HAYS, Kansas – Midwestern State embarks on its first road trip of the season to play in the 2025 Tiger Classic. The Mustangs face Augustana (S.D.) on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. before squaring off against Fort Hays State at Gross Memorial Gym in a 7 p.m. match.

Midwestern State starts the season 3-0 for the second consecutive year and for the seventh time in the history of the program.

The Mustangs posted straight-set wins over Southeastern Oklahoma and William Jewell before defeating Newman, 3-1, in their final match of the Midwestern State Invitational.

Isabella Dickens, Alayna Guerrero and Trinity Vinzant were named to the All-Tournament team for their stellar play over the first three matches.

Dickens is hitting .278 with three kills per set and is averaging 0.80 blocks per set. Guerrero is leading the Lone Star Conference with 11.2 assists per set, and Vinzant is fifth in the league with 3.60 kills per set, and she is hitting .279 for the Mustangs.

Midwestern State was strong from the service line last week, led by Jenna Redding, who is third in the conference with seven aces through 10 sets. Vinzant delivered four aces, while Dickens and Demi Stauffenberg each had three aces during the season-opening tournament.

Sadie Christiansen is fourth in the league with 5.1 digs per set for the Mustangs, who are second in the LSC with 19.2 digs per set.

The Mustangs hit .240 as a team through their first three matches, while opponents only managed to hit .111.

Guerrero was named the LSC Setter of the Week for her exploits during the Mustang Invitational. The junior from Red Oak, Texas, is the first Mustang to win a Volleyball Player of the Week honor since October of 2016, when Addison Semer won Defensive Player of the Week. Additionally, Guerrero is the first MSU student-athlete to be named Setter of the Week since Marija Jovanovic received the accolade in November of 2013.

Guerrero is now 10th all-time in program history with 1,083 career assists for the Mustangs.

Midwestern State is facing Augustana (S.D.) for the first time.

The Vikings enter the Tiger Classic with a 3-1 record and had a three-match winning streak at the Eagle Classic in Chadron, Nebraska, snapped with a five-set loss to Northern State.

Augustana won a pair of five-set matches over Black Hills State and Chadron State before sweeping Saint Martin's last week.

The Vikings were selected to finish 10th in the 2025 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.

"This year's team is on a mission," said Augustana volleyball head coach Jennifer Jacobs. "The goal of returning back to the NSIC tournament and making the postseason is at the forefront of everyone's minds and we are determined to get there. This year's senior class has not been satisfied with being on the bubble and they are leading with conviction and chips on their shoulders.

Middle/outside hitter Sydney Tims was named as the Vikings' Player to Watch.

The senior averaged 1.2 kills per set with a .203 hitting percentage last season. She led the team with 40 total service aces. Tims finished last year with 0 .78 digs per set and 111 total blocks.

Midwestern State meets Fort Hays State for the fourth time in the history of the program.

The schools have not met on the volleyball court since 2009, when the Mustangs won a four-set decision in Kansas City. The Tigers won the first two encounters, including a straight-set triumph at D.L. Ligon Coliseum in 2003. The Mustangs are making their first-ever appearance at Fort Hays State.

Fort Hays State hosted the 2025 Tiger Invitational last week and won its first three matches before Rockhurst upended the Tigers in a five-set thriller, 22-25, 25-15, 25-19, 27-29, 16-14.

The Tigers swept Cameron of the Lone Star Conference in their season opener and then defeated Arkansas Tech in four sets. Kansas Wesleyan pushed Fort Hays to five sets, but the Tigers prevailed, 25-22, 15-25, 19-25, 29-27, 14-16.

Fort Hays State was picked to finish eighth in the 2025 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll after finishing last season with a 12-14 record.

Head coach Jessica Wood-Atkins enters her eighth year at Fort Hays State with a roster that includes 14 returners and five newcomers.

The Tigers return a pair of All-MIAA performers in two-time selection Gracie Rains, who earned second team status last year at outside hitter, and setter Caiya Stucky Reyes, who was an honorable mention pick in 2024.

Junior middle blocker Ashlyn Reeves leads Fort Hays State with 3.69 points per set and is hitting a team-best .340 through four matches.

Midwestern State makes a stop in Newton, Kansas, to face Bethel of the NAIA on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.