Saturday, November 23
St. Cloud, Minn.
5 p.m. CT
St. Cloud State
26-2,18-0NSIC
3
vs
0
Northern State
21-7,12-6NSIC
1
2
3
F
Northern St.
21
15
19
0
St. Cloud St.
25
25
25
3
Shelby Kimm tied a team-high three service aces vs. Northern State in the Huskies NSIC Tournament semifinal match against Northern State on Nov. 11, 2024
Photo by: Jason Soria
No. 2 St. Cloud State Volleyball Sweeps Northern State, Advances to Fifth Straight NSIC Tournament Championship Match
11/23/2024 11:54:00 PM | Volleyball
Top-seeded Huskies take down five seed No. 18 NSU in 22nd straight win, set to host two-seed No. 8 Concordia-St. Paul in tournament final on Sunday
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 2 St. Cloud State Volleyball (26-2, 18-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) took down fifth-seeded No. 18 Northern State in straight sets (25-21, 25-15, 25-19) on Saturday evening in an NSIC Tournament semifinal match at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud. The top-seeded Huskies will host the two-seed No. 8 Concordia-St. Paul in the championship match on Sunday at 3 p.m.
The Huskies led NSU (21-7, 12-6 NSIC) in points (64-40), kills (49-29), hitting percentage (.268 – .135), aces (8-5), blocks (7-6), assists (48-28) and digs (53-38).
TOP HUSKIES
"I was very proud of these young women tonight. Getting to host any playoff game, especially the semifinals of the conference tournament, is both a lot of fun, and comes with some inherent pressure. Our women really responded well to that pressure, taking early leads in each set. We had to weather some storms in the middle of each set, but we finished strong and earned points when we needed them most. Emma Berran did a really solid job distributing the volleyball today, our passers were very consistent overall and our defense, both front row, blocking, and back row, digging, were a key cog to holding Northern to a .100 lower hitting efficiency compared to the last time we played them. Northern did some very nice things tonight and made us earn points. They [Northern State] didn't hit a single ball out of bounds or miss a single serve in the first set, so we had to earn all of our points. It was such a fun win and I'm so happy for the women on the team and Central Minnesota that we get to showcase our great facility and team again tomorrow."
NOTABLES
The Huskies advanced to the NSIC Tournament Championship match and will face off against No. 8 (two-seed) Concordia-St. Paul in the final tournament match for the third consecutive season on Saturday afternoon at Halenbeck Hall. Live coverage will be available on the NSIC Network (*note a paid subscription will be necessary) and live stats will be provided by SCSU. Links to each coverage option are available on the SCSU Volleyball schedule page.
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 led NSU (21-7, 12-6 NSIC) in points (64-40), kills (49-29), hitting percentage (.268 – .135), aces (8-5), blocks (7-6), assists (48-28) and digs (53-38).
TOP HUSKIES
- Fifth year outside hitter Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) – 17-kill, 12-dig double double and three block assists.
- Sophomore outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) – match-high 13 digs, six kills and team-high three service aces.
- Senior libero Keely Kurschner (Maplewood, Minn.) – eight digs, team-high three service aces and three assists.
- Junior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) – match-high 42 assists and six digs.
- Redshirt junior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) – 11 kills on .450 hitting.
"I was very proud of these young women tonight. Getting to host any playoff game, especially the semifinals of the conference tournament, is both a lot of fun, and comes with some inherent pressure. Our women really responded well to that pressure, taking early leads in each set. We had to weather some storms in the middle of each set, but we finished strong and earned points when we needed them most. Emma Berran did a really solid job distributing the volleyball today, our passers were very consistent overall and our defense, both front row, blocking, and back row, digging, were a key cog to holding Northern to a .100 lower hitting efficiency compared to the last time we played them. Northern did some very nice things tonight and made us earn points. They [Northern State] didn't hit a single ball out of bounds or miss a single serve in the first set, so we had to earn all of our points. It was such a fun win and I'm so happy for the women on the team and Central Minnesota that we get to showcase our great facility and team again tomorrow."
NOTABLES
- The Huskies move to 15-23 all-time against NSU, picking up their seventh straight win over the Wolves. SCSU is now 9-7 all-time against Northern State at Halenbeck Hall.
- SCSU has won 22 straight matches including 11 wins over nationally ranked teams during that stretch – No. 4 Southwest Minnesota State (sweep), No. 6 Wayne State, No. 8 Concordia-St. Paul, No. 9 Concordia-St. Paul (sweep), No. 15 Minnesota Duluth (sweep), No. 18 Northern State (sweep) No. 20 Michigan Tech, No. 22 Northern State (sweep), No. 24 Minnesota Duluth (sweep), (RV) Minnesota State (sweep) and (RV) Minnesota State.
- It is the first time SCSU has ever won 22 matches in a row. The previous longest streak of 17, was set in 2021.
- All 17 of the Huskies' sweeps have come during the last 20 matches.
- The Huskies moved to 12-2 (.857) all-time in NSIC Tournament matches.
- SCSU has made five straight NSIC Tournament Championship matches (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019).
- St. Cloud State is seeking its third NSIC Tournament Championship (2022, 2021).
- CSP has been SCSU's opponent in four of its five tournament championship appearances (2024, 2023, 2022, 2019).
- Foley led the match in kills and was one of two players with 10 or more. Her 12 digs ranked second among all players as well as her three block assists. It was her 16th double-double of the season.
- Kimm led the match in digs and tied for the team high in aces.
- Kurschner tied for the team high in aces and was third on the Huskies in digs.
- Berran led the match with 42 assists.
- Thompson was second in the match in kills and was one of just two players in the match to send down 10+.
- Sophomore middle blocker Hannah Bruskiewicz (Rogers, Minn.) sent down nine kills on .263 hitting and tallied a match-four block assists.
- Junior defensive specialist Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.) recorded seven digs.
The Huskies advanced to the NSIC Tournament Championship match and will face off against No. 8 (two-seed) Concordia-St. Paul in the final tournament match for the third consecutive season on Saturday afternoon at Halenbeck Hall. Live coverage will be available on the NSIC Network (*note a paid subscription will be necessary) and live stats will be provided by SCSU. Links to each coverage option are available on the SCSU Volleyball schedule page.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
NSU
SCSU
Kills
29
49
Errors
15
19
Attempts
104
112
Hitting %
.135
.268
Points
40.0
64.0
Assists
28
48
Aces
5
8
Blocks
6
7
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
6
Aces
3
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
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