Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University volleyball team is headed to Arkadelphia, Arkansas for their final tournament to open the season. The Wolves will face Arkansas Tech, Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, and Southern Arkansas on Friday and Saturday from the campuses of Henderson and Ouachita.
 
The Wolves went 3-1 in the opening weekend of NCAA play, with wins over No. 5 Western Washington and Truman State (2x). Northern State head coach Brent Aldridge tallied his 100^th career victory on Friday with the 3-0 defeat of Truman State. NSU averaged 12.1 kills, 11.5 assists, 15.0 digs, 1.5 aces, and 1.6 blocks per set in the four game series. The Wolves hit .253 as a unit with 181 kills, and notched 225 digs on defense.  Tori Biach his sixth and fifth in the league in hitting percentage (.416) and blocks (1.00/s), while Ashley Rozell is fifth in the NSIC averaging 10.93 assists per set. Holly Vancura led the team with 47 kills in the four games. The junior recorded three double digit kill and dig games, with a career high 15 kills and 24 digs versus Western Washington. Rozell racked up 164 assists to open the season, averaging 10.9 per set. Biach notched four games hitting over .300 with a season high .536 versus Truman State on Saturday. The senior also knocked down a team second best 36 kills. Northern also moved to No. 11 overall in the most recent AVCA Top-25 Poll.
 
About Arkansas Tech - Fri. @ 1 p.m.
- The Golden Suns enter the weekend with a 2-2 record, after recording wins over Saint Joseph's and Barton College at the Christians Brothers Tournament.
- Arkansas Tech was picked to win the Great American Conference after capturing their third title in 2015 with a 26-7 record overall.
- Hunter Eshnaur leads the team with 50 kills and 15 service aces this season, while Sarah Rosinke and Amanda Milnick have tallied 81 and 78 assists.
- Madison Nagel leads the team on defense with 71 digs, while Laura Rodemers has recorded 12 blocks.
- Tech is led by head coach Kristy Bayer in 13^th season with the Golden Sun program. She has tallied a career record of 308-120 at ATU.
 
About Henderson State - Fri. @ 6 p.m.
- The Reddies opened the 2016 season with a 3-2 record from the Tampa Classic and on the road at Central Baptist College.
- HSU went 4-25 a season ago, and have nearly matched that total in 2016.
- The Reddies fell to fellow NSIC opponent Minnesota State 3-1 in the opening weekend of the season.
- Sharon Tukuaoga leads the team with 62 kills, averaging 3.44 per set, while Sariah Boney has tallied 174 assists with a 9.16 assists per set average.
- Sydney Skelton leads the team defensively with 84 digs, while Adrianna Hartmann has recorded ten blocks.
- Henderson is led by head coach Kristee Porter in her second season with the program.
 
About Ouachita Baptist - Sat. @ 10:30 a.m.
- The Tigers enter the weekend with a 3-1 record after victories over Spring Hill and Kentucky Wesleyan at the Alabama Huntsville Tournament and a 3-0 victory over Williams Baptist at home.
- OBU entered the year after going 15-12 a season ago, while returning four of the six starters.
- Adrianna Nolly leads the team with 46 kills, averaging 3.07 per set, while Stormi Leonard has tallied 167 assists, averaging 11.13 per set.
- Ashley Wake leads the team on defense with 48 digs this season, while Tabatha Huckabee has recorded 11 blocks.
- Ouachita is led by head coach Danny Prescott in his 13^th season at the helm, he holds a career record of 166-197.
 
About Southern Arkansas - Sat. @ 1 p.m.
- The Muleriders opened the 2016 season going 2-2 from the South Central Classic with wins over Texas A&M International and Union University.
- Southern Arkansas finished 20-14 a season ago, with a fifth place finish in the Great American Conference.
- The Muleriders return seven letter winners and five starters from 2015, while adding nine newcomers to the roster.
- Alexia Southern leads the team with 53 kills, average 3.31 per set this season, while Savannah Pillow has served up 93 assists.
- Paige Mays leads the team on defense with 7Kaitlyn Reiner and Brittany Lampkin have each tallied nine blocks.
- SAU is led by head coach Britney Davis in her first season at the helm and third season with the program.