No. 13 St. Cloud State Volleyball Continues Conference Play at Home

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 13 St. Cloud State Volleyball (10-3 overall, 5-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) returns home for the first time since Sept. 20 this weekend with a pair of matches in Halenbeck Hall. The Huskies host No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State (10-2, 3-2 NSIC) on Friday at 6 p.m. and Sioux Falls (9-4, 4-1 NSIC) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Both matches will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network. Additionally, fans can listen to the matches on the KVSC Sports Stream (Friday – Reece Powell on the call) and 97.5 FM RadioX (Saturday – Joey Hudson on the call). Live Stats will be provided by SCSU. Tickets for the matches can be purchased HERE.

Match 14 – vs. #12 Southwest Minnesota State (Halenbeck Hall // St. Cloud) – Friday, Oct. 3 / 6 p.m. / Watch (NSIC Network) / Live stats / Listen (KVSC Sports Stream)
Match 15 – vs. Sioux Falls (Halenbeck Hall // St. Cloud) – Saturday, Oct. 4 / 2 p.m. / Watch (NSIC Network) / Live stats / Listen (97.5 FM RadioX)

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

MATCH DAY PROMOTIONS
Friday, Oct. 3 vs. Southwest Minnesota State
Promotion: Youth Camper Reunion Night

Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Sioux Falls
Promotion: Dig Pink Match

SERIES HISTORY
The Huskies are 27-28 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State and 7-3 in their last 10 matchups against the Mustangs. SCSU swept the lone matchup of 2024, as the then-No. 8 Huskies swept then-No. 4 SMSU in Halenbeck Hall. The Huskies are 5-11 against SMSU at Halenbeck Hall.

SCSU is 10-6 all-time against Sioux Falls, including 8-2 in the team's last 10 meetings. The Huskies are on a seven match win streak over USF and SCSU won both matchups in 2024, a regular season 3-1 victory and a sweep in the first round of the NSIC Tournament. SCSU is 6-2 all-time against the Coo in St. Cloud.

HOME SWEET HALENBECK
SCSU Volleyball has enjoyed tremendous success in the friendly confines of Halenbeck Hall, going 64-9 (.877) in its last 73 home matches. The Huskies are 5-1 at home this season.

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.

28 IN A ROW
SCSU has won 28 straight matches against NSIC opponents, dating back to 2024. Last season, the Huskies went 23-0 against NSIC teams including 18-0 in conference play, 1-0 in nonconference play, 3-0 in the NSIC Tournament and 1-0 in the NCAA tournament. This season, the Huskies are off to a 5-0 start in conference play.

LAST TIME OUT
SCSU went 3-0 on the week (all road matches), taking down (RV) Minnesota State in four sets on Tuesday before sweeping Jamestown and No. 18 Northern State on Friday and Saturday. The sweeps were the seventh and eighth of the 2025 season.

Notes from the matches
3-1 win at (RV) Minnesota State (9-23-25)

SCSU improved to 63-53 all-time against Minnesota State and 16-17 against the Mavericks in Mankato. The Huskies have beaten Minnesota State in six straight matches.
The Huskies moved to 1-2 on the road season and 1-2 in four set matches.
SCSU led the match in kills (58-57), hitting percentage (.264-.217), aces (7-4) and assists (50-47). The Mavericks led in aces (3-2) and digs (80-79). Each team had 67 points and seven blocks.
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) recorded a 46-assist, 17-dig double-double. It her third career double-double (second straight) and she set a new career-high in digs, with 17. LaPlant has contributed double-digit digs in three matches this season.
Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) posted a 15-kill, 11-dig double-double. It was her fourth career double-double and second of the season. Kimm has tallied 10+ kills in five matches this season and 10+ digs in three. She also posted a career-high 47 attacks.
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Abby Wachal (Lincoln, Neb.) tallied a 12-kill, 11 dig double-double. It was her second career double-double (both have come this season). Wachal has contributed 10+ digs four times this season and double-digit kills three times.
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) sent down 15 kills (.538 hitting percentage). It was the fifth time this season she sent down 15+ kills and the second time she hit over .500.
Senior middle blocker Emilie Planert (De Pere, Wis.) tallied seven kills and six block assists. Her seven kills tied her career best mark and her 19 attacked were a career high.
Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) posted 20 digs. It was her second match with at least 20 digs this season.
Senior defensive specialist Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.) recorded 12 digs. It was her second match this season with double-digit digs.

3-0 win at Jamestown (9-26-25)

SCSU improved to 5-0 all-time against Jamestown (first matchup since 1988) and 1-0 against the Jimmies in Jamestown. The Huskies have swept UJ in all five all-time meetings and made history by being the opponent for their first ever home match as an NSIC member.
The Huskies moved to 2-2 on the road season and 7-1 in four set matches.
SCSU led the match in points (59-49), kills (47-39), hitting percentage (.327-.152), blocks (9-5), assists (37-30) and digs (42-38). The Jimmies led in aces (5-3).
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) sent down 15 kills (.565 hitting percentage). She contributed 15+ kills for the sixth time this season (second straight match) and hit over .500 for the third time (second consecutive).
Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) recorded a 14-dig, 12-kill double-double. She tallied her third double-double of the season (second consecutive).
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) posted 33 assists, five digs and four kills. She recorded 33+ assists for the third straight match and posted her second career solo block.
Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) recorded 12 digs.
Freshman outside hitter Emery Thury (Watertown, S.D.) posted six kills and six digs. She also tallied her second career solo block.
Senior middle blocker Emilie Planert (De Pere, Wis.) tallied five kills and five block assists.

3-1 win at #18 Northern State (9-27-25)

SCSU moved to 16-23 all-time against Northern State and 6-8 all-time against the Wolves in Wachs Arena. The Huskies also stretched its winning streak against NSU to eight consecutive matches.
The Huskies improved to 4-2 (including two sweeps) against teams ranked/receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll this season, 3-2 on the road and 8-1 in three set matches.
SCSU led the match in points (58-43), kills (46-35), hitting percentage (.327-.167), aces (8-1), assists (39-33) and digs (56-48). The Wolves led in blocks (7-4).
Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) posted a 15-dig, 14-kill double-double (.667 hitting percentage). She recorded her fourth double-double of the season (third consecutive) and a career-high .667 hitting percentage. She has tallied double-digit kills in seven matches (three straight) this season and 10+ digs in five (three straight).
Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) contributed 22 digs. Her 22 digs were the second most in a single match for her career. Hamann has dug 20+ balls in three matches this season.
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) tallied 38 assists and four digs. She tallied 38 assists for the second consecutive match. LaPlant has dished out at least 38 assists in six matches this season.
Freshman outside hitter Emery Thury (Watertown, S.D.) recorded 12 kills, six digs and two aces. It was her fourth match this season with 10+ kills.
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) contributed nine kills, three block assists and one solo block
Graduate opposite Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.) posted seven kills (.389 hitting percentage) and two aces.

LET'S GO POLLING
The Huskies were ranked No. 13 in the Sept. 29 (week four) American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFLEX Division II Poll, moving up two spots from the previous poll.

Under the direction of Head Coach Chad Braegelmann, the program has been ranked for 73 consecutive weeks (including 46 weeks in the top 10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 147 weeks in the AVCA top 20/25 Poll in program history, including 71 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

NCAA (Top-50) / NSIC (Top-15) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 10/1)

Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann
- NSIC
  - No. 5 – digs/set (4.48)
  - No. 7 – digs (197)
Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm
- NSIC
  - No. 8 – kills/set (3.43)
  - No. 12 – points/set (3.84)
  - No. 15 – attacks/set (7.86)
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant
- NCAA
  - No. 12 – assists/set (10.85)
  - No. 37 – assists (423)
- NSIC
  - No. 6 – assists/set (10.85)
  - No. 7 – assists (423)
Redshirt junior middle blocker Ella Thompson
- NCAA
  - No. 43 – kills/set (3.68)
- NSIC
  - No. 5 – kills/set (3.68)
  - No. 8 – points/set (4.08)
  - No. 11 – hitting percentage (.345)
  - No. 12 – kills (147)

NCAA (Top-20) / NSIC (Top-3) TEAM STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 10/1)

NCAA
- No. 3 – kills/set (14.86)
- No. 6 – assists/set (13.55)
- No. 11 – hitting percentage (.276)
NSIC
- No. 1 – kills/set (14.86)
- No. 2 – assists/set (13.55)

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.