Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 5 Northern State University volleyball team returns to Wachs Arena for their final regular season home games of 2018 this Friday and Saturday. The Wolves will face off against the Bulldogs of No. 8 Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 6 p.m. and the Huskies of St. Cloud State at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Northern State's three seniors, Hailey Busch, Alyssa Deobler, and Lexi Lockhart will be honored prior to the match on Saturday.
 
Quick Hits on the Wolves
                • The Northern State University volleyball team opened the week at No. 5 in the AVCA Top-25 Poll, after a 1-1 weekend on the road at Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. NSU has now spent the last ten weeks in the top-10 in the national rankings. 
                • The Wolves also earned the No. 3 spot in the first NCAA Regional rankings of the year, behind Concordia-St. Paul and Washburn (MIAA).
                • Northern currently sits in the top-10 in the nation in kills and assists per set, while leading the country in hitting percentage, likewise they sit top-3 in the NSIC in assists, kills, digs, and digs per set in league matches.
                • As a team, NSU is hitting .310 on the year, averaging 14.6 kills, 13.8 assists, 17.1 digs, 1.7 blocks, and 1.7 aces per set.
                • Hailey Busch leads the team with 326 total kills, averaging 3.88 per set, with a team second best 232 digs.
                • Laura Snyder is second on the team with 260 kills, averaging 3.21 per set, while hitting a team high .394.
                • Jenna Reiff is close behind with a .390 attack percentage, and leads the team at the net with 67 total blocks. The junior is also averaging 2.63 kills per set.
                • Ashley Rozell ranks in the top-5 nationally in three categories, averaging 0.62 aces and 12.62 assists per set, with 52 total aces on the year.
                • Jaiden Langlie leads the Wolves defense with 398 total digs, averaging 4.74 per set, with a .958 serve receive percentage.
                • Lexi Boesl has been the strongest for NSU on serve receive with 249 total attempts and just six receive errors for a .976 percentage.
                • The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 20-4 overall record and 13-2 mark in the NSIC, sitting one game behind the Wolves in the league standings.
 
About Minnesota Duluth
                • UMD opened the week at No. 8 in the AVCA Top-25 Poll and No. 5 in the NCAA Central Region Poll.
                • Duluth is hitting .265 on the year, averaging 14.8 kills, 14.1 assists, 15.7 digs, 2.2 blocks, and 1.3 aces per set as a team.
                • Makenzie Morgan leads the offense this season with 246 kills, followed by Hanna Meyer and Kate Berg with 224 and 211 respectively.
                • Sarah Kelly is hitting a team leading .392 on the year, and averaging 3.36 kills per set.
                • Emily Torve is averaging 12.54 assists per set, while Keena Seiffert leads the defense with 351 total digs, averaging 4.39 per set.
                • The Bulldogs are led by head coach Jim Boos in his 17th season at the helm.
 
Last Match-up
                • The Wolves fell to the then-No. 9 Bulldogs on the road 3-2 earlier this season.
                • Busch and Snyder led the team with 20 and 16 kills respectively, with Snyder hitting a team high .375.
                • Rozell recorded 57 total assists, averaging 11.40 per set, and led the team with three aces.
                • Langlie led five Wolves in double figures defensively with 27 total digs.
                • Northern is 5-47 all-time against Minnesota Duluth, and 3-9 in the Aldridge-era.
 
About St. Cloud State
                • St. Cloud State enters the weekend with a 12-10 record overall and 8-8 mark in the NSIC, sitting tied for ninth in the league standings with Winona State.
                • The Huskies are hitting .203, and averaging 13.3 kills, 12.6 assists, 17.9 digs, 1.6 blocks, and 1.3 aces per set this season.
                • Linsey Rachel leads the offense with 310 total kills, averaging 3.83 per set, and hitting a team high .233.
                • Maddy Torve has dished out 838 total assists, averaging 10.35 per set.
                • Clara Krenz leads the team and the NSIC with 423 total digs, averaging 5.22 per set, while Marah Mulso leads the team at the net with 58 total blocks.
                • SCSU is led by head coach Chad Braegelamnn in his fourth season at the helm.
 
Last Match-up
                • Northern swept St. Cloud State on the road earlier this season with scores of 25-20, 25-14, and 25-20.
                • Busch led the team with 15 kills, hitting a team high .424.
                • Rozell recorded 37 assists and ten digs, notching a double-double.
                • Langlie led the defense with 19 digs, while Morgan Baufield and Snyder led the team at the net with three blocks each. 
                • The Wolves are 18-9 all-time versus the Huskies, winning the last nine match-ups.