Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 7 Northern State volleyball team is set for the final tournament of the pre-season this Friday and Saturday in Sioux Falls. The Wolves will face off against the University of Mary and Fort Hays State at 11:30 and 4:30 on Friday, and Lindenwood and the host No. 22 Augustana at 11:30 and 7 on Saturday.
The Wolves opened the 2018 season with a 4-0 start from the Concordia Portland Tournament. Northern hit .374 as a team averaging 15.08 kills, 13.42 assists, 2.58 service aces, 13.92 digs, and 1.42 blocks per set. Six Wolves finished the weekend hitting .300 or better. NSU hit a weekend high .494 against Tiffin, knocking down 43 kills in 79 swings, with just four errors.
Hailey Busch and
Jenna Reiff were named to the All-Tournament team, with Busch also bringing home MVP honors.
Hailey Busch led the team with 54 kills, averaging 4.50 per set. The senior hit .448 with eight service aces, six blocks, and 18 digs.
Jenna Reiff hit a team high .537, and followed Busch with 35 kills. She added a team best ten blocks, averaging 0.83 per set.
Ashley Rozell dished out 141 total assists, averaging 11.75 per set, and led the team with a league high ten service aces.
Jaiden Langlie led the Wolves defense with 58 digs, averaging 4.83 per set.
About Fort Hays State
- The Tigers enter the weekend with a 4-0 record, notching wins over Oklahoma Panhandle, University of Science and Arts, University of St. Thomas, and University of the Southwest
- FHSU went 11-23 a season ago, and was picked 11
th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
- The Tigers are hitting .257, averaging 14.2 kills, 13.2 assists, 17.8 digs, 2.0 aces, and 2.2 blocks per set
- Isabelle Reynolds and Azlyn Cassaday lead the team with 39 and 38 kills respectively
- Breann Becker and Amirah Bentley are splitting the setting duties with 215 and 138 assists apiece
- Abbie Hayes leads the team with 64 digs, averaging 4.92 per set
- Fort Hays is led by head coach Jessica Wood-Atkins in her eighth season at the helm
About UMary
- The Marauders enter the weekend with a 3-1 record overall with wins over Western State, South Dakota Mines, and MSU Moorhead
- UMary was picked 14
th overall in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll after an 8-21 record in 2017
- The Marauders are hitting .142 as a team, averaging 11.9 kills, 11.1 assists, 15.5 digs, 2.4 aces, and 1.3 blocks per set
- Natalia Cruz leads the team with 42 kills, while Madison Bergthold is hitting a team best .237
- Sydney Murphy is averaging 8.73 assists per set, and Brenna Donarski leads the team with 62 digs
- Korie Tetzlaff enters her first season at the helm of the program
About Lindenwood
- The Lions enter the weekend with a 4-0 record, notching wins over Southern Nazarene, Chadron, Urbana, and Missouri S&T
- Lindenwood was picked seventh in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll after a 20-13 record a season ago
- LU is hitting .291 this season, averaging 12.9 kills, 12.3 assists, 15.2 digs, 1.9 aces, and 2.8 blocks per set
- Bailey Dvorak leads the team with 41 kills, while Kelly Wilson is hitting a team high .362
- Allyson Clancy is averaging 10.62 assists per set and Sara Wagenknecht is notching a team high 4.15 digs per set
- LU is led by head coach Will Condon in his second season with the program
About No. 22 Augustana
- The Vikings enter the weekend 3-1 overall with wins over Seton Hill, Eckerd, and Charleston
- Augustana went 23-9 overall and 13-7 in the NSIC a season ago, and was picked sixth overall in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll
- AU is hitting .264 thus far, averaging 13.3 kills, 12.1 assists, 15.1 digs, 1.7 aces, and 1.9 blocks per set
- Courtney Place leads the team with 65 total kills, while Abby Benson is hitting a team high .333
- Avery Thorson is averaging 10.41 assists per set, and Kaylea Ahrens is notching 4.24 digs per set
- AU is led by head coach Jennifer Jacobs in her second season at the helm
