WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University volleyball team, featured in the 'Receiving Votes' category of the 2023 AVCA DII Coaches Poll for the fifth week in a row, heads home for an important Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) weekend, with back-to-back matches against Minot State University and the University of Mary.

The Warriors and Beavers will play Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m., while the Warriors will host UMary at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.  

Winona State owns a 4-3 NSIC mark into tonight's contest, the Beavers are 1-6 in conference play with their only win coming against Minnesota Crookston. The University of Mary is 0-7, still searching for their first win in conference play. 

Winona State enters play tonight with an 11-4 record and is tied for sixth in the division being two games back from second.  Head coach Joe Getzin and the Warriors compete in one of the most competitive NCAA Division II volleyball conferences in the country and every NSIC contest looms large in the race to postseason.  

GAME & FAN INFORMATION 

• Live stats and live video are available at the links above.  

WINONA STATE STORYLINES 

• Winona State is 4-3 in the NSIC and 11-4 overall. 

• WSU has won six straight games against Minot State.  

• Winona State has a record of 19-1 combined in the last ten meetings between Minot State and the University of Mary.  

•  Rylee Vaughn, Gianna Vollrath, Sidney Paulson and Jaci Winchell all earned All-Tournament honors during the Warriors early season contests at Northern Michigan and Wisconsin Parkside, respectively. 

• WSU was picked ninth in the 2023 NSIC Volleyball Coaches Poll. 

• WSU narrowly missed out on an NSIC postseason bid last fall, finishing ninth with a 12-15 overall mark and 8-12 NSIC record.   

• The Warriors played their first eight matches on the road, racking up a 7-1 record. 

• WSU will feature seniors Rylee Vaughn, Lydia Lange, Sidney Paulson, and Taylor Pagel this season.   

• Sidney Paulson was selected as 2023 WSU's Player to Watch by the NSIC.  

• Two seasons ago, the Warriors qualified for the 2021 NSIC Tournament and the 2021 NCAA Division II postseason, finishing 28-5 overall and 17-3 in league play. 

• Winona State features five freshmen: Sophia Armstrong, Ashlyn Steding, Quinn Robak, Kenna Kornely, and Jayda Berg. WSU also added transfer Leah Mach, a junior from Emporia State University.   

• In his tenth year at Winona State, Getzin had previous stops at Embry Riddle (AZ), Portland and Ole Miss. 

• Heading into 2023, Getzin is No. 1 all-time at Winona State in winning percentage (.682) and second all-time in seasons at the school (9).  

• WSU returns assistant coaches Kristine Fisch, Jackie Kiecker, and Mara Quam to the Warrior sideline this fall. 

Minot State STORYLINES 

• The Beavers enter today's game with an overall record of 2-13. 

• Minot State has a record of 1-12 against Winona State, dating all the way back to 2012. 

• The Beavers have dropped four straight games without winning a set. 

• In addition to the nationally ranked Warriors, Huskies and Bulldogs, MSU will have also faced #2 Concordia St. Paul by the end of the weekend.  

• The beavers were picked to finish 15th in the conference preseason coaches' poll. 

• Alex Lehocky was named head coach to start the 2022 season. 

University of Mary STORYLINES 

• The Marauders enter play on the weekend with a 4-11 mark and 0-7 NSIC slate.  

• MSUM is on an eight-match losing skid. 

• The University of Mary has a 0-15 mark against WSU, dating back to Oct. 1, 2010. 

• The Dragons will have played three straight nationally ranked opponents by the end of the weekend; RV WSU, #2 CSP, RV NSU. 

• UM has not won an NSIC contest since Oct. 29 2022. 

• The Dragons were 6-22 last year overall, 5-15 in the NSIC. 

• The Marauders were picked to finish 13th in the 2023 NSIC Coaches Poll. 

• Abby Pollart took over as head coach in 2021 coming from Central Community College. 

WARRIOR NOTABLES: 

• Earlier this summer, Winona State earned its 17th consecutive AVCA Team Academic Award. 

• WSU's 7-1 start fell just one win short of matching the 8-0 opening run of the 2021 NCAA Tournament Warrior team.  

• Gianna Vollrath is currently 8th in the NSIC in hitting percentage (.342). 

• Sidney Paulson is 8th in the league in kills per set (3.48). 

• Jaci Winchell is 8th in the NSIC in assists per set (9.65). 

• Rylee Vaughn is 9th in the NSIC in digs-per-set (4.19).  

• Paulson is 9th in total points across the league with 184.5 on the year.  

• Head coach Joe Getzin coached assistant coach Jackie Kiecker when Kiecker was a student-athlete at Ole Miss.  

For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.