WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University volleyball team - currently in the 'Receiving Votes' category of the 2023 AVCA DII Coaches Poll - hits the road for their first 2023 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) road trip, making the trip westward to take on Minnesota State. The Warriors and Mavericks will see first serve at 2 p.m. in the Taylor Center.
The Warriors bring a 1-0 NSIC mark into the match, while Minnesota State lost their league opener at Southwest Minnesota State on Thursday, 3-0.
Winona State enters play this afternoon with an impressive 8-1 record and is one of six NSIC teams currently found in the 2023 AVCA Division II rankings. Head coach
Joe Getzin and Winona State compete in one of the most competitive NCAA Division II volleyball leagues in the country, with every NSIC matchup crucial in earning a trip to the postseason.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
- Live stats and live video are available at the links above.
- Today's contest will occur in the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State University.
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
- Winona State is 1-0 in the NSIC and 8-1 overall.
- WSU has won the last four matchups between the schools.
- Rylee Vaughn and Gianna Vollrath were both named to the 2023 Full Hampton Inn Invitational All-Tournament team last weekend.
- Sidney Paulson and Jaci Winchell were both named to the 2023 Northern Michigan University U.P. Open All-Tournament team following the Warriors opening weekend.
- 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.
Minnesota State STORYLINES
- MSU enters play today at 5-4 overall.
- Minnesota State has a 21-9 record vs. Winona State, dating back to Sept. 11, 1992.
- The Mavericks have dropped their two most recent matches.
- MSU played #22 SMSU on Thursday, will face RV WSU today and see #1 Concordia, St. Paul next Thursday.
- Minnesota State went 3-1 at the Otter Volleyball Invite in Seaside, Calif.
- The Mavericks were picked to finish 10th in the 2023 NSIC Coaches Poll.
- Corey Phelps enters has been coach at Minnesota State since 2021.
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 third in the NSIC in hitting percentage (.387).
- Sidney Paulson is sixth in the league in kills per set (3.59).
- Jaci Winchell is seventh in the NSIC in assists per set (9.87).
- Rylee Vaughn is ninth in the NSIC in digs-per-set (4.29).
- Paulson is fourth in total points across the league with 144.5 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.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words:
Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
