Midwestern State vs University of Sioux Falls
Oredigger Classic presented by Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott
Saturday, Sept 4 – 10:30 a.m.
Lockridge Arena (Golden, Colo.)
All-Time Series: Sioux Falls leads 1-0
Video | Live Stats

Midwestern State vs Seattle Pacific
Oredigger Classic presented by Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott
Saturday, Sept 4 – 3:30 p.m.
Lockridge Arena (Golden, Colo.)
Video | Live Stats
 
GOLDEN, Colo. -- Midwestern State will continue their search for the first win of the season as they conclude the Oredigger Classic on Saturday, Sept. 4. First up for the Mustangs is the University of Sioux Falls at 10:30 a.m. followed by Seattle Pacific at 3:30 p.m. Both matches will take place in Golden, Colo., at the Lockridge Arena.

SIX STORY LINES

1 | Lauryn Bourne is the top attacker for Midwestern State after their first two competitions. The sophomore totaled 23.5 points on the season thus far to lead the team. She currently averages 3.36 points per set and 3.29 kills per set. The outside hitter has 29 kills to her name already. Bourne has also been a presence on the defensive side, recording MSU's second-highest number of digs with 14.

2 | It is a block party when Lissette Lefforge and Taylor Anderson are on the net. The two seniors each collected seven blocks from the team's matches against Colorado Christian and Colorado School of Mines. Their average sits at one block per set for the Mustangs.

3 | Newcomers to MSU made an immediate impact in the team's opening day of play. Hannah Moore knocked down ten kills and five digs in two matches. Freshman Alex Serna added six kills and two blocks while Reagan Willms sits second on the team with 24 assists. On the defensive side, Madison Becker tops the team with 19 digs and Amy DeWalt adds 11.

4 |  Though Midwestern State had an impressive 2020 season, the one thing they really excelled at was service aces. The tough serving Mustang racked up 155 aces throughout 74 sets to average 2.09 per set. Their total aces secured the highest rank in NCAA Division II while aces per set topped at 16th. Autmn Roach led MSU with 30 aces on the year to earn first in the conference and eighth in the nation. Kaitlyn Masseth trailed only slightly with 28 to her name to earn second in the conference and 11th nationally. The Mustangs have yet to record an ace through their first two matches.

5 | University of Sioux Falls did not compete in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and they registered a 17-11 record in 2019. The team returns 17 players including 12 letter winners from the 2019 team that received the first national ranking in team history. In the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) preseason poll, the Cougars were picked 11th. Elite 18 NSIC Award selection Krista Goerger will command the setting spot for Sioux Falls. Middle blocker Kenzie Byers has a 0.83 block per set average and 212 total kills.

6 |  Seattle Pacific went 11-7 in the shortened spring season and competed a 13-15 record in 2019. In the 2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) preseason poll, the Falcons were picked to finish fifth out of ten. Hannah Hair is one to watch as she led the GNAC in 2020 in total blocks with 90. Maddie Batiste adds to the team with 3.51 kills per game and 3.28 digs per game.

HEAD COACH VALERIE ARMSTRONG enters her fourth season at the helm of the Midwestern State volleyball program. In the shortened 2020 season, the team amounted a 10-7 overall record, the best winning percentage since 2008. Another feat from last year was the program's first Lone Star Conference postseason win that came against DBU. Over three season, Armstrong has obtained a 23-51 record. Before coming to Midwestern State in 2018, she had experience at all levels of collegiate volleyball. In Division I, Armstrong was assistant coach at Binghamton and Alabama State. She saw time as a head coach at two junior colleges including Vernon College and Colby Community College. Her first coaching job was the assistant at NAIA University of the Southwest in 2007 after graduating from Oklahoma Panhandle State. There she earned OPSU Female Athlete of the Year honors after leading the Aggies with 2.50 kills and 0.47 blocks per set as a senior in 2006.

SERIES WITH THE COUGARS 
Midwestern State and the University of Sioux Falls have seen each other just once in the history of both teams. The last meet-up was in 2019 in Denton, Texas and the Cougars walked away with the 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-15, 25-17).

SERIES WITH THE FALCONS
This will be the first match in the series between Midwestern State and Seattle Pacific.