by Josh Berhow
Issue date: 9/13/07
Section: Womens Sports
Friday - 7 p.m.; Taylor Center
The Minnesota State Volleyball team is looking to add to its winning ways, this time at the Taylor Center. MSU will test its 10-1 record with the first two conference games of the season and look to improve on its best start since 2002.
Friday they'll play rival North Dakota at 7 p.m. at the Taylor Center. The Fighting Sioux has very good height and will run a lot of right side attacks and middle attacks.
"We need to stay balanced on defense and pressure their back row players with shots," said Mavericks head coach Dennis Amundson.
There will also be an intriguing match up Saturday, when the No. 23 Mavs take on No. 14 Nebraska-Omaha at 5 p.m. MSU has moved up two spots in the poll since last week, but the team isn't taking anything for granted.
"The poll doesn't matter to us. We have to beat the teams on the poll and keep moving forward," said sophomore Kelly Sandstrom.
Nebraska-Omaha is a very high energy team and has strong middle hitters MSU needs to take away.
"The key to the game will be to control the middle attack," said Amundson. "We need to handle the ball and take care of the ball no matter who we're playing.
"We need to serve better and finish our swings," said Amundson. "Both teams have very active setters, and we need to improve our cross-court defense a lot."
The Mavericks, however, have their own roster that can compete.
Ashley Nachreiner has been steady for the Mavericks and they'll need her to continue to be. Nachreiner's 170 kills and 22 serving aces lead the team. Helping Nachreiner with the kills is middle hitter Danielle Zimmermann, who's third on the team with 68. Zimmermann also leads the team in total blocks.
Stef Sandstrom is serving well for the Mavericks as well as setting up her teammates. Sandstrom has 447 assists on the year and is averaging just over 11 a game. While Stef is on track to reach and surpass her last year total of 1,303 assists, her sister is doing her part on the defensive side. The Mavs are averaging almost four more digs per game than their opponent, and Kelly Sandstrom is a big reason why.
"Kelly has given us a spark at the defensive libero position," said Amundson. "Lisa (Rohret) has also been very, very steady for us."
"We can show our record represents us, and hopefully get some support," said freshman outside hitter Amanda Beekman, who's second on the team in kills with 128. "We still need to improve and keep getting better."
"It's always good to be in your own gym with your own fans," said Amundson.
Josh Berhow is a Reporter staff writer
