Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 10 Northern State University volleyball team opened the 2016 home season with a 3-0 victory over U-Mary. The Wolves improve to 8-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. NSU came away with set score victories of 25-17, 25-17, and 25-20.
 
Northern hit .336 as a team in the match with 47 kills and just seven errors. Three hitters went errorless in the game, while the NSU defense held the Marauders to just 39 kills and a .162 attack percentage. Northern out-dug U-Mary 71-56 in the three sets, while the two teams were even with five blocks each.
 
After taking the set one victory, NSU quickly fell behind in the opening points of the second set. Down 6-3, the Wolves battled to take the lead with a ten point run, served up by freshman Jaiden Langlie. Northern didn't look back as they led the remainder of the set. The two teams battled back and forth throughout the third set however the scored tied only twice.
 
Tori Biach and Kellie Schmit led the team with 11 kills and no errors in the win. Schmit hit a season high .647, while Biach notched a .500 attack percentage. Biach sat atop the NSU blockers with four in the win, while Holly Vancura and Lauren McCafferty followed with two each. McCafferty added a team second best nine kills, while Vancura and Jenna Reiff knocked down eight apiece.
 
Annika van Oosbree led four NSU players in double-digit digs with 19 in the game. Vancura added 15 with a team second best, while Jaiden Langlie and Ashley Rozell notched 13 and 12 respectively. Rozell continued to set up a solid Wolves offense with 44 assists.