WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University volleyball team - ranked No. 9 in the current NCAA DII Regional poll - hits the road for a final NSIC regular season road trip, looking to solidify their position in the 2023 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) postseason tournament. 

Winona State (18-7) will take on nationally-ranked Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn. on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. and then will face the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m.

Winona State owns a 2-3 record in the last five meetings against both Southwest Minnesota State and the University of Sioux Falls. 


Winona State enters play on the weekend with an 18-7 overall record and 10-6 mark in NSIC play.  Head coach Joe Getzin and the Warriors will be looking to secure a sweep to finish out the regular season, working to keep pace with the top third of the league in an important NSIC weekend up and down the standings. 

GAME & FAN INFORMATION

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

WINONA STATE STORYLINES 

• Winona State is 10-6 in the NSIC and 18-7 overall. 
• Winona State owns a 2-3 record in the last five meetings against both Southwest Minnesota State and the University of Sioux Falls. 
•  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. 

Southwest Minnesota State STORYLINES

• The Mustangs enter the weekend with an overall record of 22-4.
• SMSU has a 13-3 NSIC mark, with an 8-1 record since the Warriors last played the Mustangs.
• The Mustangs are coming off a win vs. UMD.
• In addition to the Warriors, the Mustangs will also face nationally-ranked Concordia-St. Paul this weekend.
• Southwest Minnesota State was picked 5^th in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll.
• Tyler Boddy enters his 12^th season at SMSU and second season as head coach.

Sioux Falls STORYLINES

• The Cougars enter play on the weekend with a 12-13 mark and 8-8 NSIC slate.  
• USF has won three of their last four contests, heading into the weekend.
• Sioux Falls will face nationally ranked Concordia-St. Paul on Friday before hosting the Warriors on Saturday.
• The Cougars were picked 6^th in the 2023 NSIC Coaches' Poll.
• Dan Mathews enters his third year as head coach at the University of Sioux Falls.

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 (.338). 
• Sidney Paulson is 11th in the league in kills per set (3.31). 
• Jaci Winchell is 8th in the NSIC in assists per set (9.32). 
• Rylee Vaughn is 5th in the NSIC in digs-per-set (4.68) .
• Kylie Welch is leading the NSIC in service aces per set (0.51).
• Paulson is 12th in total points across the league with 339 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.