Tuesday, September 23
Taylor Center • Mankato, Minn.
6 p.m.
St. Cloud State
at
(RV) Minnesota State
Photo by: Jeff Evans/Western Washington Athletics Communications
No. 15 St. Cloud State Volleyball Travels to Mankato Tuesday for Midweek Tilt
9/22/2025 5:01:00 PM | Volleyball
Huskies look to give (RV) Minnesota State first loss of 2025
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 15 St. Cloud State Volleyball (7-3 overall, 2-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) will play its first midweek conference match of the season on Tuesday when it travels to play (RV) Minnesota State (10-0, 2-0 NSIC). First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. from the Taylor Center in Mankato.
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
The match will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network with live Stats provided by MSU.
Match 11 – @ (RV) Minnesota State (Taylor Center // Mankato) – Tuesday, Sept. 23 / 6 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 62-53 all-time against Minnesota State and are 7-3 in its last 10 matchups against MSU. SCSU has won the last five matchups against the Mavericks including two matches in 2024, a 3-1 win on Sept. 19 at Halenbeck Hall and a 3-0 sweep at the Taylor Center on November 8. The Huskies are are 15-17 all-time against MSU at the Taylor Center.
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend, the Huskies swept Minot State and UMary at home improving their home record to 5-1. The sweeps were the fifth and sixth of the 2025 season.
Notes from the matches
3-0 win vs. Minot State (9-19-25)
The Huskies were ranked No. 15 in the Sept. 22 (week three) American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFLEX Division II Poll.
Under the direction of Head Coach Chad Braegelmann, the program has been ranked for 72 consecutive weeks (including 46 weeks in the top 10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 146 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
NCAA (Top-50) / NSIC (Top-15) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 9/21)
(as of 9/21)
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).
SEASON PREVIEW
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."
Braegelmann enters his 10th competitive season at the helm of St. Cloud State Volleyball and his 24th season overall as a collegiate head coach in 2025 (*note – no season was held in 2020-21 due to the global pandemic). His record at SCSU is 179-95 (.653) including an 107-69 (.608) mark in NSIC play after leading last year's team to a 29-3 record (18-0 NSIC).
Last season, he was tabbed as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Coach of the Year and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Central Region Coach of the Year. It was the third time (2019, 2021) he was named NSIC Coach of the Year, and first time being named a regional coach of the year. It was the first time in SCSU Volleyball history that a coach earned regional coach of the year honors.
On the court, the Huskies return four of six starters from last year's team, headlined by Thompson, the 2025 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year and fellow reigning AVCA All-American, senior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn).
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."
Last season, Berran became the first setter in program history to become a multiple time All-American and became just the fourth player in program history to be named an All-American in more than one season. She was also named to the All-Central Region First Team by the AVCA. Additionally, the Inver Grove Heights product was a First Team All-NSIC pick and was selected to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team, the NSIC Tournament All-Tournament Team and the Yotes Classic Showdown All-Tournament Team. She currently ranks No. 4 in career assists in program history and became the first player in SCSU Volleyball history to surpass 1,000 assists in each of her first three seasons. She finished the regular season No. 6 in assists/set and No. 7 in total assists among DII players while ranking second in both assists/set and total assists among NSIC players this season.
In addition to the two All-Americans, SCSU returns Second Team All-NSIC Selection and NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team member, junior middle blocker Hannah Bruskiewicz (Rogers, Minn.), NSIC All-Tournament Team pick, junior outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) and 2023 First Team All-NSIC Selection, graduate student middle blocker Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.). The Huskies also return a pair of defensive specialists who played in 95+ of the team's 113 sets last season in senior Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.) and junior Annika Forbes (Cottage Grove, Minn.).
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
The match will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network with live Stats provided by MSU.
Match 11 – @ (RV) Minnesota State (Taylor Center // Mankato) – Tuesday, Sept. 23 / 6 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 62-53 all-time against Minnesota State and are 7-3 in its last 10 matchups against MSU. SCSU has won the last five matchups against the Mavericks including two matches in 2024, a 3-1 win on Sept. 19 at Halenbeck Hall and a 3-0 sweep at the Taylor Center on November 8. The Huskies are are 15-17 all-time against MSU at the Taylor Center.
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend, the Huskies swept Minot State and UMary at home improving their home record to 5-1. The sweeps were the fifth and sixth of the 2025 season.
Notes from the matches
3-0 win vs. Minot State (9-19-25)
- SCSU improved to 19-1 all-time against Minot State and 9-1 against the Beavers in St. Cloud.
- The Huskies improved to 4-1 at home and earned their 5th sweep.
- SCSU led the match in points (52-30), kills (44-25), hitting percentage (.350-.111), aces (7-2), assists (40-24) and digs (44-40). The Beavers led in blocks (3-1).
- Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) contributed 11 digs and eight kills (.438 hitting %) in two sets. It was her second time this season with double-digit digs.
- Freshman outside hitter Emery Thury (Watertown, S.D.) posted 10 kills (.533 hitting %) in two sets. She posted a career-high hitting percentage (.533) and sent down double-digit kills for the third time this season.
- Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) tallied 25 assists and five digs in two sets.
- Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) recorded 13 digs. She has recorded 13+ digs in all but one match this season.
- Redshirt senior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.) sent down seven kills (.455 hitting %) in two sets.
- Senior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) dished out 12 assists in the lone set she played in.
- Sophomore outside hitter Carlie Willis (Grundy Center, Iowa) tallied a career-high two service aces.
- Freshman middle blocker Kendall Huhnerkoch (Redwood Falls, Minn.) recorded her first collegiate kill.
- Freshman setter/opposite Asta Hildebrand (North Liberty, Iowa) played in her first career collegiate match.
- SCSU improved to 20-6 all-time against UMary and 11-1 against the Mauraders in St. Cloud. The Huskies have beaten UMary in 11 straight matches.
- The Huskies improved to 5-1 at home this season and earned their 6th sweep.
- SCSU led the match in points (60-33), kills (45-25), hitting percentage (.354-.077), aces (7-4), blocks (8-4), assists (41-23) and digs (42-31).
- Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant (Grand Rapids, Minn.) tallied a 33-assist, 10-dig double-double. It was her second career double-double and she tied her career-high in digs (10).
- Graduate middle blocker Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.) recorded 11 kills on 17 attempts (.647 hitting %), five block assists and four aces. She posted a new career high in aces (four) and tied her season best for kills in a match (seven).
- Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) contributed nine kills and nine digs.
- Senior middle blocker Emilie Planert (De Pere, Wis.) posted seven kills and six block assists. She tied her career best in kills (seven).
- Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann (Manitowoc, Wis.) recorded 11 digs.
The Huskies were ranked No. 15 in the Sept. 22 (week three) American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFLEX Division II Poll.
Under the direction of Head Coach Chad Braegelmann, the program has been ranked for 72 consecutive weeks (including 46 weeks in the top 10), dating back to the 2019 season. The Huskies have spent a total of 146 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
NCAA (Top-50) / NSIC (Top-15) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
(as of 9/21)
- Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann
- NSIC
- No. 6 – digs/set (4.26)
- No. 6 – digs (145)
- NSIC
- Redshirt freshman opposite Mollie Hobson
- NSIC
- No. 11 – aces/set (0.44)
- NSIC
- Junior outside hitter/opposite Shelby Kimm
- NSIC
- No. 14 – kills/set (3.16)
- No. 14 – points/set (3.68)
- NSIC
- Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant
- NCAA
- No. 20 – assists/set (10.38)
- NSIC
- No. 6 – assists/set (10.38)
- No. 7 – assists (301)
- NCAA
- Redshirt junior middle blocker Ella Thompson
- NSIC
- No. 6 – kills/set (3.57)
- No. 11 – points/set (3.95)
- NSIC
(as of 9/21)
- NCAA
- No. 5 – kills/set (14.74)
- No. 7 – assists/set (13.68)
- No. 17 – hitting percentage (.268)
- NSIC
- No. 1 – kills/set (14.74)
- No. 2 – aces/set (2.15)
- No. 3 – assists/set (13.68)
- No. 3 – aces (73)
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).
SEASON PREVIEW
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."
Braegelmann enters his 10th competitive season at the helm of St. Cloud State Volleyball and his 24th season overall as a collegiate head coach in 2025 (*note – no season was held in 2020-21 due to the global pandemic). His record at SCSU is 179-95 (.653) including an 107-69 (.608) mark in NSIC play after leading last year's team to a 29-3 record (18-0 NSIC).
Last season, he was tabbed as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Coach of the Year and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Central Region Coach of the Year. It was the third time (2019, 2021) he was named NSIC Coach of the Year, and first time being named a regional coach of the year. It was the first time in SCSU Volleyball history that a coach earned regional coach of the year honors.
On the court, the Huskies return four of six starters from last year's team, headlined by Thompson, the 2025 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year and fellow reigning AVCA All-American, senior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn).
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."
Last season, Berran became the first setter in program history to become a multiple time All-American and became just the fourth player in program history to be named an All-American in more than one season. She was also named to the All-Central Region First Team by the AVCA. Additionally, the Inver Grove Heights product was a First Team All-NSIC pick and was selected to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team, the NSIC Tournament All-Tournament Team and the Yotes Classic Showdown All-Tournament Team. She currently ranks No. 4 in career assists in program history and became the first player in SCSU Volleyball history to surpass 1,000 assists in each of her first three seasons. She finished the regular season No. 6 in assists/set and No. 7 in total assists among DII players while ranking second in both assists/set and total assists among NSIC players this season.
In addition to the two All-Americans, SCSU returns Second Team All-NSIC Selection and NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team member, junior middle blocker Hannah Bruskiewicz (Rogers, Minn.), NSIC All-Tournament Team pick, junior outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) and 2023 First Team All-NSIC Selection, graduate student middle blocker Sam Zimmerman (Moorhead, Minn.). The Huskies also return a pair of defensive specialists who played in 95+ of the team's 113 sets last season in senior Emily Kern (Belgrade, Minn.) and junior Annika Forbes (Cottage Grove, Minn.).
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
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
S/OPP
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball2025 St. Cloud State Women's Volleyball Pre Season Press Conference
Tuesday, September 16
2023 SCSU Volleyball Pre-Season Press Conference
Thursday, August 31
St. Cloud State Volleyball
Friday, August 25
Weekend Preview: Volleyball
Friday, August 25
