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Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 4 Northern State University volleyball team will play their final home regular season games of 2015 this weekend against Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. The Wolves will face against the Beavers of Bemidji State on Friday at 7 p.m. from Aberdeen Central High School. Northern will then return to Wachs Arena Saturday for senior day with a 4 p.m. match-up against the Golden Eagles.
 
The Wolves are tied for first in the league standings with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. Northern earned the No. 4 ranking in both the AVCA Top-25 Poll and the NCAA Central Region this week. NSU continues to lead the league and the nation in assists per set, 14.08, and hitting percentage, .323. Kellie Schmit and Cari McGarvie sit one-two in the league in hitting percentage at .450 and .408. Drew Smith leads the NSIC and the NCAA averaging 13.15 assists per set. The Wolves are 22-2 overall this season and 14-2 in league play as they vie for the top spot in the NSIC and a berth to the NCAA Tournament.
 
About Bemidji State
 
The Beavers are coming off a big 3-2 win over Minnesota State a weekend ago. They are currently 6-19 on the year and 4-12 in league action under sixth year head coach Wayne Chadwick. BSU has struggled in 2015 with their lone conference victories coming against Minnesota Crookston (2), Minot State, and Minnesota State. The Beavers are led by Jessica Yost who is averaging 3.18 kills per set and hitting .191 on the year. Yost is also second on the team to Kayla DeJong who is averaging 4.02 digs per set with 362 this season. As a unit, Bemidji State is averaging 9.63 kills, 8.80 assists, and 13.20 digs per set.
 
Earlier this Season
 
The Wolves defeated the Beavers 3-0 on the road in early October. Kelsey Chambers led the team with 12 kills, while Cari McGarvie and Mandy Kurosky each notched ten in the win. Drew Smith paced the team with a .237 hitting percentage with 37 total assists. The NSU defense led by senior Renee Hoffman with 12 digs, held the Beavers to a .071 attack percentage with 25 kills and 18 errors.
 
About Minnesota Crookston
 
UMC enters the weekend 7-17 overall and 3-13 in NSIC action, with their lone wins coming against St. Cloud State, Minot State and MSU Moorhead. Head coach Lee Anderson is leading a 2015 squad that is made up primarily with freshmen and sophomores. Maggie Perrel is leading the offensive attack with 252 kills this season, averaging 2.83 per set. The Golden Eagles are hitting .146 as a team, averaging 10.67 kills per set. Stephanie Pearson is leading the UMC defense with 285 digs this season, as Crookston is holding their opponents to a .193 attack percentage.
 
Earlier this Season
 
Northern swept Minnesota Crookston in the first outing of 2015, as Kelsey Chambers led the team with 15 kills and a .480 attack percentage. Tori Biach notched 12 kills of her own and hit .375 in the win. NSU hit .430 as a unit, led by Cari McGarvie with 6 kills in 12 attempts for a .500 attack percentage. Senior setter Drew Smith tallied 40 assists, while the NSU defense held the Golden Eagles to a .038 attack percentage with 23 kills and 20 errors.