No. 11 St. Cloud State Volleyball Hosts No. 13 Southwest Minnesota State in NSIC Tournament Quarterfinal Match Tuesday

Tuesday, November 18

St. Cloud, Minn.

6 p.m.

St. Cloud State

(6) #13 Southwest Minnesota State

Tickets

Abby Wachal vs. Minnesota Duluth 11-7-25

Photo by: Jacob Sanders

No. 11 St. Cloud State Volleyball Hosts No. 13 Southwest Minnesota State in NSIC Tournament Quarterfinal Match Tuesday

11/17/2025 4:43:00 PM | Volleyball

NSIC Tournament Homepage

No. 3 seed Huskies welcome No. 6 seed SMSU to Halenbeck Hall to open postseason play

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 11 St. Cloud State Volleyball (23-6 overall, 18-2 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) begins postseason play against No. 13 Southwest Minnesota State (21-6, 14-6 NSIC) at home on Tuesday evening. First serve between the No. 3 seed Huskies and No. 6 seed SMSU is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud.

NSIC Tournament Homepage

FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
The match will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network. Additionally, fans can listen to the matches on 97.5 FM RadioX. KVSC talent Noah Grant (play-by-play) and Carl Goenner (color) will have the call. Live stats will be provided by SCSU and tickets can be purchased here.

Match 30 – vs. (6) #13 Southwest Minnesota State (Halenbeck Hall // St. Cloud) – Saturday, Nov. 8 / 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 match day central or schedule page.

MATCH DAY PROMOTIONS
Tuesday, Nov. 18 vs. (6) #13 Southwest Minnesota State
Promotion: All students get in free

SERIES HISTORY
The Huskies are 28-28 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State and 8-2 in their last 10 matchups against the Mustangs. SCSU swept the lone regular season matchup of 2025, as the then-No. 13 Huskies recorded its first reverse sweep since Nov. 19, 2019, of then-No. 12 SMSU in Halenbeck Hall. The Huskies are 6-11 all-time against SMSU at Halenbeck Hall and 2-0 against the Mustangs in the NSIC tournament, earning quarterfinal sweeps in 2021 and 2022.

HOME SWEET HALENBECK
SCSU Volleyball has enjoyed tremendous success in the friendly confines of Halenbeck Hall, going 71-10 (.877) in its last 81 home matches. The Huskies are 12-2 at home this season.

NSIC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Huskies own a 13-2 (.867) record in NSIC Tournament matches. The Huskies have advanced to the championship match in each of the teams five tournament appearances which have all come in the last five seasons. The Huskies won the tournament in 2021, 2022 and 2024 and finished as the runner-up in 2019 and 2023.

ALL-NSIC HUSKIES
St. Cloud State Volleyball had four student-athletes earn all-conference honors as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) announced its end of season awards on November 13. Junior outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa), sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) and redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) were named to the first team, while graduate opposite Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.) earned second team honors.

It is the sixth time in program history that SCSU has had four or more players named as all-conference performers and the third time while as a member of the NSIC, which have all come in the last five seasons. Additionally, the Huskies put at least three players on the first team for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

Kimm earned her first all-conference honor after ranking in the top 11 of points/set, kills/set and digs/set among NSIC players in conference matches. She is currently No. 5 in points/set (3.98), No. 6 in kills/set (3.53) and No. 11 in digs/set (3.83) and has posted double-doubles (10) in over half the NSIC matches played so far. She is having a breakout season and already has single season career best marks in kills (288), kills/set (3.43), hitting percentage (.261), digs/set (3.43), block assists (35), total blocks (36), blocks/set (0.43), points (327.5) and points/set (3.90) and is approaching her best in digs (288). She has also produced single match career highs in kills (19), attacks (50), digs (28), block assists (seven) and hitting percentage (.667).

LaPlant was named as an all-conference performer in her first year as the team's starting setter after leading the SCSU offense to the most kills/set among NSIC teams during conference play (14.95) and tied for the fourth best hitting percentage (.268). Individually, she ranks No. 2 in assists/set (11.84) and tied for No. 8 in aces/set (0.39) while recording five double-doubles. She earned the first two NSIC Setter of the Week awards of her career this season (Sept. 29 and Oct. 27) and was the only Husky to earn weekly conference honors this season. LaPlant recently surpassed 1,000 career assists and is approaching 1,000 assists for the season (965).

Thompson, the 2025 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, earned a spot on the first team for the second consecutive season after ranking in the top 13 of NSIC players during conference play in blocks/set, hitting percentage, points/set and kills/set. She is No. 6 in blocks/set (1.02), No. 8 in hitting percentage (.338), No. 9 in points/set (3.84) and No. 13 in kills/set (3.27). This season Thompson has new single season best marks in kills/set (3.38) and points/set (3.90) and is approaching new personal records in kills (301), solo blocks (eight), total blocks (84), blocks/set (0.94) and points (347). She surpassed 1,000 career kills, 300 total blocks, 100 matches played and 400 sets played. this season

Zimmerman gained all-conference recognition for the second time in her career, after being named to the first team in 2023. This season, she is No. 7 in service aces/set (0.45) and No. 11 in hitting percentage (3.16) among conference players during NSIC matches. This season, she is No. 1 in aces/set, No. 2 in hitting percentage, No. 3 in kills/set (2.55) and No. 4 in points/set (3.22) on the team during conference play. Zimmerman has also set new career single match highs in aces (four – three times) and digs (seven).

NSIC Release

All-NSIC
First Team:
Shelby Kimm
Braya LaPlant
Ella Thompson

Second Team:
Sam Zimmerman

LAST TIME OUT
SCSU went 2-0 during its final road trip of the regular season, sweeping Minnesota Crookston and MSU Moorhead.

Notes from the matches
3-0 win @ Minnesota Crookston (11-14-25)

The Huskies have now won their last 11matchups against UMC.
The Huskies improved to 8-4 on the road and 15-2 in three set matches.
SCSU led the match in points (58-28), kills (42-21), hitting percentage (.293 - .020), aces (7-2), blocks (9-5), assists (38-21) and digs (50-34).
The Huskies totaled 9+ blocks for the 11^th time this season.
Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) recorded 19 digs which were the second most by a Husky in a three set match this season.
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) sent down seven kills on ten swings (.700 hitting percentage) in one set. Her .700 hitting percentage was a new career high.
Graduate opposite Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.) tallied eight kills on nine swings (.889 hitting percentage) and three digs in two sets.
Junior outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) recorded 10 digs. It was her 16^th match this season with double-digit digs.
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) dished out 13 assists in one set.
Senior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) tallied 21 assists and five digs in two sets.
Redshirt freshman opposite Mollie Hobson (McHenry, Ill.) posted five kills and two aces in one set. Her .714 hitting percentage tied her career best single match mark from earlier this season.
Senior middle blocker Emilie Planert (De Pere, Wis.) recorded five kills and three block assists.
Redshirt freshman middle blocker Kinsey Mohwinkle (Aplington, Iowa) recorded the first two solo blocks of her collegiate career.
Junior defensive specialist Annika Forbes (Cottage Grove, Minn.) contributed two aces.
Senior defensive specialist Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.) played in her 100^th career match.

3-0 win @ MSU Moorhead (11-15-25)

SCSU improved to 46-23 all-time against MSU Moorhead and 8-8 against the Dragons in Moorhead. The Huskies have now won their last eight matchups against MSUM.
The Huskies improved to 9-4 on the road and 17-2 in three set matches.
SCSU led the match in points (61-41), kills (49-31), hitting percentage (.462 - .194), aces (9-6), assists (45-29) and digs (41-32). The Dragons led the match in blocks (4-3).
The Huskies .462 hitting percentage was the best mark of the season by .052, their 45 assists were tied for the second most in a three-set match, their 49 kills were tied for the third most in a three-set match and their nine aces were tied for the fifth most in any match this season.
SCSU finished with 18+ conference wins for the third time in program history, which have all come in the past five years.
Junior outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) posted a 11-kill (.391 hitting percentage), 10-dig double-double and two solo blocks. It was her 13^th double-double of the season. Kimm's two solo blocks were a new single match career best.
Graduate opposite Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.) contributed nine kills, five digs, four aces and one solo block. Her four aces tied her single match career high and were tied for the fifth most in any match this season.
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) tallied 35 assists, four digs and three kills (1.000 hitting percentage). She surpassed 1,000 assists for the season.
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) posyed 10 kills on 14 swings (.643 hitting percentage). It was her 16^th match this season sending down 10+ kills.
Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) recorded 11 digs and two aces.
Redshirt sophomore Abby Wachal (Lincoln, Neb.) posted nine kills (.421 hitting percentage) and four digs.
Senior middle blocker Emilie Planert (De Pere, Wis.) sent down seven kills (.545 hitting percentage).

NCAA (Top 20) / NSIC (Top 3) TEAM STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 11/16)

NCAA
- No. 4 – kills/set (14.80)
- No. 9 – assists/set (13.53)
- No. 10 – kills (1,495)
- No. 12 – assists (1,367)
- No. 13 – hitting percentage (.266)
NSIC
- No. 1 – kills (1,495)
- No. 2 – kills/set (14.80)
- No. 2 – assists (1,367)
- No. 2 – aces/set (2.06)
- No. 2 – service aces (208)
- No. 3 – assists/set (13.53)
- No. 3 – digs (1,653)

NCAA (Top 50) / NSIC (Top 15) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 11/16)

Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann
- NSIC
  - No. 4 – digs (461)
  - No. 5 – digs/set (4.56)
  - No. 6 – aces (40)
  - No. 9 – aces/set (0.40)
Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm
- NSIC
  - No. 8 – points/set (3.86)
  - No. 10 – kills/set (3.36)
  - No. 11 – digs/set (3.42)
  - No. 12 – attacks/set (8.57)
  - No. 14 – kills (302)
  - No. 14 – digs (308)
  - No. 15 – attacks (771)
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant
- NCAA
  - No. 8 – assists/set (11.38)
  - No. 27 – assists (1,013)
- NSIC
  - No. 3 – assists/set (11.38)
  - No. 6 – assists (1,013)
  - No. 15 – aces/set (0.36)
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson
- NSIC
  - No. 7 – kills/set (3.42)
  - No. 7 – points/set (3.92)
  - No. 9 – blocks/set (0.91)
  - No. 9 – hitting percentage (.338)
  - No. 9 – total blocks (85)
  - No. 11 – kills (318)
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Abby Wachal
- NSIC
  - No. 15 – attacks/set (8.13)
Graduate student opposite Sam Zimmerman
- NSIC
  - No. 3 – aces/set (0.45)
  - No. 11 – aces (34)
  - No. 15 – hitting percentage (.315)

CAREER MILESTONES
Senior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) became just the fourth player in program history to surpass 4,000 career assists on senior day (Nov. 8)

Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) became the 17th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career assists during the Huskies final home regular season day (Nov. 8)

Head coach Chad Braegelmann became just the second coach in SCSU Volleyball history to surpass 200 wins as the program's head coach on Nov. 8.

NCAA CENTRAL REGION RANKINGS
St. Cloud State Volleyball was ranked No. 6 in the second set of the NCAA Volleyball Regional Rankings, as announced by the organization on Nov. 12. The Huskies were one of four NSIC teams ranked, joining Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota State and Wayne State in the second of three regional rankings.

St. Cloud State is looking to make its sixth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies have made the NCAA Tournament a total of 10 times in program history. St. Cloud State has two remaining regular season matches before the NSIC Tournament starts on Nov. 18.

The NSIC, the Mid-America Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC) make up the 40-team NCAA Central Region. The top eight teams in the region will advance to the NCAA region tournament on December 4-7. Automatic bids are granted to the winners of the MIAA, GAC and NSIC postseason tournaments, with the remaining five spots awarded on an at-large basis.

The NCAA Volleyball selection show will be streamed online on Monday, November 24 at 6:30 p.m. (CT) on NCAA.com.

The championship quarterfinals, semifinals and final match will take place Thursday-Saturday, December 11-13, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Nov. 12 NCAA Central Region Rankings (overall record, in region record for games through Nov. 9)

Nebraska Kearney^ (24-3, 17-3)
Wayne State* (24-3, 20-2)
Missouri Western^ (20-5, 18-4)
Concordia St. Paul* (22-4, 18-3)
Washburn^ (22-3, 19-3)
St. Cloud State* (21-6, 18-3)
Emporia State^ (20-5, 19-3)
Central Oklahoma^ (25-3, 22-3)
Central Missouri^ (18-7, 18-7)
Minnesota State* (21-5, 19-5)

* NSIC Team
^ MIAA Team
& GAC Team

Full NCAA DII Volleyball Region Rankings
NSIC Release

LET'S GO POLLING
The Huskies were ranked No. 11 for the second consecutive week in the Nov. 17 (week 11) edition of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFLEX Division II Poll.

Under the direction of Head Coach Chad Braegelmann, the program has been ranked for 80 consecutive weeks (including 48 weeks in the top 10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 154 weeks in the AVCA top 20/25 Poll in program history, including 73 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
#11 – Week Seven
#11 – Week Eight
#10 – Week Nine
#11 – Week Ten
#11 – Week Eleven

NSIC SETTER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Setter of the Week for the second time this season/of her career on Monday. She is the only Husky to earn weekly conference honors so far this season.

The sophomore setter led the NSIC in assists/set (11.82) while ranking fifth in service aces/set (0.64). She also chipped in 1.91 digs/set, 1.77 points/set, 0.73 kills/set and 0.55 blocks/set. LaPlant helped guide the SCSU offense to 15.36 kills/set which ranked No. 2 in the conference and a .294 team hitting percentage which was fourth best in the NSIC.

LaPlant's best performance came in the Huskies five-set win over No. 22 Northern State Friday, when she recorded a 58-assist, 11-dig double-double with four aces, three kills, three block assists and two solo blocks. It was her sixth double-double of the season and first since Oct. 11 and her two solo blocks were a new single-match career high. Additionally, the Grand Rapids, Minnesota native dished out 41 assists in SCSU's sweep of No. 23 Minnesota State on Tuesday which were the second most of any three-set match this season for the Huskies.

NSIC Release

2025 NSIC Weekly Honors
Setter of the Week

Braya LaPlant (Sept. 29)
Braya LaPlant (Oct. 27)

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

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.

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