Friday, October 10
Elmen Center • Sioux Falls, S.D.
6 p.m.
St. Cloud State
at
Augustana
Photo by: Jacob Sanders
No. 10 St. Cloud State Volleyball Takes Perfect NSIC Record on the Road
10/9/2025 10:57:00 AM | Volleyball
Huskies travel Augustana Friday, No. 11 Wayne State Saturday
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 10 St. Cloud State Volleyball (12-3 overall, 7-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) takes its perfect conference record on the road against Augustana and No. 11 Wayne State this weekend. The Huskies play Augustana (8-7, 2-5 NSIC) at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Wayne State (13-3, 6-1 NSIC) on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, Nebraska.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Both matches will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network and live stats will be provided by each home team.
Match 16 – @ Augustana (Elmen Center // Sioux Falls, S.D.) – Friday, Oct. 10 / 6 p.m. / Watch (NSIC Network) / Live stats
Match 17 – @ #12 Wayne State (Rice Auditorium // Wayne, Neb.) – Saturday, Oct. 11 / 5 p.m. / Watch (NSIC Network) / Live stats
Links to each coverage option can also be found on the St. Cloud State Volleyball schedule page.
SERIES HISTORY
The Huskies are 30-50 all-time against Augustana but are 8-2 against the Vikings in the last 10 meetings which includes a seven-match win streak. SCSU swept the team's lone matchup of 2024 at the Elmen Center. The Huskies are 4-22 all-time against Augie in Sioux Falls.
SCSU is 15-22 all-time against Wayne State but are 7-3 in its last 10 matchups against the Wildcats. The Huskies took the lone meeting of 2024, a back-and-forth five setter in Wayne. SCSU is 4-10 all-time against the Wildcats in Rice Auditorium.
30 IN A ROW
SCSU has won 30 straight matches against NSIC opponents, dating back to 2024. This season, the Huskies are off to a 7-0 start in conference play after going 23-0 against NSIC teams in 2024. Last season against NSIC opponents, 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.
LAST TIME OUT
The then-No. 13 Huskies went 2-0 at home last weekend. On Friday, SCSU earned its first reverse sweep since November 19, 2019, against then-No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State and took down Sioux Falls in four sets on Saturday.
Notes from the matches
3-2 win vs. #12 Southwest Minnesota State (10-3-25)
The Huskies were ranked No. 10 in the Oct. 6 (week five) 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 74 consecutive weeks (including 47 weeks in the top 10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 148 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
NCAA (Top 50) / NSIC (Top 15) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 10/1)
(as of 10/8)
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 (2nd, 208 points, four first place votes), Southwest Minnesota State (3rd, 202 points, four first place votes), Wayne State (4th, 188 points) and Northern State (5th, 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.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Both matches will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network and live stats will be provided by each home team.
Match 16 – @ Augustana (Elmen Center // Sioux Falls, S.D.) – Friday, Oct. 10 / 6 p.m. / Watch (NSIC Network) / Live stats
Match 17 – @ #12 Wayne State (Rice Auditorium // Wayne, Neb.) – Saturday, Oct. 11 / 5 p.m. / Watch (NSIC Network) / Live stats
Links to each coverage option can also be found on the St. Cloud State Volleyball schedule page.
SERIES HISTORY
The Huskies are 30-50 all-time against Augustana but are 8-2 against the Vikings in the last 10 meetings which includes a seven-match win streak. SCSU swept the team's lone matchup of 2024 at the Elmen Center. The Huskies are 4-22 all-time against Augie in Sioux Falls.
SCSU is 15-22 all-time against Wayne State but are 7-3 in its last 10 matchups against the Wildcats. The Huskies took the lone meeting of 2024, a back-and-forth five setter in Wayne. SCSU is 4-10 all-time against the Wildcats in Rice Auditorium.
30 IN A ROW
SCSU has won 30 straight matches against NSIC opponents, dating back to 2024. This season, the Huskies are off to a 7-0 start in conference play after going 23-0 against NSIC teams in 2024. Last season against NSIC opponents, 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.
LAST TIME OUT
The then-No. 13 Huskies went 2-0 at home last weekend. On Friday, SCSU earned its first reverse sweep since November 19, 2019, against then-No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State and took down Sioux Falls in four sets on Saturday.
Notes from the matches
3-2 win vs. #12 Southwest Minnesota State (10-3-25)
- SCSU tied the all-time series with the Mustangs at 28-28 and moved to 6-11 against SMSU at Halenbeck Hall. The Huskies also improved to 8-2 against SMSU in the last 10 matchups.
- SCSU remained perfect in conference play, earning its sixth straight conference win to open the season to tie the program record for the best start during the NSIC era and during head coach Chad Braegelmann's tenure.
- The Huskies improved to 5-2 against teams ranked/receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll this season, 6-1 at home and 2-0 in three set matches.
- SCSU led the match in hitting percentage (.254-.223), blocks (12-10), assists (63-59) and digs (77-73). The Mustangs led in aces (5-3). Both teams had 81 points and 66 kills.
- It was the second longest match of SCSU's season (2:31) behind the Huskies five-set win against (RV) Central Washington on Sept. 6 (2:36).
- Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) posted a 14-kill, 12-dig double-double and seven block assists. She recorded her fifth double-double of the season (fourth consecutive). Kimm's seven blocks/block assists were both new career highs. She has contributed double-digit kills in eight matches (four straight) this season and 10+ digs in six (four straight).
- Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Abby Wachal (Lincoln, Neb.) recorded a 13-kill, 13-dig double-double. She posted her third double-double of the season. Wachal has recorded 13+ kills and 13+ digs twice this season.
- Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) tallied a 54-assist, 12-dig double-double. She contributed her fourth double-double of the season. LaPlant's 54 assists were the second most in a match this season.
- Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) contributed 15 kills (.367 hitting percentage) and five block assists. She sent down 15+ kills for the seventh time this season and the third time in the last four matches. Thompson recorded 5+ block assists for the third time this season.
- Graduate opposite Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.) recorded 13 kills on a .406 hitting percentage while tallying seven digs. Her seven digs were a new career high, and her 13 kills were a new season high.
- Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) posted 17 digs and five assists.
- Senior middle blocker Emilie Planert (De Pere, Wis.) contributed five block assists in four sets. It was her fifth match with 5+ block assists this season.
- SCSU improved to 11-6 all-time against the Cougars which includes a 9-1 record in the last 10 matchups and an eight-match winning streak. The Huskies are 7-2 all-time against USF in St. Cloud.
- SCSU remained perfect in conference play, earning its seventh straight conference win to open the season. It is the second consecutive season and fourth time in program history that the Huksies are off to a 7-0 start to conference play.
- The Huskies improved to 7-1 at home this season and 2-2 in four set matches.
- SCSU led the match in points (81-62), kills (60-50), hitting percentage (.232-.227), aces (13-5), blocks (8-7) and assists (51-45). USF led in digs (77-73).
- Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) recorded a 19-kill, 18-dig double-double. Her 19 kills were a new career high, and her 47 attacks matched her career high mark, while her 18 digs were a season best. Kimm posted her sixth double-double of the season (fifth consecutive). She has contributed double-digit kills in nine matches (five straight) this season and 10+ digs in seven (five straight).
- Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Abby Wachal (Lincoln, Neb.) posted a 13-kill, 11-dig double-double. She tied her career best in blocks (three) and block assists (three). Wachal posted her fourth double-double of the season (second straight). She has recorded 10+ kills in five matches this season and double digit digs six times.
- Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) contributed 44 assists, eight digs and five aces. Her five aces tied her career high for the most in a single match.
- Graduate opposite Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.) recorded nine kills, four aces and four block assists. Her four aces tied her career high for a single match.
- Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) tallied eight kills and six block assists.
- Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) contributed 18 digs and four assists.
- Junior middle blocker Hannah Bruskiewicz (Rogers, Minn.) sent down 10 kills.
- Senior defensive specialist Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.) posted 11 digs.
The Huskies were ranked No. 10 in the Oct. 6 (week five) 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 74 consecutive weeks (including 47 weeks in the top 10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 148 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
NCAA (Top 50) / NSIC (Top 15) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 10/1)
- Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann
- NSIC
- No. 6 – digs/set (4.38)
- No. 7 – digs (232)
- NSIC
- Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm
- NSIC
- No. 7 – kills/set (3.48)
- No. 8 – points/set (3.93)
- No. 11 – attacks/set (8.27)
- NSIC
- Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant
- NCAA
- No. 10 – assists/set (10.85)
- No. 30 – assists (521)
- NSIC
- No. 5 – assists/set (10.85)
- No. 7 – assists (521)
- NCAA
- Redshirt junior middle blocker Ella Thompson
- NSIC
- No. 8 – kills/set (3.47)
- No. 9 – points/set (3.91)
- No. 11 – hitting percentage (.335)
- No. 11 – kills (170)
- No. 14 – blocks/set (0.84)
- NSIC
(as of 10/8)
- NCAA
- No. 3 – kills/set (14.72)
- No. 7 – assists/set (13.40)
- No. 12 – hitting percentage (.270)
- NSIC
- No. 1 – kills/set (14.72)
- No. 2 – assists/set (13.40)
- No. 2 – kills (780)
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 (2nd, 208 points, four first place votes), Southwest Minnesota State (3rd, 202 points, four first place votes), Wayne State (4th, 188 points) and Northern State (5th, 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.
Players Mentioned
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