Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University volleyball team opens the 2017 season from the Oredigger Classic and Golden, Colorado. The Wolves will take on Texas Woman's University, No. 15 Cal State-San Bernardino, Rollins College, and the host No. 19 Colorado School of Mines on September 1 and 2. Live stats will be available for all games, with the School of Mines game streamed live.
The Wolves enter the tournament with a No. 24 AVCA Top -25 Preseason ranking. In addition to their two ranked opponents from the upcoming tournament, the Wolves were also joined by six NSIC opponents. Northern was picked eighth overall in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll with
Ashley Rozell named as the Wolves player to watch. Rozell quickly became comfortable in the starting setter role, earning NSIC Player of the Week honors and leading the team with 1,224 assists. She also recorded a team leading 42 service aces.
Northern will also look to returners
Holly Vancura,
Jenna Reiff, and
Jaiden Langlie as they move into the 2017 season. Vancura appeared in all 28 matches in 2016, leading the team with 319 kills. She also recorded a team second best 332 digs. Reiff hit .250 on the outside as a freshman, while Langlie averaged 3.76 digs per set with a team leading 387 as the libero.
Hailey Busch also returns to the NSU sidelines after appearing in 82 sets as a freshman with 167 kills. Wolves head coach
Brent Aldridge opens the season with a 114-59 career record and 56-47 mark in NSIC action.
About Texas Woman's (Sept. 1 - 12 p.m.)
- The Pioneers were picked to finish eighth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll
- TWU went 9-20 overall and 5-14 in the LSC in 2016
- Sara Oxford returns after leading the team 398 kills, averaging 3.55 per set a season ago
- Emma Petolick led the defense with 316 total digs, averaging 3.59 per set
- Texas Woman's is led by head coach Jeff Huebner in his first season with the program
** The Wolves and Pioneers have not face each other in the history of either program
About #15 Cal State-San Bernardino (Sept. 1 - 6:30 p.m.)
- The Coyotes were picked as the top team in both the CCAA and the CCAA South Division in the Preseason Coaches Poll
- CSUSB went 25-5 overall a season ago, and enter the 2017 season ranked No. 15 in the nation
- Lauren Nicholson led the team with 481 kills, averaging 4.37 per set with a .238 attack percentage in 2016
- Setter Jayann DeHoog accumulated 1,216 total assists, averaging 11.05 per set
- Cal State San Bernardino is led by head coach Kim Cherniss in her 26
th season with the program, where she holds a career record of 600-214
** The Wolves and Coyotes have not face each other in the history of either program
About Rollins College (Sept. 2 - 4:30 p.m.)
- The Tars were picked eight in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Poll after a 12-19 season in 2016
- RC graduated just two seniors from the 2016 squad, and welcomed six new faces in 2017
- Bri Civiero led the team a season ago with 483 kills, averaging 4.03 per set
- Rebecca Wilson led the defense with 549 digs, average 4.43 per set
- Rollins is led by head coach Mika Robinson in just her second season at the helm
Series History
- The two teams have faced off twice in the programs history with the Wolves winning both matches
- In 2015 Northern defeated Rollins 3-0
About #19 Colorado School of Mines (Sept. 2 - 8:30 p.m.)
- The Orediggers were named as the top team in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Mines went 25-7 overall and 15-3 in the RMAC in 2016
- Ellie Monarch and Janice Jin were named to the preseason All-RMAC squads
- Monarch hit a team leading .352 with 3.31 kills per set and 102 total blocks
- Jin knocked down 2.24 kills per set, while hitting .240
- CSM is led by head coach Jamie Skadeland in her tenth season with the program while holding a career record of 207-75
Series History
- The two teams have faced off twice in the programs history with the Wolves winning 3-0 in 1999 and falling 3-0 in 2004
- This will be the first match-up for the Wolves under the direction of Aldridge
