Aberdeen, S.D. - The No. 9 Northern State University volleyball team opens the 2018 campaign Thursday and Friday at the Concordia Portland Tournament. The Wolves are set to face Western Oregon and Concordia Portland at 1:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. (CT) on Thursday and Colorado Christian and Tiffin at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday.
 
Northern is coming off a third place finish in the NSIC league standings and a trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament in 2017. The Wolves remained a member of the AVCA Top-25 Poll throughout the year, finishing at No. 12 overall. They downed five top-25 opponents on the year, including a 3-1 win at home over No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State. Four Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference first team in Ashley Rozell, Hailey Busch, Jenna Reiff, and Laura Snyder, with Snyder also grabbing NSIC Freshman of the Year honors. Busch became the third AVCA All-American in school history, after the leading the team in kills. NSU welcomes seven incoming freshman this season, while returning five of six starters and libero Jaiden Langlie from a season ago.
 
About Western Oregon
- WOU went 7-20 overall and 3-17 in GNAC play a season ago
- The Wolves return three of their top four attackers from 2017, including senior Mariella Vandenkooy who was second on the team after tallying 233 kills.
- Tommy Gott enters his second season at the helm
 
About Concordia Portland
- The Cavaliers enter the season after a 13-14 record overall and 8-12 mark in conference play last year
- CPU returns seven from 2017 and adds ten to the 2018 roster
- Tori Johnson and Jessica Wheeler return to the squad after averaging 1.34 and 1.39 kills per set a season ago
- Melanie Hambelton enters her 11th season at the helm with a career record of 155-93
 
About Colorado Christian
- The Cougars went 18-11 overall and 14-4 in the RMAC in 2017 after a fourth place conference finish
- CCU returns 11 from the 2017 squad, while welcoming five newcomers this season
- Kylee Wurster was nabbed as the RMAC Preseason Setter of the Year after averaging 11.14 assists per set a year ago
- Bobby Blanken enters his first season at the helm of the program
 
About Tiffin
- The Dragons went 20-13 overall and 10-6 in the GLIAC in 2017
- Tiffin enters their first season as a member of the GMAC and were picked third in the Western Division
- Shauna Hurles enters her second season as the head coach in 2018