No. 11 St. Cloud State Volleyball Set to Host No. 10 Concordia-St. Paul, Travel to Winona State

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 11 St. Cloud State Volleyball (13-4 overall, 8-1 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) continues Northern Sun play with a split weekend. The Huskies host No. 10 Concordia-St. Paul (12-4, 7-1 NSIC) at Halenbeck Hall at 6 p.m. on Thursday and travel to McCown Gymnasium in Winona to play Winona State (10-7, 5-4 NSIC) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Both matches will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network. Additionally, fans can listen to Thursday's match on 97.5 FM RadioX with KVSC talent Carl Goenner (play-by-play) and Noah Grant (color) calling the action. Live stats will be provided by each home team and tickets for Thursday's match can be purchased HERE.

Match 18 – vs. #10 Concordia-St. Paul (Halenbeck Hall // St. Cloud) – Thursday, Oct. 16 / 6 p.m. / Watch (NSIC Network) / Live stats / Listen (97.5 FM RadioX)
Match 19 – @ Winona State (McCown Gymnasium // Winona, Minn.) – Saturday, Oct. 18 / 1 p.m. / Watch (NSIC Network) / Live stats

Links to each coverage option can also be found on the St. Cloud State Volleyball schedule page.

MATCH DAY PROMOTIONS
Thursday, Oct. 16 vs. #10 Concordia-St. Paul
Promotion: White out featuring the swim & dive team

HOME SWEET HALENBECK
SCSU Volleyball has enjoyed tremendous success in the friendly confines of Halenbeck Hall, going 66-9 (.880) in its last 75 home matches. The Huskies are 7-1 at home this season.

SERIES HISTORY
The Huskies are 9-34 all-time against Concordia-St. Paul but are 6-4 against the Golden Bears in the last 10 meetings, including a four-match win streak. SCSU went 4-0 against the Bears in 2024 which included two regular season conference matches (one home, one away), the NSIC Tournament Championship match (home) and a NCAA Tournament Round of 32 match (home). The Huskies are 6-13 all-time against CSP in St. Cloud.

SCSU is 46-19 all-time against Winona State including an 8-2 mark in its last 10 matchups against the Warriors. The Huskies are on an eight-match win streak that dates back to October 2018 which snapped a then five-match WSU win streak. SCSU swept the Warriors in St. Cloud in the team's lone meeting during 2024. The Huskies are 9-10 all-time against Winona State in Winona.

31 IN A ROW
SCSU had its 31-match win streak against NSIC opponents that dated back to 2024 snapped on Saturday after being defeated by then-No. 11 Wayne State in a thrilling back-and-forth five set match. Prior to Saturday, the Huskies were off to an 8-0 start in conference play this season after going 23-0 against NSIC teams in 2024. Last season SCSU went 18-0 in conference play, 1-0 in nonconference play, 3-0 in the NSIC Tournament and 1-0 in the NCAA tournament against NSIC opponents.

LAST TIME OUT
The then-No. 10 Huskies went 1-1 on the road last weekend. On Friday, SCSU swept Augustana before falling to No. 11 Wayne State in five sets on Saturday, snapping the team's eight-match win streak.

Notes from the matches
3-0 win @ Augustana (10-10-25)

SCSU moved to 31-50 all-time against the Vikings which includes a 9-1 record in the last 10 matchups and an eight-match winning streak. The Huskies are now 5-22 all-time against Augie in Sioux Falls.
SCSU remained perfect in conference play, earning its eighth straight conference win to open the season. It is the second time in program history (second straight season) that the Huskies are off to an 8-0 start to conference play.
The Huskies improved to 4-2 on the road this season and 9-1 in three set matches.
SCSU led the match in points (59-42), kills (48-35), hitting percentage (.292-.206), aces (7-2), assists (45-33) and digs (50-39). Augie led the match in blocks (5-4).
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Abby Wachal (Lincoln, Neb.) posted 15 kills (.560 hitting percentage) and nine digs. Her .560 hitting percentage was single match high this season and her 15 kills were the second most in a match this season. Wachal has sent down 10+ kills in six matches this season including the last three in a row.
Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) recorded 15 digs, eight kills, three aces and three block assists. Her 15 digs tied for the second most in a single match this season. Kimm has contributed double-digit digs in eight matches this season (six straight).
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) tallied 38 assists. It was the sixth consecutive match that she dished out 38+ assists.
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) recorded nine kills (.316 hitting percentage). She hit .316 or better for the seventh time this season.
Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) posted 11 digs. She has tallied double-digit digs in every match this season.

3-2 loss @ #11 Wayne State (10-4-25)

SCSU moved to 15-23 all-time against the Wildcats and 6-4 in the last 10 matches against WSC. The Huskies are now 4-11 against Wayne State on the road.
The Huskies had its perfect, 8-0 start to conference play and eight match win streak upended. The 8-0 start was the second best open to a conference season in program history.
SCSU moved to 5-3 against teams ranked/receiving votes this season, 4-3 on the road and 2-1 in five set matches.
The Huskies led the match in points (95-84), kills (84-68), aces (9-2), assists (76-61) and digs (110-87). WSC led the match in hitting percentage (.272-.225) and blocks (14-2).
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) recorded a 71-assist, 21-dig double-double. She recorded her fifth double-double of the season and her 71 assists were the second most in any match this season. LaPlant's 21 digs were a new single match career high.
Junior outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) posted a 28-dig, 17-kill double-double. She posted her seventh double-double this season. Kimm set new career highs in digs (28) and attacks (50) and has sent down 17+ kills in two matches this season.
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Abby Wachal (Lincoln, Neb.) tallied a 17-kill, 17-dig double-double. She tallied her fifth double-double of the season. Wachal set new career highs in digs (17 - tie) and attacks (53) and has recorded 17+ kills in two matches this season.
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) sent down 19 kills (.341 hitting percentage). It was her second match this season with 19+ kills.
Graduate opposite Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.) recorded 17 kills and four aces. She tallied a new career high 43 attacks and tied her career high in aces (four). Zimmerman's 17 kills were a new season best.
Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) contributed 26 digs, which matched her single-match career high.

LET'S GO POLLING
The Huskies were ranked No. 11 in the Oct. 13 (week six) American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFLEX Division II Poll, moving up three spots from the previous poll.

Under the direction of Head Coach Chad Braegelmann, the program has been ranked for 75 consecutive weeks (including 47 weeks in the top 10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 149 weeks in the AVCA top 20/25 Poll in program history, including 72 weeks in the top 10.

SCSU in the 2025 AVCA DII National Poll
#3 – Preseason
#10 – Week One
#16 – Week Two
#15 – Week Three
#13 – Week Four
#10 – Week Five
#11 – Week Six

NCAA (Top 50) / NSIC (Top 15) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 10/14)

Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann
- NSIC
  - No. 6 – digs/set (4.41)
  - No. 6 – digs (269)
Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm
- NSIC
  - No. 8 – points/set (3.90)
  - No. 9 – kills/set (3.42)
  - No. 12 – digs/set (3.48)
  - No. 12 – attacks/set (8.44)
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant
- NCAA
  - No. 8 – assists/set (11.25)
  - No. 27 – assists (630)
- NSIC
  - No. 4 – assists/set (11.25)
  - No. 7 – assists (630)
Redshirt junior middle blocker Ella Thompson
- NSIC
  - No. 6 – kills/set (3.47)
  - No. 9 – points/set (3.89)
  - No. 9 – hitting percentage (.335)
  - No. 10 – kills (198)

NCAA (Top 20) / NSIC (Top 3) TEAM STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 10/14)

NCAA
- No. 2 – kills/set (14.95)
- No. 6 – assists/set (13.62)
- No. 12 – hitting percentage (.267)
NSIC
- No. 1 – kills/set (14.95)
- No. 1 – kills (912)
- No. 2 – assists/set (13.62)
- No. 2 – assists (831)
- No. 2 – service aces (117)

NSIC SPOTLIGHT
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) was featured on the fifth episode of the 2025-26 season of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) spotlight following SCSU's 3-0 week and 5-0 start to conference play.

Watch on YouTube
NSIC Release

NSIC SETTER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Setter of the Week on Sept. 29. It was LaPlant's first career weekly honor, and she is the first Husky to be recognized this season.

The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native led the NSIC in assists/set (12.20) while contributing 2.50 digs/set. She guided the Huskies offense to a league-leading 15.30 kills per set and the .302 team hitting percentage was second best in the league last week.

LaPlant's standout match came in SCSU's four set win at previously undefeated (RV) Minnesota State when she posted a 46-assist, 17-dig double-double. It was her third double-double of the season and her 17 digs were a new career high mark for a single match. She dished out 38 assists in each of SCSU's wins over the weekend.

NSIC Release

ALL-TOURNEY TEAMS
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn) and redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) were named to the 2025 UP North Tournament All-Tournament Team.

Senior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn) and Thompson were named to the 2025 Western Washington Invitational All-Tournament Team to open the season.

WELCOME TO THE PACK
The Huskies welcomed three newcomers to the team this fall (all freshmen): setter/opposite Asta Hildebrand (North Liberty, Iowa / Liberty HS), middle blocker Kendall Huhnerkoch (Redwood Falls, Minn. / Redwood Valley HS) and outside hitter/defensive specialist Emery Thury (Watertown, S.D. / Watertown HS).

NSIC PRESEASON FAVORITES / NSIC PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
St. Cloud State Volleyball was selected to finish first in the 2025 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Additionally, reigning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) second team All-American, redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) was named the Preseason Player of the Year for the conference.

The defending NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Champion Huskies amassed 212 points in the poll, including eight of the 16 first place votes, earning the top spot in the preseason poll for the first time in program history.

Rounding out the top five behind the Huskies is Concordia-St. Paul (2^nd, 208 points, four first place votes), Southwest Minnesota State (3^rd, 202 points, four first place votes), Wayne State (4^th, 188 points) and Northern State (5^th, 170 points).

"Once again, I'm impressed with the work that these women have put in, throughout the spring, competitive season, and the off-season," said head coach Chad Braegelmann. "They continue to improve as volleyball players, students of the game and as role models to the young girls that watch our sport. I am excited to see some new players step up into bigger roles, this fall and am excited for the combination of experience and youth that we look to roster this fall."

In her first season playing for SCSU in 2024, Thompson was a first team All-Central Region selection by the AVCA and a second team all-region pick by the D2CCA. The Lakeville native was a first team All-NSIC selection and was named to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team, the NSIC Tournament All-Tournament Team and the UP North Tournament All-Tournament Team. The middle blocker finished the regular season No. 30 among DII players in hitting percentage and was top six among NSIC players in hitting percentage, points/set, kills/set and total kills.

"Ella is fantastic offensively and does not get cheated on her swings," said Braegelmann. "She is very intense on the volleyball court and has grown in her knowledge of the game. Her energy on the court is contagious."

For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.