Box Score

BISMARCK, N.D. – For the third time this season, the Northern State University Wolves took to the court to face the University of Mary, and for the third time this season, the Wolves came away with the win.  NSU claimed a 3-1 (25-20, 25-27, 25-21, 25-16) road victory over the Marauders on Wednesday, snapping a 4-game losing skid in the process.

The Wolves improved to 8-9 overall and 3-6 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, while the host Marauders slipped to 6-14 on the year and remained winless in league action at 0-9.

NSU was led by yet another strong performance by junior outside hitter Jordan Schaffer, who had 18 kills on 56 attempts in the absence of senior Kelsey Aden.  Schaffer has committed just seven hitting errors in the last three matches while putting down 17 or more kills in each match.  She also had 11 digs on Wednesday to mark her third straight double-double.

Fellow junior Whitney Morsching added seven kills, four blocks and five service aces for the Wolves, while reserve outside hitter Amber Bloom added a career-best four service aces off the bench, including two critical back-to-back aces in the second set.  NSU recorded 11 total aces as a team.

Setter Megan Gilbraith recorded 45 assists at the helm of the offense, while freshman libero had a team-high 21 digs to lead five players in double figures in that category.

The Wolves controlled much of the night's action with the exception of the second set, which featured 16 ties and five lead changes.  Both teams rallied from 3- and 4-point deficits throughout the set before back-to-back attacking errors gave the Marauders the back-door victory.

U-Mary returned the favor in the third set, committing a pair of hitting errors that gave the Wolves the 25-21 victory after pulling away from a 15-15 tie. 

The Marauders then sprinted to a 7-3 lead to open the fourth set before the Wolves settled in behind the strong serving of Schaffer, Bloom and Morsching, who combined for five aces in the set while leading the Wolves on separate runs of eight, five and seven points to blow open the set.

The Wolves are off until next Tuesday when they travel to take on Minnesota State Moorhead in another NSIC match-up.  First serve for that match is set for 7 p.m.