• Ranked top-10 in the NSIC in total kills, kills per set, points, and points per set a season ago
• 2-time NSIC All-Conference performer, first team member in 2021

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS

USF finished 17-11 overall and 12-8 in the NSIC in 2021, which was just a game away from the postseason. In the midst of that result was three wins over top-25 teams, three All-NSIC performers (Averey Yaksich, Krista Goerger, Jordan Kuper) for the second time in school history, the program's second-ever All-American and the momentum for a promising future. USF set 11 season and career records (two team, nine individual) along with 27 top-five (17 individual, 10 team) and 49 top-10 (17 team, 32 individual) marks in 2021. 

Freshman middle blocker Jordan Kuper was second team All-NSIC after leading USF in hitting with .343 mark, which was fourth in the NSIC and 50th in DII. In addition, she was third in the NSIC and 20th in DII with 121 blocks. She set a school record with 1.22 blocks per set.

USF opens the season August 26-27 at the Rosella Meier Fall Classic in Kearney, Nebraska. 

• All-NSIC second team member in 2021
• Started all 28 matches as a freshman in 2021
• Played in 99 sets in 28 matches
• Totaled 248 kills (2.51 per set) on 505 total attacks
•  Had 15 set assists (0.15) and 25 digs (0.25 per set)
•  Totaled 121 blocks (19 solo and 102 assisted)

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

First-year head coach Tyler Boddy takes the helm as the Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball program looks to build off a 21-8 season that ended with an NSIC Tournament appearance in 2021. Fresh faces mesh with a strong group of returners, as seven freshmen join eight letter-winners. Senior right-side hitter Meg Schmidt, who earned All-NSIC first team and AVCA All-America honorable mention honors a season ago after finishing top three on the team in kills (334), points (409.5), assists (129), service aces (32) and blocks (64), will help lead the Mustangs in 2022. Sophomore middle blockers Emma VanHeel and Katelyn Nichols look to build off strong freshman campaigns that saw them finish third and fourth in kills, respectively, and top two on the team in blocks. Senior setter Alisa Bengen also returns after ranking first on the squad with 707 assists a season ago, while Senior Rachel Fink will look to anchor the defense after collecting 195 digs a season ago while also finishing with a team-high 43 service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Halle Jensen played in all 29 matches last season, finishing fifth on the team in kills with 92 and in blocks with 27. 

• Named first team All-NSIC in 2021
• Appeared in 103 sets and 29 matches with 11 starts
• Finished second on the team in kills (334) and points (409.5)
• Had a team-best .302 hitting percentage
• Recorded double-digit kills in 19 matches, and collected her first career triple-double with 15 kills, 13 digs, and 11 assists against UMary (10/9/21)

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY

St. Cloud State Volleyball returns a deep roster loaded with experience and talent from a 2021 season that saw the program earn their first NSIC Tournament Championship under the guidance of back-to-back NSIC Coach of the Year Chad Braegelmann. The Huskies set a new program record with an .844 winning percentage, going 27-5 overall with a 19-1 mark in conference play. A terminal offense fueled SCSU’s success, as the Huskies finished second in the NSIC with 13.9 kills per set while hitting .270. Defensively, St. Cloud State paced the conference with 2.52 blocks/set and boasted a serve receive that allowed the second-fewest aces in the league.

Two-time All-American Linsey Rachel returns for her fifth season alongside 2021 NCAA DII Freshman of the Year Kenzie Foley to form a formidable one-two punch on the outside. Rachel posted 3.61 kills per set – ninth in the NSIC – on a .264 hitting percentage and added 3.16 digs per set on her way to honorable mention AVCA All-American honors. Foley became the first Husky to earn National Freshman of the Year honors and was named a First Team All-American as she finished fourth in the NSIC with 3.92 kills per set and hit .295, leading SCSU in kills with a first-year record 451. Phebie Rossi anchored the Huskies’ block as an Honorable Mention All-American, leading the NSIC in blocks per set (1.38) while ranking fifth in hitting percentage at a .340 mark. Rachel, Foley and Rossi each earned All-Region and First Team All-NSIC honors last season.

• 2021 Honorable Mention AVCA All-American, First Team AVCA All-Region, Second Team D2CCA All-Region and First Team All-NSIC honoree
• Ranked top-15 in the NSIC with 420 kills and 363 digs, posting 3.61 K/S and 3.16 D/S on a .264 hitting percentage
• Holds the program record for double-doubles (65) and double-digit kill matches (72) while ranking third all-time in 20+ kill matches (9), fifth in career kills (1251) and sixth in career digs (1198)
• First-ever two-time All-American in SCSU history, having earned Honorable Mention AVCA All-American honors in 2019
• Three-time All-NSIC selection (First Team in 2019 and 2021, Second Team in 2018) and earned 2018 AVCA Central Region and NSIC Freshman of the Year honors

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

The Peacock volleyball team is coming off their best season in the high-powered Northern Sun Conference with a 13-7 mark in 2021. Upper Iowa posted a 20-10 overall record last season and were receiving votes in the final regular season AVCA Top 25. Highlighting the record-breaking season was three victories at home in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium over then-No. 23 University of Minnesota Duluth, then-No. 10 Southwest Minnesota State and then-No. 10 Concordia-St. Paul. 

Head Coach Aaron Nelson and Associate Coach Jenna Sullivan are back to lead the team for their tenth and fifth seasons, respectively. Over the last four seasons, Upper Iowa has become a nationally-recognized program in the top volleyball conference in all of NCAA Division II. The Peacocks have earned an 80-39 record overall and a 48-32 mark in the Northern Sun over their last four seasons.

UIU returns one of their two All-NSIC performers from a year ago in the form of hitter Maggie Streightiff. Streightiff returns for a fifth season after being selected to the All-NSIC Second Team. Additionally, the Peacocks bring back setter Nicole Pozorski, hitter Madelyn Rettler, defender Sarah Stevelinck, and a wealth of talent in the middle with Zoe Semelroth, Kylie Willis, Carlee Dove, and Sarah Johnson.

The Peacocks open their 2022 campaign in Marquette, Michigan from Aug. 25-27 with four matches. Upper Iowa begins their run in the Northern Sun Conference with a pair of road matches at the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University on Sep. 9-10.

• Named NSIC Second Team All-Conference
• Played in all 30 matches, making nine starts as an outside hitter
• Finished second on the team with 257 kills (2.5/set) and had a hitting percentage of .241
• Recorded 80 digs, 39 total blocks, and 10 service aces
• Named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week and AVCA DII Player of the Week after registering a career high 22 kills vs. SMSU (10/16/21)
• Tallied a career best 8 block assists vs. Missouri S&T (9/3/21)

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE

Wayne State returns all but one starter from last year’s team that was 22-8 overall and fourth place in the NSIC with a 14-6 league mark.  The Wildcats, ranked 18th in the final AVCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, hope to post an even better season in 2022 that will get WSC back into the NCAA Division II National Tournament.  WSC returns four All-NSIC performers from last season, led by sophomore middle hitter Maggie Brahmer.  An All-NSIC First Team selection one year ago, Brahmer averaged 2.65 kills and 0.88 blocks per set while ranking third in NCAA Division II with a .461 attack percentage.  Also back on the front row is sophomore middle hitter Taya Beller, another All-NSIC First Team selection last season, who averaged 2.87 kills and 0.81 blocks per set.  Junior outside hitter and junior setter Rachel Walker both collected All-NSIC Second Team honors last season.  Cada led WSC in hitting (3.19 kills per set) and averaged 3.17 digs per set and had nine double-doubles while leading the team in service aces (31) while Walker averaged 10.46 assists per set, which ranked fifth in the NSIC.  Northern State transfer Havyn Heinz will contend for the starting libero position at WSC along with senior Jessie Brandl.  Wayne State is scheduled to open the 2022 season on Thursday, August 25th at the Adelphi Tournament in New York.

• Led NSIC and ranked third in NCAA Division II with .461 attack percentage last season
• Averaged 2.65 kills and 0.88 blocks per set
• All-NSIC First Team selection as redshirt freshman
• Had at least one block in all but one match
• Hit perfect 1.000 last season (10 kills/10 attacks) at Minot State 10/2/21

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Winona State will look to continue their winning ways under head coach Joe Getzin after reaching the NCAA Tournament last year and ending the season ranked No. 9 in the nation. With several spots open in the lineup, the Warriors will look towards a veteran crew to step into starting roles. 

WSU will be led by outside hitter Madison Larson, who appeared in 32 matches and averaged 2.52 kills per set during her 2021 campaign. On the right side, Sidney Paulson will be a key returner for the Warriors after recording over 300 kills last season. Casey Volkmann will be the backbone of the strong Winona State defense, being the top returner from one of the best defensive teams in the NSIC. Rylee Vaughn and Lydia Lange were staples in the lineup for WSU last season, and both will be looked upon to have large impacts for Coach Getzin this year. 

The Warriors are set to open their 2022 schedule with a pair of tournaments before NSIC play begins. WSU will compete in the Concordia-St. Paul Tournament against four nonconference opponents on Aug. 26-27. The following weekend, Winona State travels to California to appear in the Toro Classic hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills. Conference play begins on Sept. 9, and the Warriors have high goals after finishing runners-up in the NSIC last season.

• Appeared in 32 matches during the 2021 season
• Was third for the Warriors with 277 kills and 2.52 kills/set
• Recorded double-digit kills in 12 games last season
• Garnered 55 total blocks while not recording a blocking error