It’s not hard to point out the Ashley Nachreiner fans at Minnesota State volleyball games. Relatives of the Round Rock, Texas, native find their seats grouped together near the court every home game in Taylor Center.

Though Nachreiner’s parents still live in Round Rock, where she grew up, most of her family lives in her birthplace of New Ulm.

“There sometimes can be up to 20 of them,” Nachreiner said of the family members who watch her home games.

Growing up in Texas, Nachreiner would visit family in New Ulm every summer, and Mavericks volleyball camps were always a stop on her list.

And when it came time to select a college, Minnesota State seemed just close enough to her second home.

After being named North Central Conference freshman of the year in 2005 and All-American last year as a junior, the senior is leading a young but talented group in its transition to a new conference, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Last season, Nachreiner led MSU in kills (403), kills per game (4.11) and serving aces (41), helping the Mavericks to a 19-9 record and a second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

“She’s reported in the best shape of her career, and she’s adding shots to her game,” coach Dennis Amundson said. “She’s settling into that leadership role for us. It’s going to be fun to watch Ashley play.”

Joining Nachreiner at outside hitter is last year’s NCC freshman of the year, sophomore Amanda Beekman.

Beekman was just behind Nachreiner in almost every statistical category last season, and the two should form one of the top scoring combos in the Northern Sun.

“We will have to attack the ball better in the opposite and better in the middle so they’re not getting double teamed all the time,” Amundson said. “It will be a big factor to see who can score on the inside and outside to take the pressure off Ashley and Amanda.”

The pair will also have a different setter delivering the ball, with Stef Sandstrom graduating last season. Three players will battle for the setter position, along with a few other starting spots.

“I don’t think it will be that big of a problem,” Nachreiner said about the new setter. “I don’t have a problem adjusting, and they all have been working very hard.”

Returning at libero for her junior season is Kelly Sandstrom, who had a team high 412 digs last season.

She is the last of three Sandstroms to go through the MSU volleyball program.