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Aberdeen, S.D. – After a 4-0 start a weekend ago, The Northern State University volleyball team heads to Sioux Falls this Friday and Saturday for the Augustana Invite. The Wolves will face off against No. 8 Grand Valley State, Southwest Baptist, Black Hills State, and Northwest Missouri State from the home of the Vikings.
 
Northern garnered its first four wins of the season against Spring Hill College. Rollins College, Southeastern Oklahoma, and Southern New Hampshire where they out-scored their opponents 300-164. NSU hit a league leading .469 as a team with 189 kills, led by NSIC Player of the Week, Cari McGarvie. The senior middle hitter tallied 53 kills and hit .628 in 12 sets. McGarvie's hitting percentage was the second highest in the league a week ago. Senior setter Drew Smith was also named an NSIC Player of the Week as she led the league with a 13.33 assists per set average. Drew tallied 160 assists on the weekend, while averaging 2.08 digs as well. It was an all-around effort for the Wolves, who finished the weekend with five players hitting above .300, led by Kellie Schmit with a .659 mark.
 
About No. 8 Grand Valley State | September 11 @ 12 p.m.
 
Grand Valley opened the 2015 season at home for the Laker Riverfront Classic, where they finished with an overall record of 3-1. The Lakers one loss came against Concordia-Portland before bouncing back with victories over Carson-Newman, Bemidji State, and Lockhaven. As a team GVSU hit .200 on the weekend and held their opponents to a .069 mark. They also averaged 19.08 digs per set and 12.85 kills per set. Freshmen Staci Brower leads the team with 40 kills and a .366 hitting percentage, followed by senior Kaleigh Lound with 37 kills and a .299 hitting percentage. Grand Valley is led by Deanne Scanlon in her 21^st season with the Lakers. She has tallied a career record of 526-153.
 
About Southwest Baptist | September 11 @ 6 p.m.
 
Southwest Baptist enters the weekend with a season mark of 1-3, led by head coach Caira Dortch in her second season with the program. The Badgers defeated Kentucky Wesleyan to open the 2015 season before falling to Wayne State, Northwood University, and Southern Indiana. Taylor Marton leads the team with 39 kills in 13 sets played. Brea Freeman and Anna Stuehm have combined for 33 and 69 assists respectively.
 
About Black Hills State | September 12 @ 12 p.m.
 
Black Hills enters the weekend with a season record of 2-2 after victories over Missouri Southern State and Pittsburg State. The Yellow Jackets fell to Emporia State and Washburn at the Washburn Invitational. Danielle Torpey ended the weekend with an All-Tournament Team honor, tallying 48 kills and an attach percentage of .248. Brynn Eckhardt leads the team with 140 assists on the year with a 10.0 assist per set average. BHSU is led by second year head coach Kristin Carmichael who went 10-18 a season ago. The Wolves and Yellow Jackets have faced the past two seasons with NSU coming out on top 3-0 in both meetings.
 
About Northwest Missouri State | September 12 @ 6 p.m.
 
Northwest Missouri State enters the weekend 4-0 after defeating Malone University, Concord University, Edinboro University, and Urbana University a weekend ago. Maddy Bruder leads the team with 47 kills in 116 attempts, while Sarah Dannettell has racked up 127 assists. Bruder was named the MVP of the Hall of Fame City Challenge Tournament, and Alexis Williams was named to the All-Tournament Team. The Bearcats are hitting .246 as a team with 177 kills. NMSU is led by head coach Amy Woerth in her fourth year at the helm. She has tallied a career record of 38-54 in her tenure.