HAYS, Kansas — Midwestern State opens its season with three matches at the Fort Hays State Tiger Classic. The Mustangs meet Truman State at noon on Friday and play the hosts at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Midwestern State takes on Regis at 2:30 p.m.
The Mustangs finished last season with a 16-10 record overall, including a 9-8 record in the Lone Star Conference. MSU finished ninth in the conference and just missed out on a berth in the conference tournament.
After starting last season with a 3-0 record, MSU appeared in the Tiger Classic and lost a five-set match with Augustana (S.D.) before falling to Fort Hays, 3-1. In its final match at Gross Memorial Coliseum, the Mustangs defeated Bethel, 3-0.
The Mustangs have eight players returning from last year's squad, and Stephanie Radecki begins her fifth season as head coach. MSU has finished above .500 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2008.
Isabella Dickens, who hails from Iowa Park, Texas, is an LSC Offensive Player to Watch as she begins her senior season with the Mustangs. The middle hitter was second-team All-Conference last season after totaling 276 kills and hitting .293 to lead the squad, which hit .222 as a team. Dickens also led the team with 16 solo blocks.
Wichita Falls native Jenna Redding is an LSC Defensive Player to Watch as she enters her senior season. Among returning players, Redding led Midwestern State with 289 digs and 2.83 digs per set last year. She also had a career high 31 points as well as 64 assists and 31 aces.
Newcomer Macy Scheer, a transfer from Concordia-Irvine, is an LSC Setter to Watch. The junior from Golden, Colorado, appeared in 41 matches during her two seasons with the Golden Eagles and played 112 sets. She had 383 total assists and averaged 3.42 assists per set while competing for the PacWest Conference program.
Midwestern State and Truman State are meeting for the first time since 2011, when the Mustangs claimed a 3-0 victory. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 2-1, and won the first encounter, 3-0, in 2000 at Kansas City.
Truman State finished last season with a 12-17 overall record and went 7-6 in the GLVC, losing to Quincy in the quarterfinals of the GLVC Championships.
Fort Hays State is coming off a 16-13 season and went 5-11 in the MIAA, losing to Nebraska-Kearney in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament, 3-1.
The Tigers lead the all-time series with the Mustangs, 3-1, after last year's victory. It was the first meeting between the two schools since 2009, when MSU posted a 3-1 victory in Kansas City. The first meeting was in 2001, and the Tigers won 3-1 in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Regis and Midwestern State are meeting for the first time on Saturday. The Rangers finished last season with a 4-22 record and was 3-11 in the RMAC.
Regis was picked to finish 10th in the 15-team RMAC by the league's coaches in the 2026 preseason poll.
Midwestern State plays four matches in the Mountain Lion Classic at UCCS on Labor Day weekend. The home opener is slated for Sept. 8 with Bethel College visiting D.L. Ligon Coliseum at 6 p.m.
