SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus volleyball team will hit the road for a pair of MIAC matches this weekend as they travel to Concordia Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on No. 12 Saint Benedict Saturday at 3 p.m. The Gusties enter the contests 12-12 overall and 5-2 in the MIAC while the Cobbers are 5-17 overall and 2-5 in the conference and the Bennies are 19-3 and 5-2 in the league.
Friday: Live Stats | Watch Live
Saturday: Live Stats/Watch Live
The Series (vs. Concordia): Friday’s contest marks the 68th all-time meeting between the Gustavus and Concordia volleyball programs with the Gusties holding a 41-26 edge. The two teams met last season in Saint Peter on Oct. 19 with Gustavus taking a 3-1 victory. In the team’s last 15 trips to Moorhead though, the Gusties are just 4-11.
The Series (vs. Saint Ben’s): Saturday’s match marks the 61st all-time meeting between the two teams with Gustavus holding a 31-29 advantage. The two team’s last met in the MIAC Championship last season as the Gusties won a five-set thriller on Nov. 3. The Gusties have taken four of the last five matches between the two teams, but the Bennies had won nine straight prior.
Scouting the Gusties: After a week off Gustavus comes into the contest most recently defeating Bethel 3-0 last Friday. Through 24 matches the Gusties are led by Kate Holtan, who leads the MIAC with 321 kills. Holtan, this week’s MIAC Volleyball Hitter of the Week, has recording double-digit kills in her past nine matches, eclipsing 15 six times during that stretch. Mitaya Johnson also had a solid week with her setting duties, notching a career-high 33 assists last Wednesday versus Carleton, before dishing out 22 Friday. Hailey Embacher has anchored the back row for the Black and Gold, as she has accumulated 460 digs which ranks fourth in the MIAC.
Scouting the Cobbers: Concordia is looking to right the ship, following five straight losses, most recently falling to Mayville State 3-0 on Tuesday. Through 22 matches, the Cobbers are led by Kendra Wiggs with 163 kills, while three other Cobbers have at least 140. Jill Klaphake and Lexi Turn have split setting duties this season with 389 and 345 assists, respectively, while Gabby DeBoer has led the back row with 355 digs.
Scouting the Bennies: Saint Ben’s is most recently coming off a 3-1 win over St. Scholastica on Saturday and will play Carleton on Friday prior to their matchup with the Gusties. Through 22 matches, sisters Hunter and Madison Weiss lead the Bennies with 296 and 277 kills, respectively. The duo also rank first and second in attack percentage as Madison is hitting .438 and Hunter .416. Saint Ben’s setter Katie Koch currently has 874 assists this season which ranks fourth in the MIAC, while libero Haley LaValle has 341 digs.