MINOT, N.D.- The Minot State volleyball team (0-20, 0-13 NSIC) gets ready for a home-and-home series first squaring off against the Minnesota State-Moorhead Dragons (5-16, 2-11 NSIC) on Thursday Oct. 20th at 6 p.m. at the MSU Dome. The Beavers will then take to the road to wrap up the weekend down in Aberdeen, S.D. to face the Northern State Wolves (12-9, 7-6 NSIC) on Saturday Oct. 22nd at 1 p.m. at Wachs Arena.

The Dragons went 0-2 last weekend and are currently riding an 11 game losing streak into the matchup with the Beavers. MSUM went for matching 0-3 scores on the road at the seventh ranked Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs and at the Sioux Falls Cougars. The Dragons have 729 kills to average 10.1 kills per set while also serving up 78 aces. Defensively the Dragons have 1,177 digs to tag along with their 133.5 blocks on the year. Junior Bridget Witzmann has led the Dragon offensive charge with 228 kills on the year and 18 service aces on the year. On the defensive side of the net the Dragons have a young crew led by freshman Macie Wieman who has 279 digs to her name, however the duo of senior Elise Bakke and junior Tori Thompson lead the Dragons in blocks with 49 and 42 blocks each, respectively. 

The Wolves are coming off a weekend split, first defeating the Cougars 3-1 before falling to the Mustangs in straight sets 0-3. The Wolves have 844 kills to their name with a 12.8 kills per set average. NSU has dished out 113 aces while accumulating 949 digs and 161 blocks. Senior Sally Gaul has garnered 253 kills to lead the Wolf offense. The Wolves have three players with 20 plus service aces on the year as Gaul and junior Madison Langlie each lead NSU with 21 service aces, followed closely behind by senior Keri Walker. Langlie leads the Wolves with 286 digs, while sophomore Abby Brooks has 77 blocks to lead the Wolves.

The Beavers are coming off a duo of 0-3 sweeps at the hands of Augustana and Wayne State on the road. Alex Koontz led the Beavers with 10 kills on the weekend. Koontz, Jenna Pahlen, and Jaina Macaulay all had one service ace on the weekend. Three different Beavers had two blocks on the year; Koontz, Pahlen, and Taylor Wyatt. Lucia Mercolini had 17 digs, while Kendal Braun had 16 digs. 

MSU will then spend a three game streak at home at the MSU Dome starting next Tuesday (Oct. 25th) against UMary with tip-off set for 7 p.m. The Beavers will then square off against Bemidji State on Friday Oct. 28th at 6 p.m. before wrapping up their home schedule for the year against Minnesota-Crookston on Saturday Oct. 29th at 2 p.m.