Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – It wasn't a career-best night for Northern State University senior Kelsey Aden, but it was close.  Moreover, it was exactly what the Wolves needed Tuesday night, as Aden pounded down 21 kills - two shy of her career high - three service aces and two blocks to lead the Wolves past Bemidji State University in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball action 25-17, 25-19, 26-28, 25-13.

Aden committed just three attack errors in 45 total attempts, good for a .400 hitting percentage.  As a team, the Wolves committed just 15 errors on 151 attempts, ranking up a season-best .278 team hitting percentage.

With the win, NSU improved to 7-5 overall and an even 2-2 in conference action.  Bemidji State fell to 4-9 on the season and 1-2 in league play.

The Wolves got off to a relatively slow start to the night, trading points through much of the first set before pulling away from an 8-7 match to build a 21-11 lead.  Junior Caty Oelke served eight straight points for the Wolves in that run, including a pair of service aces.  The Beavers made a late comeback attempt, but never got closer than six the rest of the way.

Bemidji kept things closer in the second set, but a 6-1 NSU run through the middle of the set was all the difference NSU needed en route to the 25-19 win.

Set three provided most of the drama for the night, featuring ten ties and four lead changes.  The Wolves had built up a 5-1 lead behind the strong serving of junior Jordan Schaffer to open the set, but were unable to hang on to the advantage.  The Beavers rallied from an 8-5 deficit to claim a 13-10 edge midway through.

The teams then traded points through much of the rest of the set before the Wolves arrived at three match points in the late going.  NSU couldn't take advantage of any of them, as Bemidji eeked out the 28-26 win.

Set four, however, belonged entirely to the Wolves, who held the Beavers to just 13 service opportunities and a paltry -.053 hitting percentage while putting down 12 of their 29 opportunities (.345).  Junior Kayla Ysteboe had four thundering kills in that set to finish with seven overall, while Aden tacked on another three to her total, including the final game-winner.

Junior setter Megan Gilbraith had 53 assists on the night, while Schaffer had a team-high 19 digs.  Freshman Kelsey Rozell had four kills and a match-best five blocks in her first career start for the Wolves.  Schaffer and junior middle blocker Whitney Morsching each got in on four stuffs, helping the Wolves to nine total blocks on the night.  Aden's three service aces were part of 10 team aces for the Wolves, coming from five different players.

Nicole Olson had 11 kills for the Beavers, while Brie Groskreutz finished with 21 digs.

NSU is back on the road this weekend, facing Southwest Minnesota State on Friday and Minnesota State, Mankato on Saturday in key NSIC match-ups.