No. 10 St. Cloud State Volleyball Returns to Halenbeck Hall for Final Home Regular Season Matches

Friday, November 7

St. Cloud, Minn.

6 p.m.

St. Cloud State

#25 Minnesota Duluth

Tickets

Sam Zimmerman vs. Minnesota State 10-21-25

Photo by: Kayden Kircher

No. 10 St. Cloud State Volleyball Returns to Halenbeck Hall for Final Home Regular Season Matches

11/6/2025 1:18:00 PM | Volleyball

Match Day Central

Huskies host No. 25 Minnesota Duluth Friday, Bemidji State Saturday

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 10 St. Cloud State Volleyball (19-6 overall, 14-2 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) returns to Halenbeck Hall for its final two home regular season matches of the season. The Huskies host No. 25 Minnesota Duluth (17-6, 10-6 NSIC) on Friday at 6 p.m. and Bemidji State (7-17, 4-12 NSIC) on Saturday at 2 p.m. for Senior Day.

FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
The matches will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network. Additionally, fans can listen to the matches on 97.5 FM RadioX. KVSC talent Reece Powell (play-by-play Friday, color Saturday) and Joey Hudson (color Friday, play-by-play Saturday) will have the call. Live stats will be provided by SCSU and tickets can be purchased here.

Match 26 – vs. #25 Minnesota Duluth (Halenbeck Hall // St. Cloud) – Friday, Nov. 7 / 6 p.m. / Watch (NSIC Network) / Live stats / Listen (97.5 FM RadioX)
Match 27 – vs. Bemidji 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
Friday, Nov. 7 vs. #25 Minnesota Duluth
Promotion: Family Night

Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Bemidji State
Promotion: Senior Day

SENIOR DAY
Prior to Saturday's match, the Huskies will honor their six graduating players for their contributions to the program. SCSU will honor Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.), Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.), Emilie Planert (De Pere, Wis.), Annika Forbes (Cottage Grove, Minn.), Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) and Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.). Over the last four seasons, these Huskies have compiled an 88-24 record including a 60-12 mark in Northern Sun play. They have won one regular season NSIC Championship, played in three NSIC Tournament Championships, winning two and participated in three NCAA tournaments, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024.

SERIES HISTORY
The Huskies are 45-82 all-time against Minnesota Duluth but are 5-5 against the Bulldogs in the last 10 meetings which includes a two-match win streak. SCSU swept the home-and-home series between the teams in 2024. The Huskies are 15-25 all-time against UMD in St. Cloud.

SCSU is 52-23 all-time against Bemidji State including a 9-1 mark in its last 10 matchups against BSU. The Huskies swept the teams' home-and-home series in 2024. SCSU is 19-3 all-time against the Beavers in St. Cloud.

HOME SWEET HALENBECK
SCSU Volleyball has enjoyed tremendous success in the friendly confines of Halenbeck Hall, going 69-10 (.873) in its last 79 home matches. The Huskies are 10-2 at home this season.

LAST TIME OUT
SCSU dropped its midweek nonconference match against No. 9 Concordia-St. Paul in four sets at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul on Tuesday, snapping its six-match win streak.

Notes from the matches
3-1 loss @ #9 Concordia-St. Paul (11-4-25)

SCSU moved to 9-36 all-time against Concordia-St. Paul State and 2-15 against the Bears in St. Paul. The Huskies are now 5-5 in their last 10 matchups against CSP with the Golden Bears winning both regular season meetings this season.
The Huskies moved to 7-5 against teams ranked/receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) DII National Poll this season, 7-4 on the road and 2-3 in four set matches.
SCSU led the match in aces (8-4). CSP led in points (80-62), kills (64-50), hitting percentage (.349 – .204), blocks (12-4), assists (60-48) and digs (72-66).
The Bears' 64 kills and 60 assists were the most the Huskies have allowed in a four set match this season, while CSP's .349 hitting percentage was the second highest conceded by SCSU in a match this season.
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Abby Wachal (Lincoln, Neb.) posted a 14-dig, 10-kill double-double. It was her sixth double-double of the season and the first since October 11. Wachal has sent down 10+ kills in 10 matches this season and recorded 14+ digs in four.
Junior outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) contributed a 14-kill, 10-dig double-double. She recorded her 12^th double-double of the season and first since October 24. Kimm has tallied 14+ kills in eight matches this season and 10+ digs in 14.
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) produced 47 assists and seven digs. Her 47 assists were her most in a four set match this season.
Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) tallied 19 digs and four aces. She tied her career high from last match in aces in a match, with four. Hamann's 19 digs were the second most of any Husky in a four set match this season.
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) sent down 12 kills. It was her 11^th match with 12+ kills.
Graduate opposite Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.) posted nine kills (.320 hitting percentage).
Senior defensive specialist Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.) contributed nine digs.

NCAA (Top 20) / NSIC (Top 3) TEAM STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 11/2)

NCAA
- No. 2 – kills/set (14.99)
- No. 8 – assists/set (13.68)
- No. 10 – kills (1,259)
- No. 14 – hitting percentage (.265)
- No. 15 – assists (1,149)
NSIC
- No. 1 – kills/set (14.99)
- No. 2 – kills (1,259)
- No. 2 – assists/set (13.68)
- No. 2 – assists (1,149)
- No. 2 – aces/set (1.99)
- No. 2 – service aces (167)
- No. 3 – digs (1,381)
- No. 3 – winning percentage (.792)

NCAA (Top 50) / NSIC (Top 15) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 11/2)

Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann
- NSIC
  - No. 6 – digs/set (4.48)
  - No. 6 – digs (376)
  - No. 14 – aces (29)
Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm
- NSIC
  - No. 8 – kills/set (3.38)
  - No. 8 – points/set (3.87)
  - No. 10 – digs/set (3.55)
  - No. 12 – attacks/set (8.56)
Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant
- NCAA
  - No. 6 – assists/set (11.49)
  - No. 21 – assists (873)
- NSIC
  - No. 3 – assists/set (11.49)
  - No. 6 – assists (873)
Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson
- NSIC
  - No. 9 – points/set (3.83)
  - No. 10 – kills/set (3.36)
  - No. 10 – hitting percentage (.323)
  - No. 10 – total blocks (67)
  - No. 12 – blocks/set (0.86)
  - No. 14 – kills (262)
  - No. 15 – attacks/set (8.22)
Graduate student opposite Sam Zimmerman
- NSIC
  - No. 5 – aces/set (0.43)
  - No. 15 – hitting percentage (.313)

LET'S GO POLLING
The Huskies moved back into the top 10 for the first time in four weeks in the Nov. 3 (week nine) 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 78 consecutive weeks (including 48 weeks in the top 10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 152 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

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.

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.