KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Midwestern State opens its 2022 season with four matches Friday and Saturday at the Nebraska-Kearney Fall Classic.
 
The Mustangs take on Sioux Falls. (S.D.) at 10 a.m., then face host Nebraska-Kearney at 6 p.m. on Friday, then close tournament play with matches against Washburn (Kan.) at 10 a.m. and Minot State (N.D.) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
 

Midwestern State vs. Sioux Falls

Friday, August 28 | 10 a.m.
Health & Sports Center | Kearney, Neb.
 
Series History | Sioux Falls leads, 2-0.
 
Last Meeting | Sioux Falls rolled to a 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 sweep of Midwestern State on Sept. 4, 2021 in the Oredigger Classic at Lockridge Arena in Golden, Colo. Lauryn Bourne led the way with seven kills, while Kaitlynn Stoker had six.
 
Notables | Midwestern State is 12-13 in season opening matches since joining NCAA Division II in 1997... The Mustangs and Cougars meet on a neutral floor for the third time in the last four seasons... Sioux Falls was picked to finish 11th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason poll... The Cougars posted a 17-11 mark last season missing the NSIC postseason tournament...

Midwestern State at No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney

Friday, August 28 | 6 p.m.
Health & Sports Center | Kearney, Neb.
 
Series History | Nebraska-Kearney leads, 3-0.
 
Last Meeting | No. 5-ranked Nebraska-Kearney rolled to a 25-17, 25-9, 25-20 sweep of Midwestern State in the Rosella Meier/UNK Fall Classic on Aug. 31, 2018 at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney. Erin Richburg led the way with seven kills.
 
Notables | Midwestern State and Nebraska-Kearney square off for the fourth time... It's the third occasion the teams have played in an early season tournament in Kearney... The Mustangs and Lopers also met for a neutral site match in Canyon in 2017...
 

TRACKING THE MUSTANGS

- Stephanie Radecki makes her debut at Midwestern State and is the 10th head coach in program history. Radecki enjoyed a masterful run in 14 seasons at North Alabama (2004-17) making nine appearances in the NCAA Division II South Regionals finishing as national runners-up in 2006. Overall, Radecki boasts a 377-240 record (.611) including one season at Saint Leo (2003) and four campaigns at Division I Southern Miss (2018-21).
- Sophomore outside hitter Lauryn Bourne led the Mustangs averaging 2.72 kills per set and was second on the team with 3.06 digs per set.
- Junior Autumn Roach (5.47 assists per set) and sophomore Regan Willms (4.14 assists per set) return after splitting time at setter in a 5-2 system last season.
- Fifth-year senior Aaliyah Burras was an LSC Preseason Player to Watch after transferring in from Division I Nicholls State. Burras was second in the team with 2.30 kills per set while leading the Southland Conference with a .330 hitting percentage.
- Sophomore Amy DeWalt paced MSU with 3.97 digs per set.