Crookston, Minn. – The No. 5 Northern State University volleyball team opened their final weekend of the regular season with a swift 3-set victory over Minnesota Crookston. The Wolves defeated the Golden Eagles 25-15, 25-20, and 25-12 improving to 24-3 overall and 16-3 in the Northern Sun.
 
NSU made quick work of UMC recording 40 kills, 38 assists, 45 digs, three blocks, and two service aces. The Wolves hit .326 in the match, including a match high .440 in the opening set. Defensively they held the Golden Eagles to a .088 attack percentage, forcing 21 hitting errors.
 
Hailey Busch led the team on offense and defense with a double-double, recording ten kills and 12 digs. The senior hit .318 in the win, and was one of five Wolves above .300. Jenna Reiff was second on the team with nine kills, hitting .333. She added three digs and one assist, as well as a team high two blocks.
 
Sally Gaul and Laura Snyder each tallied six kills, with Snyder hitting .308 through three sets. Snyder also added four assists and a team high two blocks alongside Reiff. Morgan Baufield led the team, hitting at a .556 clip with five kills and zero hitting errors. The sophomore added two digs and one block. Regan Dennis and Ashley Rozell rounded out the team's offensive totals with two kills each.
 
Rozell tallied 32 assists, averaging 10.67 per set, while adding one ace, one block, and six digs. Lexi Boesl was second on the team defensively with ten digs, while Bry Goar and Jaiden Langlie each recorded six.
 
Northern returns to action tomorrow afternoon for a 3 p.m. match against Bemidji State on the road. The Wolves are on the hunt for their first NSIC Conference Championship in program history. Northern remains tied atop the NSIC standings with Minnesota Duluth and Concordia-St. Paul.