Friday, September 13
SDC Gym • Houghton, Mich.
11:30 a.m. CT
St. Cloud State
vs
Findlay (Ohio)
Annika Forbes serves in a match at the 2023 UP North Tournament in the Romano Gymnasium in Duluth, Minn.
No. 7 St. Cloud State Volleyball Travels to Houghton, Michigan for UP North Tournament
9/12/2024 2:13:00 PM | Volleyball
Huskies to play three matches at SDC Gym beginning Friday, Sept. 13
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 7 St. Cloud State Volleyball (3-1, 0-0 NSIC) travels to Houghton, Michigan on Friday and Saturday for its second of two nonconference tournaments with three matches at the UP North Tournament. The Huskies will play Findlay (Ohio) on Friday, Sept. 13 and close the tournament on Saturday against Northern Michigan and host school Michigan Tech. Friday's match with UF begins at 11:30 a.m. CT and Saturday's matches are set for 9 a.m. CT and 2 p.m. CT respectively.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Match 1 vs. Findlay (Ohio) – Thursday, Sept. 13 / 11:30 p.m. CT / Livestream ($) / Live Stats
Match 2 vs. Northern Michigan – Friday, Sept. 14 / 9 a.m. CT / Livestream ($)/ Live Stats
Match 3 @ #20 Michigan Tech – Friday, Sept. 14 / 2 p.m. CT / Livestream ($) / Live Stats
All the matches will be played on the campus of Michigan Tech in Houghton, Michigan at the SDC Gym. Note – The livestream for every match requires a FloSports subscription.
Links to each coverage option can also be found on the St. Cloud State Volleyball schedule page.
LET'S GO POLLING
SCSU moved up three spots, to No. 7 in the latest AVCA Poll after going 3-1 at the Yotes Classic Showdown in San Bernardino, California, beating No. 1 Cal State LA, No. 8 Cal State San Bernardino and No. 12 Chaminade (Hawaii).
Under the direction of head coach Chad Braegelmann, the program has been ranked for 56 consecutive weeks (including 34 weeks in the Top-10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 130 weeks in the AVCA Top 20/25 Poll in program history, including 59 weeks in the Top 10.
THE GREAT LAKES STATE
The Huskies last played in Houghton and Michigan in 2021. SCSU beat UW-Parkside, (RV) Northern Michigan, host school (RV) Michigan Tech and Lake Superior State (Mich.) en route to a 4-0 record at the Keweenaw Classic to begin its season.
SERIES HISTORY
St. Cloud State Volleyball is 11-18 all-time against Northern Michigan but are currently on a two-game win streak. The teams first met in 1979. SCSU is 15-6 all-time against Michigan Tech. The teams first met in 1986 and SCSU is 8-2 in the last 10 matchups and have won the last four. The Huskies have never played Findlay.
DOWN GOES NO. 1 / DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
Then-No. 10 St. Cloud State Volleyball beat then-No. 1 Cal State LA in four sets – 25-15, 21-25, 25-11, 25-20 – to close out its schedule at the Yotes Classic Showdown in San Bernardino, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The Huskies have now won their last two matches against No. 1 ranked teams after previously going 0-28. The first win over a top-ranked program was last season in the NSIC Tournament Semifinal at Wayne State. In the first 28 matches, the Huskies had only won one set in three matches and had never won two sets. The match against Cal State LA was the sixth match vs. a No. 1 ranked team in the past three seasons.
NSIC WEEKLY AWARDS
Fifth year outside hitter Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. The honor is the eighth of Foley's career and first of the season.
Foley led the NSIC in kills (68), kills/set (4.53), points (76.5) and points/set (5.10) while also averaging 3.53 digs/set and 0.53 blocks/set during the first weekend of competition. She posted a double-double in all four matches (16 kills/14 digs, 18 kills/15 digs, 18 kills/14 digs and 16 kills/10 digs).
YOTES CLASSIC SHOWDOWN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Foley and junior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) were named to the Yotes Classic Showdown All-Tournament Team. Berran dished out 9.53 assists/set and posted three double-doubles (39 assists/10 digs, 39 assists/11 digs and 38 assists/13 digs) while also chipping in 11 kills, eight block assists and three service aces over the weekend.
PROGRAM LEADERBOARD STANDINGS / ACHIEVEMENTS
St. Cloud State Volleyball was selected to finish third in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Additionally, reigning Division-II National Player of the Year, fifth year outside hitter Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) was named the Preseason Player of the Year for the conference.
"Huskies Volleyball has improved immensely over the past nine years, and we are very proud of the product we are putting on the floor today," said Braegelmann, "I felt this team had a fantastic spring as we grew closer together as individuals. The group has put in a ton of work, and I think the sky is the limit for this fall. We have a grueling schedule, including facing four top 25 teams to open the season as well as the defending national champion. And after that, the NSIC regular season awaits us."
Braegelmann enters his 10th season at the helm of St. Cloud State Volleyball and his 24th season overall as a collegiate head coach in 2024. His record at SCSU is 150-92 (.620) including an 89-69 (.563) mark in NSIC play after leading last year's team to a 22-9 record (13-5 NSIC) to finish fourth.
The Huskies return all six starters from last year's team, headlined by the 2024 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year in Foley. Foley's third season on the court in 2023 was a monumental one. Foley was the first player in program history to be named NSIC Player of the Year, D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year, AVCA Central Region Player of the Year, D2CCA Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, AVCA DII National Player of the Year and a Honda NCAA DII Athlete of the Year Finalist. She was also the second player in program history to be named an Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) after Maddy Torve in 2021 – both were named to the First Team. Additionally, Foley became the fifth member of the 1,000 kill / 1,000 dig club in 2023.
"Kenzie has obviously had a plethora of individual success and continues to be a leader on and off the court for the Huskies," said Braegelmann, "She also exemplifies what passion and drive look like, for her teammates and young adults that follow our game."
The Huskies also return 2023 First Team All-NSIC Selection, redshirt junior middle blocker Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.), 2023 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, junior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), 2023 NSIC All-Tournament Team member, sophomore middle blocker Hannah Bruskiewicz (Rogers, Minn.), senior libero Keely Kurschner (Maplewood, Minn.), senior opposite Natalie Tesch (Milwaukee, Wis.), sophomore outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa), sophomore outside hitter Abby Wachal (Lincoln, Neb.) and sophomore defensive specialist Annika Forbes (Cottage Grove, Minn.).
To watch Braegelmann, Kurschner and Foley speak about the upcoming season during the preseason press conference, click here.
WELCOME TO THE PACK
The Huskies welcomed five newcomers over the offseason (all freshmen): libero/defensive specialist Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis. / Lincoln HS), opposite Mollie Hobson (McHenry, Ill. / McHenry HS), setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn. / Grand Rapids HS), middle blocker Kinsey Mohwinkle (Aplington, Iowa / Aplington Parkersburg HS) and outside hitter Carlie Willis (Grundy Center, Iowa / Grundy Center HS),
THE SENIORS
Kurschner and Tesch are joined by Foley to make up the senior class.
THE JUNIORS
Redshirt juniors middle blockers Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) and Zimmerman join true juniors Berran, libero/defensive specialist Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.) and middle blocker Emilie Planert (De Pere, Wis.) to form the five-player junior class.
THE SOPHOMORES
The five sophomores are Bruskiewicz, Forbes, Kimm, Wachal and middle blocker Bethany Weiss (Forest Lake, Minn.).
LOOKING BACK AT 2023
The Huskies wrapped up their 2023 season of competition with a 22-9 record. SCSU competed in its fourth straight NSIC Tournament Final match and punched its fourth consecutive ticket the NCAA Tournament.
St. Cloud State advanced to the NSIC Tournament Final after taking down Northern State in the quarterfinals and the No. 1 team in the country, Wayne State, in the semifinals. SCSU fell to No. 4 Concordia-St. Paul in the championship match. The victory over Wayne State was the first time that an SCSU Volleyball beat a team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation, and they did while playing on Wayne State's home court. St. Cloud State earned its fourth straight NCAA Tournament berth, falling to No. 16 Central Missouri in the Round of 64. The Huskies closed out the 2023 season ranked ninth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFLEX Division II Volleyball Coaches Top 25 Poll.
The 2024 Huskies Volleyball Season Ticket Package is available now and can be purchased/renewed for $70/seat on SCSUTickets.com or by calling 320-308-2137. The package includes a general admission ticket to each of the 10 regular season home matches.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Match 1 vs. Findlay (Ohio) – Thursday, Sept. 13 / 11:30 p.m. CT / Livestream ($) / Live Stats
Match 2 vs. Northern Michigan – Friday, Sept. 14 / 9 a.m. CT / Livestream ($)/ Live Stats
Match 3 @ #20 Michigan Tech – Friday, Sept. 14 / 2 p.m. CT / Livestream ($) / Live Stats
All the matches will be played on the campus of Michigan Tech in Houghton, Michigan at the SDC Gym. Note – The livestream for every match requires a FloSports subscription.
Links to each coverage option can also be found on the St. Cloud State Volleyball schedule page.
LET'S GO POLLING
SCSU moved up three spots, to No. 7 in the latest AVCA Poll after going 3-1 at the Yotes Classic Showdown in San Bernardino, California, beating No. 1 Cal State LA, No. 8 Cal State San Bernardino and No. 12 Chaminade (Hawaii).
Under the direction of head coach Chad Braegelmann, the program has been ranked for 56 consecutive weeks (including 34 weeks in the Top-10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 130 weeks in the AVCA Top 20/25 Poll in program history, including 59 weeks in the Top 10.
THE GREAT LAKES STATE
The Huskies last played in Houghton and Michigan in 2021. SCSU beat UW-Parkside, (RV) Northern Michigan, host school (RV) Michigan Tech and Lake Superior State (Mich.) en route to a 4-0 record at the Keweenaw Classic to begin its season.
SERIES HISTORY
St. Cloud State Volleyball is 11-18 all-time against Northern Michigan but are currently on a two-game win streak. The teams first met in 1979. SCSU is 15-6 all-time against Michigan Tech. The teams first met in 1986 and SCSU is 8-2 in the last 10 matchups and have won the last four. The Huskies have never played Findlay.
DOWN GOES NO. 1 / DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
Then-No. 10 St. Cloud State Volleyball beat then-No. 1 Cal State LA in four sets – 25-15, 21-25, 25-11, 25-20 – to close out its schedule at the Yotes Classic Showdown in San Bernardino, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The Huskies have now won their last two matches against No. 1 ranked teams after previously going 0-28. The first win over a top-ranked program was last season in the NSIC Tournament Semifinal at Wayne State. In the first 28 matches, the Huskies had only won one set in three matches and had never won two sets. The match against Cal State LA was the sixth match vs. a No. 1 ranked team in the past three seasons.
NSIC WEEKLY AWARDS
Fifth year outside hitter Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. The honor is the eighth of Foley's career and first of the season.
Foley led the NSIC in kills (68), kills/set (4.53), points (76.5) and points/set (5.10) while also averaging 3.53 digs/set and 0.53 blocks/set during the first weekend of competition. She posted a double-double in all four matches (16 kills/14 digs, 18 kills/15 digs, 18 kills/14 digs and 16 kills/10 digs).
YOTES CLASSIC SHOWDOWN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Foley and junior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) were named to the Yotes Classic Showdown All-Tournament Team. Berran dished out 9.53 assists/set and posted three double-doubles (39 assists/10 digs, 39 assists/11 digs and 38 assists/13 digs) while also chipping in 11 kills, eight block assists and three service aces over the weekend.
PROGRAM LEADERBOARD STANDINGS / ACHIEVEMENTS
- Junior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.)
- No. 8 in career assists (107 more until No. 7)
- Fifth year outside hitter Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa)
- No. 2 in career double-digit kill matches (10 more until No. 1)
- No. 2 in career double-doubles (11 more until No. 1)
- No. 3 in career kills (20 more until No. 2)
- No. 4 in career points (59.0 more until No. 3)
- No. 4 in career attacks (322 more until No. 3)
- No. 8 in career digs (17 more until No. 7)
- Senior libero Keely Kurschner (Maplewood, Minn.)
- Surpassed 1,000 career digs during the Yotes Classic Showdown
- 12th player in program history to surpass 1,000 digs
- Needs just seven more digs to move into No. 10 on the career list
- Surpassed 1,000 career digs during the Yotes Classic Showdown
St. Cloud State Volleyball was selected to finish third in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Additionally, reigning Division-II National Player of the Year, fifth year outside hitter Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) was named the Preseason Player of the Year for the conference.
"Huskies Volleyball has improved immensely over the past nine years, and we are very proud of the product we are putting on the floor today," said Braegelmann, "I felt this team had a fantastic spring as we grew closer together as individuals. The group has put in a ton of work, and I think the sky is the limit for this fall. We have a grueling schedule, including facing four top 25 teams to open the season as well as the defending national champion. And after that, the NSIC regular season awaits us."
Braegelmann enters his 10th season at the helm of St. Cloud State Volleyball and his 24th season overall as a collegiate head coach in 2024. His record at SCSU is 150-92 (.620) including an 89-69 (.563) mark in NSIC play after leading last year's team to a 22-9 record (13-5 NSIC) to finish fourth.
The Huskies return all six starters from last year's team, headlined by the 2024 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year in Foley. Foley's third season on the court in 2023 was a monumental one. Foley was the first player in program history to be named NSIC Player of the Year, D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year, AVCA Central Region Player of the Year, D2CCA Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, AVCA DII National Player of the Year and a Honda NCAA DII Athlete of the Year Finalist. She was also the second player in program history to be named an Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) after Maddy Torve in 2021 – both were named to the First Team. Additionally, Foley became the fifth member of the 1,000 kill / 1,000 dig club in 2023.
"Kenzie has obviously had a plethora of individual success and continues to be a leader on and off the court for the Huskies," said Braegelmann, "She also exemplifies what passion and drive look like, for her teammates and young adults that follow our game."
The Huskies also return 2023 First Team All-NSIC Selection, redshirt junior middle blocker Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.), 2023 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, junior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), 2023 NSIC All-Tournament Team member, sophomore middle blocker Hannah Bruskiewicz (Rogers, Minn.), senior libero Keely Kurschner (Maplewood, Minn.), senior opposite Natalie Tesch (Milwaukee, Wis.), sophomore outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa), sophomore outside hitter Abby Wachal (Lincoln, Neb.) and sophomore defensive specialist Annika Forbes (Cottage Grove, Minn.).
To watch Braegelmann, Kurschner and Foley speak about the upcoming season during the preseason press conference, click here.
WELCOME TO THE PACK
The Huskies welcomed five newcomers over the offseason (all freshmen): libero/defensive specialist Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis. / Lincoln HS), opposite Mollie Hobson (McHenry, Ill. / McHenry HS), setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn. / Grand Rapids HS), middle blocker Kinsey Mohwinkle (Aplington, Iowa / Aplington Parkersburg HS) and outside hitter Carlie Willis (Grundy Center, Iowa / Grundy Center HS),
THE SENIORS
Kurschner and Tesch are joined by Foley to make up the senior class.
THE JUNIORS
Redshirt juniors middle blockers Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) and Zimmerman join true juniors Berran, libero/defensive specialist Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.) and middle blocker Emilie Planert (De Pere, Wis.) to form the five-player junior class.
THE SOPHOMORES
The five sophomores are Bruskiewicz, Forbes, Kimm, Wachal and middle blocker Bethany Weiss (Forest Lake, Minn.).
LOOKING BACK AT 2023
The Huskies wrapped up their 2023 season of competition with a 22-9 record. SCSU competed in its fourth straight NSIC Tournament Final match and punched its fourth consecutive ticket the NCAA Tournament.
St. Cloud State advanced to the NSIC Tournament Final after taking down Northern State in the quarterfinals and the No. 1 team in the country, Wayne State, in the semifinals. SCSU fell to No. 4 Concordia-St. Paul in the championship match. The victory over Wayne State was the first time that an SCSU Volleyball beat a team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation, and they did while playing on Wayne State's home court. St. Cloud State earned its fourth straight NCAA Tournament berth, falling to No. 16 Central Missouri in the Round of 64. The Huskies closed out the 2023 season ranked ninth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFLEX Division II Volleyball Coaches Top 25 Poll.
The 2024 Huskies Volleyball Season Ticket Package is available now and can be purchased/renewed for $70/seat on SCSUTickets.com or by calling 320-308-2137. The package includes a general admission ticket to each of the 10 regular season home matches.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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