WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University volleyball team has their sights set on a home match and the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) home opener against #11 Minnesota Duluth on Thursday, September 19 at 6pm. Following the first NSIC contest of the season, the Warriors are set to travel to Fayette, Iowa where they face off against Northwest Missouri State and Upper Iowa on Saturday, September, 21 at 11am and 3pm.
 
Winona State enters play Thursday night coming off an impressive weekend going 3-1 in their four games at the 2024 Quincy Hawk Invitational. Head coach Joe Getzin and the Warriors compete in one of the most competitive NCAA Division II volleyball leagues in the country, and WSU has fared well in the first two road tournaments of the year. The Warriors play Upper Iowa for the Second time this season, but this time facing off on their home court.
 
Winona State Notes:

• WSU holds a 6-3 record, winning four of their last five matches.
• Sidney Paulson is 12th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in Kills.
• The Warriors beat Upper Iowa at home earlier this season 3-0.
• Through nine games this season Sidney Paulson leads the Warriors in kills (96) with sophomore Kenna Kornely (66) next up for WSU.
• Kylie Welch leads the Warriors in digs and digs/set with 116 (4.00) on the year so far.
• Junior, Jaci Winchell leads the team in assists on the year (178) with sophomore Ashlyn Steding following with 145 assists.
• The Warriors are coming off a strong 3-1 weekend at the 2024 Quincy Hawk Invitational.
• Abigail Savatski leads the team in blocks with 39, good for fourth in the NSIC so far.

 
 
Minnesota Duluth Notes:

• The University of Minnesota Duluth holds a 7-0 record so far this season.
• The Bulldogs were ranked 11th in the most recent AVCA volleyball poll.
• Jim Boos enters his 21st season as the Bulldogs head coach.
• Samantha Paulsen leads UMD offensively with 88 kills on the year so far.
• Taking the lead in the assist category is Maddi Kealy (172).
• Macy McCauley averages 4.46 digs/set on the year so far.

Northwest Missouri State Notes:

• Northwest Missouri State University holds a 4-4 record so far this season.
• The Bearcats head coach Amy Woerth enters her 13th season at the helm of the progam.
• Leading the Bearcats in kills is Abby Brunssen with 106 on the year.
• Ella Caffery and Natalie Laiolo lead the team in assists with 175 and 163 respectively.
• Abby Brunssen also leads the team in blocks with 28 on the year so far.

Upper Iowa Notes:

• Upper Iowa was selected eighth in the 2024 GLVC Volleyball Preseason Poll.
• Head coach Jim Dietz enters his first season at Upper Iowa University
• Jim Dietz coming from Lincoln Land Community College where he gathered a 530-200 record.
• Through nine matches this year, the Peacocks are led offensively by Zoe Semelroth who averages 4.56 kills/set as well as 0.74 blocks/set.
• McKenna Diermeier leads Upper Iowa in digs/set with 3.86.

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