Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University volleyball team opens the 2017 home season this Friday and Saturday, hosting the Max and Erma's Classic. The Wolves are slated for four games against South Dakota School of Mines, Minnesota State, Minot State, and Minnesota Crookston.
 
The Wolves head into the weekend with a 3-1 record overall and No. 23 ranking in the most recent AVCA Top-25 Poll. NSU defeated Texas Woman's (3-0), Rollins College (3-0), and No. 19 Colorado School of Mines (3-1) from the Oredigger Classic in Golden Colorado last weekend. The Wolves hit .273 over the weekend from the Oredigger Classic with 205 total kills. NSU hit a season high .377 in their 3-1 victory over No. 19 Colorado School of Mines. The Wolves notched a season high 11 blocks as well in their win over the Orediggers. Through the first week of competition, Northern is averaging 13.67 kills, 12.33 assists, 12.87 digs, 2.00 blocks, and 1.13 service aces per set. Hailey Busch led the team with 62 kills, hitting .305 through the four matches. The junior also recorded a career high 23 kills against Cal State San Bernardino. Ashley Rozell averaged 11.13 assists per set recording 167 total in the four matches. Jaiden Langlie led the Wolves defense with 53 digs, averaging 3.53 per set.
 
A full tournament schedule can be found at the above linked tournament page.
 
About South Dakota Mines – Sept. 8 @ 12:15 p.m.
- The Hardrockers enter the weekend with a 0-4 record from the Minot Classic
- Mikkella Reese leads the team with 30 kills, while Anna Breidt is hitting a team leading .088
- Allie Boggs notched 53 assists, followed by Cassandra Williams and Emma Eckel with 27 and 26 respectively
- Alye Wagner leads the defense with 60 digs, averaging 4.00 per set
- SD Mines is led by head coach Jenni Bolduc in her first season with the program
 
Last Match-up
- The Wolves and Hardrockers last faced off in 2014, with Northern coming away with a 3-0 victory
- NSU hit .358 in the match with 48 kills, three aces, four blocks, 46 assists, and 45 digs
- Hailey Busch is the lone Wolf on this season's roster that played in the game
- Busch tallied eight kills, 14 digs, and hit .400 in the game
 
About Minnesota State – Sept. 8 @ 7 p.m.
- The Mavericks enter the tournament with a 3-1 record overall after a weekend in Detroit, Mich.
- Sydney Powell leads the team with 46 kills, while Ashton Lee is hitting a team leading .420 with 36 kills of her own
- Autumn Risch leads the team with 73 assists, followed by Micayla Porter with 58
- Mara Quam leads the defense with 57 digs, averaging 4.07 per set
- Minnesota State is led by head coach Lori Rittenhouse-Wollmuth in her third season at the helm
 
Last Match-up
- The Wolves fell to the Mavericks 3-2 on the road in 2016 with set scores of 25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 23-25, and 10-15
- NSU hit .245 while MSU hit .326 in the match
- Lauren McCafferty and Jenna Reiff led the team with 20 and 13 kills respectively
- Ashley Rozell notched 46 assists
 
 
About Minot State – Sept. 9 @ 12:15 p.m.
- The Beavers enter the tournament with a 3-1 record after hosting a tournament last weekend
- Their lone loss came against NSIC opponent MSU Moorhead
- Shelby Spuller leads the offense with 62 kills, while Hayley Swain is hitting a team leading .348
- Kelsey Dewulf notched 165 assists, averaging 10.31 per set in the opening weekend
- Karli Koza leads the defense with 86 digs, averaging 5.38 per set
- Minot is led by head coach Dana Cordova in her first season with the program
 
Last Match-up
- Northern defeated Minot State 3-1 in 2016
- In the road victory, NSU hit .289 with 49 kills while adding 12 aces, 12 blocks, 47 assist, and 54 digs
- Lauren McCafferty and Holly Vancura led the team with 14 and 12 kills respectively
- Ashley Rozell notched 46 assist, and a team leading five aces
 
About Minnesota Crookston – Sept. 9 @ 7 p.m.
- The Golden Eagles enter the tournament with a 1-3 record after a weekend in Durant, Oklahoma
- Kassi Green leads the team with 52 kills, while Kelci Green is hitting a team leading .286
- Setter Kaycie Hagen averaged 7.08 assists per set over the weekend
- Maggie Perrel leads the defense with 32 digs, followed by Kassi Green with 25
- UMC is led by head coach Sarah Rauen in her first season at the helm
 
Last Match-up
- Northern defeated Minnesota Crookston 3-1 from Wachs Arena in 2016
- The Wolves hit .203 with 42 kills, ten aces, seven blocks, 41 assists, and 48 digs in the home victory
- Holly Vancura led the team with 14 kills and three aces
- Ashley Rozell tallied 39 assists, while Jaiden Langlie notched a team leading 19 digs