Friday, November 11
St. Paul, Minn.
5:00 P.M. CT
St. Cloud State
vs
Southwest Minnesota State
Photo by: Connor Cook
No. 9 St. Cloud State meets No. 7 Mustangs in NSIC Quarterfinal
11/9/2022 4:35:00 PM | Volleyball
Huskies open NSIC Tournament Championship defense with rematch of 2021 Quarterfinal
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Reigning Northern Sun Champion No. 9 St. Cloud State opens play at the 2022 NSIC Tournament by squaring off with No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State in the Quarterfinal at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul on Friday evening. First serve is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT.
The Huskies earned the No. 5 seed in the tournament with a 15-5 conference finish, squaring off with the No. 4-seeded Mustangs in a rematch of last season's NSIC Quarterfinal. SMSU also finished 15-5, earning the higher seed by a strength of schedule tiebreaker.
Broadcast Information
The entire NSIC Tournament will be broadcast on the NSIC Network with live stats provided by site host Concordia-St. Paul. Each of the Huskies' matches can be heard on 97.5 FM RadioX with Earnhardt Jaworski and Adam Larson on the call.
The Field
St. Cloud State enters the 2022 NSIC Tournament as the No. 5 seed, paired in the Quarterfinal with No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State. No. 2 Wayne State earned the top seed, facing off with Augustana in the other Quarterfinal on the Huskies' side of the bracket. On the other side, No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul draws Northern State in the 2-7 Quarterfinal while No. 4 Minnesota Duluth battles Sioux Falls in the 3-6 match.
NCAA Implications
Despite entering the tournament ranked No. 9 in the country by the AVCA, the Huskies appear to be on the outside looking in at a NCAA Tournament berth – although plenty of work can be done at the conference tournament. St. Cloud State was ranked No. 9 in this week's Central Region poll, trailing four conference rivals and four MIAA teams. As the GAC is guaranteed an automatic bid with their conference champion, SCSU's clearest path a third-straight NCAA appearance is by winning the tournament outright. The Huskies are 0-5 against the four NSIC teams ranked ahead of them with three heart-wrenching five-set defeats, creating a murky outlook for an at-large bid.
Scouting No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State
Four-seed SMSU enters the tournament with an identical record as the Huskies at 23-5, 15-5 in conference play. The Mustangs' attack revolves around star senior opposite Meg Schmidt, who averages 3.13 kills/set on .281 hitting with 62 blocks on the year. Senior setter Alisa Bengen averages 10.72 assists/set while directing the offense to hit .248 with 14.02 kills/set – good for 16th in the NCAA – and is one of the more aggressive scoring setters in the league, putting away 1.11 kills/set on .313 hitting. Sophomore outside Saari Kuehl (2.69 K/S, .213) along with middles Karli Arkell (1.99 K/S, .288) and Emma VanHeel (2.51 K/S, .264) have provided alternative options to Schmidt – although VanHeel did not appear last weekend after a difficult five-match stretch. Sophomores Brooklyn Kusler (1.97 K/S, .226) and Katelyn Nichols (1.59 K/S, .230) have seen more time as of late at outside and middle blocker respectively. None of the Mustangs' hitters play six rotations – instead SMSU utilizes a complement of three defensive specialists alongside libero Natalee Rolbiecki (3.23 D/S) as McKenzie Tolk (2.45 D/S), Rachel Fink (2.25 D/S) and Abby Meister (2.18 D/S) see significant action in the back row.
All-American Attack
St. Cloud State's offense has been led by their three returning All-Americans – middle blocker Phebie Rossi pressures defenses as an intimidating presence alongside fearsome outsides Linsey Rachel and Kenzie Foley. The Huskies are one of just three teams in all of DII who feature three qualifying players who average 3.00 or more kills/set, alongside No. 2 Wayne State and Texas A&M International. Rossi is four kills away from making SCSU join just five other programs who have three hitters with 300 or more kills on the year. Foley, Rachel and Rossi combine for 72.6% of the Huskies' kills and 66.9% of their points on .298 hitting. The rest of the SCSU attack is hitting .237 this season with 3.87 kills/set.
Last Match vs. the Mustangs
Then-No. 4 St. Cloud State dropped a five-set heartbreaker to No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State on October 1 in Marshall, losing a 2-1 lead in the match and a 14-11 advantage in the fifth set. Phebie Rossi delivered a career day for SCSU, terminating a career-high 27 kills on .458 hitting to go with two aces and four blocks. The senior middle blocker scored 32.0 points, leading all players. Kenzie Foley added 14 kills, four blocks and four digs while fellow outside Linsey Rachel kicked in 11 kills and five digs. Sam Zimmerman provided 10 kills on .318 hitting, leading SCSU with five blocks including three solo stuffs. Emma Berran directed the offense to 71 kills, dishing out a career-best 58 assists and adding eight digs. Keely Kurschner led the Huskies with 10 digs.
Quarterfinal Rematch
The Huskies and Mustangs also met in the Quarterfinals of the 2021 NSIC Tournament in the 1-8 matchup. SCSU took straight sets from Southwest, recording 12 blocks with eight provided by Phebie Rossi while the offense outhit the Mustangs .303 to .107. Linsey Rachel hit .292 with 11 kills and nine digs in the match. Errors were key – SCSU committed just eight while forcing SMSU into 25 attacking errors.
Not Done Yet
Graduate student outside hitter Linsey Rachel became St. Cloud State's all-time career kill leader in the regular season finale, entering the conference tournament with 1,569 kills. She ranks third all-time in points and fourth all-time in digs – 20 shy of joining the 1500x1500 kills and digs club.
Postseason Phenoms
Linsey Rachel has been dominant in postseason play throughout her collegiate career, averaging 4.07 kills/set, 4.60 points/set and 3.90 digs/set on .247 hitting over eight career matches. Kenzie Foley hit .312 in the postseason last year, recording 4.56 kills/set and 2.94 digs/set. Phebie Rossi has averaged 1.73 blocks/set across eight postseason matches, racking up 52 blocks in her playoff career.
Rossi's Reign
Senior middle blocker Phebie Rossi has been on a ridiculous tear over her last 13 matches, putting down 3.30 kills/set on .399 hitting with 4.42 points/set and 1.40 blocks/set. On the season, Rossi ranks fifth nationally with 1.31 blocks/set and is 25th in hitting percentage at .379. The senior ranks fourth all-time in blocks and block assists, third in hitting percentage and eighth in solo blocks. Rossi is 10 blocks away from recording her 400th career block and could make a significant jump in the all-time solo block leaderboard with a strong tournament.
Leading the Pack
Multiple Huskies can be found among the NSIC leaderboards entering the conference tournament. Phebie Rossi leads the league in blocks (126) and blocks/set (1.31) while ranking third in hitting percentage (.379), seventh in points/set (4.03) and 16th in kills/set (3.08). Kenzie Foley is second in kills/set (3.98), third in points/set (4.65) eighth in aces/set (0.37) and tied for 19th in digs/set (3.03). Keely Kurschner is second in the league with 0.44 aces/set and eighth with 3.90 digs/set. Emma Berran ranks fourth in assists/set (10.98). Linsey Rachel lands seventh in kills/set (3.42), ninth in points/set (3.88), 18th in aces/set (0.32) and 19th in digs/set (3.03). Sam Zimmerman rounds out the leaderboards at 12th in blocks/set (0.90) and 18th in hitting percentage (.278).
Berran's Brilliance
True freshman setter Emma Berran has provided a marvelous season for SCSU, ranking 15th nationally in assists/set (10.98) while directing the offense to rank seventh in hitting percentage (.280) and 12th in kills/set (14.09) across the NCAA. She is just one assist away from reaching 1,000 on the season and is 185 from setting a new first-year record.
Defensive Dominance
The Huskies own the second-best defense in the Northern Sun entering the tournament, holding opponents to a .162 hitting percentage while allowing the second-fewest kills/set in the league at 10.55. SCSU has allowed the fewest kills in the league at 1023 and are second in blocks/set with 2.29. The Huskies' work at the service line has consistently kept opponents out of system, averaging 1.94 aces/set – second-most in the league.
Solving Trends
St. Cloud State has taken all five of their losses to ranked teams this fall, going 0-5 in matches against AVCA Top-25 opponents. Comparing their statistics in wins noted in parentheses, the Huskies produce 12.43 kills/set (14.55), 1.67 blocks/set (2.46), 0.90 aces/set (2.22) and 12.24 digs/set (15.17) on .218 hitting (.296) while allowing opponents to hit .251 (.138).
Information regarding single game and season tickets can be found at scsutickets.com. For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Huskies earned the No. 5 seed in the tournament with a 15-5 conference finish, squaring off with the No. 4-seeded Mustangs in a rematch of last season's NSIC Quarterfinal. SMSU also finished 15-5, earning the higher seed by a strength of schedule tiebreaker.
Broadcast Information
The entire NSIC Tournament will be broadcast on the NSIC Network with live stats provided by site host Concordia-St. Paul. Each of the Huskies' matches can be heard on 97.5 FM RadioX with Earnhardt Jaworski and Adam Larson on the call.
The Field
St. Cloud State enters the 2022 NSIC Tournament as the No. 5 seed, paired in the Quarterfinal with No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State. No. 2 Wayne State earned the top seed, facing off with Augustana in the other Quarterfinal on the Huskies' side of the bracket. On the other side, No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul draws Northern State in the 2-7 Quarterfinal while No. 4 Minnesota Duluth battles Sioux Falls in the 3-6 match.
NCAA Implications
Despite entering the tournament ranked No. 9 in the country by the AVCA, the Huskies appear to be on the outside looking in at a NCAA Tournament berth – although plenty of work can be done at the conference tournament. St. Cloud State was ranked No. 9 in this week's Central Region poll, trailing four conference rivals and four MIAA teams. As the GAC is guaranteed an automatic bid with their conference champion, SCSU's clearest path a third-straight NCAA appearance is by winning the tournament outright. The Huskies are 0-5 against the four NSIC teams ranked ahead of them with three heart-wrenching five-set defeats, creating a murky outlook for an at-large bid.
Scouting No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State
Four-seed SMSU enters the tournament with an identical record as the Huskies at 23-5, 15-5 in conference play. The Mustangs' attack revolves around star senior opposite Meg Schmidt, who averages 3.13 kills/set on .281 hitting with 62 blocks on the year. Senior setter Alisa Bengen averages 10.72 assists/set while directing the offense to hit .248 with 14.02 kills/set – good for 16th in the NCAA – and is one of the more aggressive scoring setters in the league, putting away 1.11 kills/set on .313 hitting. Sophomore outside Saari Kuehl (2.69 K/S, .213) along with middles Karli Arkell (1.99 K/S, .288) and Emma VanHeel (2.51 K/S, .264) have provided alternative options to Schmidt – although VanHeel did not appear last weekend after a difficult five-match stretch. Sophomores Brooklyn Kusler (1.97 K/S, .226) and Katelyn Nichols (1.59 K/S, .230) have seen more time as of late at outside and middle blocker respectively. None of the Mustangs' hitters play six rotations – instead SMSU utilizes a complement of three defensive specialists alongside libero Natalee Rolbiecki (3.23 D/S) as McKenzie Tolk (2.45 D/S), Rachel Fink (2.25 D/S) and Abby Meister (2.18 D/S) see significant action in the back row.
All-American Attack
St. Cloud State's offense has been led by their three returning All-Americans – middle blocker Phebie Rossi pressures defenses as an intimidating presence alongside fearsome outsides Linsey Rachel and Kenzie Foley. The Huskies are one of just three teams in all of DII who feature three qualifying players who average 3.00 or more kills/set, alongside No. 2 Wayne State and Texas A&M International. Rossi is four kills away from making SCSU join just five other programs who have three hitters with 300 or more kills on the year. Foley, Rachel and Rossi combine for 72.6% of the Huskies' kills and 66.9% of their points on .298 hitting. The rest of the SCSU attack is hitting .237 this season with 3.87 kills/set.
Last Match vs. the Mustangs
Then-No. 4 St. Cloud State dropped a five-set heartbreaker to No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State on October 1 in Marshall, losing a 2-1 lead in the match and a 14-11 advantage in the fifth set. Phebie Rossi delivered a career day for SCSU, terminating a career-high 27 kills on .458 hitting to go with two aces and four blocks. The senior middle blocker scored 32.0 points, leading all players. Kenzie Foley added 14 kills, four blocks and four digs while fellow outside Linsey Rachel kicked in 11 kills and five digs. Sam Zimmerman provided 10 kills on .318 hitting, leading SCSU with five blocks including three solo stuffs. Emma Berran directed the offense to 71 kills, dishing out a career-best 58 assists and adding eight digs. Keely Kurschner led the Huskies with 10 digs.
Quarterfinal Rematch
The Huskies and Mustangs also met in the Quarterfinals of the 2021 NSIC Tournament in the 1-8 matchup. SCSU took straight sets from Southwest, recording 12 blocks with eight provided by Phebie Rossi while the offense outhit the Mustangs .303 to .107. Linsey Rachel hit .292 with 11 kills and nine digs in the match. Errors were key – SCSU committed just eight while forcing SMSU into 25 attacking errors.
Not Done Yet
Graduate student outside hitter Linsey Rachel became St. Cloud State's all-time career kill leader in the regular season finale, entering the conference tournament with 1,569 kills. She ranks third all-time in points and fourth all-time in digs – 20 shy of joining the 1500x1500 kills and digs club.
Postseason Phenoms
Linsey Rachel has been dominant in postseason play throughout her collegiate career, averaging 4.07 kills/set, 4.60 points/set and 3.90 digs/set on .247 hitting over eight career matches. Kenzie Foley hit .312 in the postseason last year, recording 4.56 kills/set and 2.94 digs/set. Phebie Rossi has averaged 1.73 blocks/set across eight postseason matches, racking up 52 blocks in her playoff career.
Rossi's Reign
Senior middle blocker Phebie Rossi has been on a ridiculous tear over her last 13 matches, putting down 3.30 kills/set on .399 hitting with 4.42 points/set and 1.40 blocks/set. On the season, Rossi ranks fifth nationally with 1.31 blocks/set and is 25th in hitting percentage at .379. The senior ranks fourth all-time in blocks and block assists, third in hitting percentage and eighth in solo blocks. Rossi is 10 blocks away from recording her 400th career block and could make a significant jump in the all-time solo block leaderboard with a strong tournament.
Leading the Pack
Multiple Huskies can be found among the NSIC leaderboards entering the conference tournament. Phebie Rossi leads the league in blocks (126) and blocks/set (1.31) while ranking third in hitting percentage (.379), seventh in points/set (4.03) and 16th in kills/set (3.08). Kenzie Foley is second in kills/set (3.98), third in points/set (4.65) eighth in aces/set (0.37) and tied for 19th in digs/set (3.03). Keely Kurschner is second in the league with 0.44 aces/set and eighth with 3.90 digs/set. Emma Berran ranks fourth in assists/set (10.98). Linsey Rachel lands seventh in kills/set (3.42), ninth in points/set (3.88), 18th in aces/set (0.32) and 19th in digs/set (3.03). Sam Zimmerman rounds out the leaderboards at 12th in blocks/set (0.90) and 18th in hitting percentage (.278).
Berran's Brilliance
True freshman setter Emma Berran has provided a marvelous season for SCSU, ranking 15th nationally in assists/set (10.98) while directing the offense to rank seventh in hitting percentage (.280) and 12th in kills/set (14.09) across the NCAA. She is just one assist away from reaching 1,000 on the season and is 185 from setting a new first-year record.
Defensive Dominance
The Huskies own the second-best defense in the Northern Sun entering the tournament, holding opponents to a .162 hitting percentage while allowing the second-fewest kills/set in the league at 10.55. SCSU has allowed the fewest kills in the league at 1023 and are second in blocks/set with 2.29. The Huskies' work at the service line has consistently kept opponents out of system, averaging 1.94 aces/set – second-most in the league.
Solving Trends
St. Cloud State has taken all five of their losses to ranked teams this fall, going 0-5 in matches against AVCA Top-25 opponents. Comparing their statistics in wins noted in parentheses, the Huskies produce 12.43 kills/set (14.55), 1.67 blocks/set (2.46), 0.90 aces/set (2.22) and 12.24 digs/set (15.17) on .218 hitting (.296) while allowing opponents to hit .251 (.138).
Information regarding single game and season tickets can be found at scsutickets.com. For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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