Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University volleyball team is set to open the 2016 season tomorrow at the Concordia-St. Paul Tournament. The Wolves will face No. 5 Western Washington, Truman State, and No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul in four matches from the Gangelhoff Center.
 
Northern will open play on Friday versus Western Washington at 10 a.m., followed by a 7 p.m. matchup with Truman. NSU then returns to the CSP campus for a 12:30 p.m. match with the host Golden Bears and 4 p.m. match against Truman on Saturday.
 
The Wolves head into the first day of competition with a No. 17 preseason AVCA ranking, after finishing 2015 with a 25-4 record overall. NSU opened the year on a 21-game win streak and went 5-4 versus ranked opponents. Head Coach Brent Aldridge nabbed his second NSIC Coach of the Year honor in just five seasons with NSU. Kellie Schmit led the team a season ago hitting .427 on the year, which also ranked second in the nation. The Wolves will face some of their most difficult competition in league action this fall, with the potential to go up against as many as seven or more ranked opponent.  
 
Senior Tori Biach was tabbed as the Northern State player to watch in 2016. As a junior Biach moved to the outside after playing two seasons in the middle. She recorded 225 kills, 28 service aces, 34 blocks, and 114 digs, while hitting .189. Biach notched a season high 17 kills versus Sioux Falls and recorded five matches with double-digit kills. She is a 3-year starter for NSU and was honored with the Haier Academic Achievement Honorable Mention Award in the spring of 2016.
 
About No. 5 Western Washington

• The Vikings enter 2016 after a 27-6 record in 2015 and a trip to the NCAA Final Four after winning the West Regional
• Outside hitter Abby Phelps was named the conference Freshman of the Year, while middle blocker Kayleigh Harper was named the Hero Sports Newcomer of the Year
• Phelps averaged 3.01 kills per set, while Harper averaged 1.45 blocks per set (5^th in NCAA DII)
• The Vikings are led by head coach Diane Flick-Williams in her 17^th season with the program, she carries a career record of 344-91

 
About Truman State

• The Bulldogs enter the year after a 17-13 record in 2015, and a preseason third place ranking in the GLVC West
• Kayla Bastian returns to the Truman sidelines after leading the team in kills (341), digs (456), and aces (38)
• TSU is led by head coach Ben Briney in his seventh season with the program, he holds a career record of 165-71

 
About Concordia-St. Paul

• The Golden Bears return in 2016 after a 29-5 record a season ago, and an NSIC regular season crown
• CSP returns multiple key contributors from a season ago including Kasey Williams, Emma Lang, and Riley Hansen
• Williams has tallied 3,229 assists over her three year career for the Golden Bears, and average 12.20 assists per set a season ago
• Lange returns as a 2-time All-American after hitting .354 in 2015
• Hansen is a 2-time All-American and was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. She hit .414 in 2015 and averaged 3.17 kills per set
• Concordia is led by head coach Brady Starkey in his 14^th season with the program, he holds a career record of 430-44