Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 14 Northern State University volleyball returns home to Wachs Arena this Friday and Saturday for the annual Gypsy Days celebration. The Wolves welcome Minnesota State and No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul for 6 p.m. matches on both Friday and Saturday. A full Gypsy Days schedule is at the link above.
 
Northern is coming off a 3-0 record in the second week of NSIC action with wins over MSU Moorhead, No. 9 Winona State, and (RV) Upper Iowa. Ashley Rozell and Laura Snyder were named the NSIC Setter and Offensive Player of the Week after standout performances. On the week, the Wolves averaged 15.5 kills, 14.7 assists, 17.0 digs, 1.4 service aces, and 1.5 blocks per set. They hit .374 through 11 sets, while holding their opponents to a .172 mark on defense. NSU doubled their opponents block total on the week with 16 as a team. Snyder led the team with 46 kills and a .519 attack percentage, while Rozell accumulated 146 assists, averaging 13.2 per set. Holly Vancura was solid for the Wolves throughout all six rotations with 50 digs, averaging 4.55 per set, and 29 kills on offense.
 
Northern currently ranks second in the league in hitting percentage (.324), and leads the league in opponent hitting percentage (.140). NSU is also second in the NSIC in service aces (1.73/set), and first in opponent service aces (0.59/set). Through the first 13 games of the season the Wolves are hitting .324 as a team while averaging 13.8 kills, 12.8 assists, 14.9 digs, 2.0 blocks, and 1.7 service aces per set. Snyder leads the team with 122 kills, followed by Hailey Busch with 119. Northern is hoping to get Busch back into the starting rotation in the coming weeks following an injury against U-Mary in the NSIC opener. Rozell is averaging 11.59 assists per set, which ranks her eighth nationally. Jaiden Langlie leads the NSU defense with 163 total digs, averaging 3.70 per set.
 
About Minnesota State
- The Mavericks return to Aberdeen with an 8-5 record overall and 2-3 mark in the NSIC
- MSU is hitting .247 as a team, while averaging 12.9 kills, 12.0 assists, 14.0 digs, 1.5 blocks, and 2.0 aces per set
- Sydney Powell leads the team with 149 kills, while Ashton Lee is hitting a team leading .349
- Mankato runs a two setter system with Micayla Porter notching 233 assists, and Autumn Risch recording 228 assists
- Mara Quam leads the defense with 180 digs, averaging 4.09 per set
- Minnesota State is led by head coach Lori Rittenhouse-Wollmuth in her third season with the program
 
Earlier this Season
- The Wolves defeated the Mavericks 3-0 from the Max & Erma's Classic
- Northern hit .296 as a team with 41 kills, 41 assists, 56 digs, seven blocks, and five aces
- Hailey Busch led the team with 11 kills, while Holly Vancura notched ten
- Jaiden Langlie notched a team leading 19 digs and three aces, while Ashley Rozell tallied 36 assists and 15 digs
 
About No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul
- The Golden Bears enter the weekend mirroring the Wolves with a 12-1 record overall and 5-0 mark in the NSIC
- CSP has tallied top-25 victories over No. 12 Western Washington, No. 17 Tampa, No. 3 Lewis, No. 6 Angelo State, and No. 11 Winona State
- Concordia is hitting .265 as a team, while averaging 14.7 kills, 14.1 assists, 15.6 digs, 1.4 aces, and 1.8 blocks per set
- Brooklyn Lewis leads five hitters over 100 kills with 171 on the season, while Sara Macek is hitting a team leading .401
- Elizabeth Mohr is averaging 13.18 assists per set, while 659 total on the year
- Tori Hanson leads the defense with 162 digs, followed by Hope Schiller with 156 digs
- Brady Starkey is in his 15^th season with CSP, holding a career record of 465-46 with eight NCAA National Titles
 
A Season Ago
- Northern faced off against Concordia twice in 2016, falling 3-0 in non-conference play and 3-2 in NSIC action
- In the 5-set loss, the Wolves hit .296 with 18 errors, while the Golden Bears hit .328 with 24 errors
- Lexi Lockhart and Lauren McCafferty notched 13 kills each
- Vancura led the team defensively with 16 digs, while Rozell and Langlie followed with 14 apiece