Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University volleyball team opened NSIC play with a 3-0 victory over U-Mary on Thursday evening. The Wolves downed the Marauders with set scores of 25-9, 25-15, and 25-10, improving to 8-1 on the year and 1-0 in the NSIC.
 
The Wolves offense was potent throughout the match with 36 kills and a .516 attack percentage. Northern tallied just three errors total in the match, hitting a set hit .647 in the third. NSU added 31 assists, 29 digs, 11 blocks and six service aces. Defensively they held the Marauders to a .012 attack percentage with 23 kills and 22 errors in 85 attempts.
 
Laura Snyder and Hailey Busch led the team with nine kills in the match. Jenna Reiff followed with eight of her own, while Morgan Baufield and Holly Vancura notched five and three respectively. Four Wolves hit above .300 in the match, led by Baufield with a .833 attack percentage. Reiff was second on the team hitting .800, followed by Snyder at .667 and Busch at .500.
 
Ashley Rozell paced the offense to a season high team hitting percentage with 28 total assists. The sophomore also led the team with four service aces.  
 
Vancura led the defense with nine digs, followed by libero Jaiden Langlie with eight. Lexi Boesl and Busch followed with four digs each. NSU was also strong at the net, led by Reiff with six blocks. Busch notched five blocks, followed by Baufield with four and Rozell and Snyder with three.
 
The Wolves return home Saturday for an NSIC match-up with Minot State at 5 p.m. from Wachs Arena. All fans with a valid NSU vs. Upper Iowa football ticket will be admitted into the volleyball game for free.