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The 20^th-ranked Northern State volleyball team finishes its regular season this weekend with a pair of home matches. The Wolves host Sioux Falls Friday for a 6 p.m. match. No. 8 Southwest Minnesota comes to Wachs Arena Saturday for a 5 p.m. contest.

The Cougars (18-8, 9-9 NSIC) are led by a pair of Second Team All-NSIC performers in Emily Johnson and Samantha Lovell. Johnson leads the Cougars in attacks, kills and points and is fourth on the team in service aces. She has racked up 362 kills (3.38/set) to go along with 31 aces.

Lovell ranks second in the NSIC in blocks with 1.14 per set. USF is third in the league as a team averaging 2.25 blocks per set this season. The Cougars are also second in the league with 1.46 aces per set.

The eighth-ranked Mustangs (21-6, 15-3 NSIC) had four players named First Team All-NSIC earlier this week. Libero Rachel Westby is third in the NSIC in digs averaging 4.54 per set. Setter Emilee Gutzmer ranks fourth in the league averaging 12.1 assists per set this year.

Outside hitter Abbey Thissen ranks fourth in the league with 3.95 kills per set while her .350 hitting percentage is the fifth-best in the league.

The Wolves (20-5, 13-5 NSIC) had four players named to All-NSIC teams earlier this week, Kelsey Chambers was named to the first team, her second career all-league honor. While middle blocker Tori Biach, libero Sami Nygaard and setter Drew Smith were named to the second team.

Chambers was third in the league this season with 4.16 kills per set and 4.6 points per set. Chambers hit .300 during conference play this year and also averaged 2.41 digs per set. She also recorded three double-doubles against NSIC opponents this season.

Biach hit .332 this season which was the seventh-best mark in the league and second-best among freshmen. Biach's 48 total blocks in conference play (.79 per set) led the Wolves this season.

Nygaard was fourth in the conference this season with 4.46 digs per set. Nygaard hit double-figures in digs in 15 of 18 NSIC matches so far this season.

Smith takes home second-team honors for the second consecutive season. Smith was fifth in the league averaging 11.85 assists per set this year. Smith setup a squad that hit .254 as a team this season which was third-best in the NSIC. Smith recorded five double-doubles during conference play on the year.

The honors didn't end there for the Wolves as Head Coach Brent Aldridge was named the NSIC Coach of the Year. Aldridge has led Northern to its first AVCA top-25 ranking and NCAA regional ranking in program history. Northern currently sits eighth in the region.

NSU split with these two teams earlier this season. Northern snapped a two-match losing streak in a 3-1 win over USF and was swept by Southwest Minnesota.

Senior Day festivities will also be taking place Friday night against Sioux Falls. Northern will honor seniors Whitney Kemink and Sami Nygaard prior to the match.