Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 2 Northern State University volleyball team returns to action this weekend from Wachs Arena versus Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. Game times are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday against the Beavers and 3 p.m. on Saturday versus the Golden Eagles.
 
The Wolves entered the week moving up to No. 2 in the AVCA Top-25 Poll, earning eight first place votes. The Wolves tallied a 3-0 mid-week victory over MSU Moorhead from Wachs Arena, improving to 11-0 overall. NSU leads the nation in hitting percentage, and sits second in kills and assists per set through the opening three weeks of the season. Through the first three contests of the NSIC season, NSU leads the league in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, and aces per set. As a team the Wolves are hitting .387, averaging 14.9 kills, 13.9 assists, 15.1 digs, 2.1 aces, and 1.9 blocks per set. Hailey Busch and Jenna Reiff led the team offensively with 143 and 114 total kills, averaging 4.09 and 3.26 per set. Reiff is also hitting a team high .522, followed by Morgan Baufield and Laura Snyder with marks of .472 and .403 respectively. Ashley Rozell has dished out nearly 450 assists, averaging 12.40 per set which ranks her second in the nation. She also leads the team with 30 aces, sitting fifth nationally averaging 0.78 per set. Jaiden Langlie leads the defense with 144 total digs, averaging 4.11 per set, while Reiff leads the team at the net with 35 total blocks, averaging 1.00 per set.
 
About the Beavers
• Bemidji State enters the weekend with a 4-7 record overall and 1-3 mark in the NSIC after a victory over Minnesota Crookston.
• The Beavers are hitting .207, averaging 11.5 kills, 10.5 assists, 13.8 digs, 1.5 aces, and 1.4 blocks per set this season.
• Anna Averkamp leads the offense with 112 kills, while Maddie Filipiak is hitting a team high .361.
• Maddie Mackinac and Mary Campbell have tallied 269 and 107 assists respectively.
• Emma Hallman leads the defense with 141 total digs, while Filipiak has a team high 31 blocks. Hallman also leads the team with 20 service aces in 2018.
• Kevin Ulmer leads the BSU program in his second season at the helm.
 
Last Match-up
• The Wolves defeated the Beavers 3-1 on the road in 2017, with set scores of 25-20, 25-16, 25-27, and 25-10.
• Northern hit .383 in the contest with 61 total kills.
• Jenna Reiff and Laura Snyder led the team with 18 and 17 kills respectively, with Snyder hitting .516 and Reiff hitting .500.
• NSU is 35-32 all-time against Bemidji State and currently on a 11-game win streak dating back to 2010.
 
About the Golden Eagles
• Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend with a 2-9 record overall and 0-3 mark in the NSIC.
• The Golden Eagles are hitting .098 as a team, averaging 9.2 kills, 8.5 assists, 15.6 digs, .80 aces, and 1.5 blocks per set on the year.
• Deaira Gresham leads the team with 98 total kills, while Kaitlin Sikkink is hitting a team best .225.
• Sydney Kruisselbrink has dished out 288 total assists, averaging 7.20 per set.
• Ali Schueler and Lauren Ulibarri lead the defense with 136 and 108 digs respectively, while Sikkink has recorded a team high 22.0 blocks.
• UMC is led by head coach Sarah Rauen in her second season with the program.
 
Last Match-up
• The Wolves swept the Golden Eagles in both contests a season ago.
• NSU hit .429 as a team in the home victory, and .346 on the road, while combining for 15 aces.
• Hailey Busch combined for 27 total kills, including 18 in the game two win.
• The Wolves are 37-4 all-time against Minnesota Crookston, winning the last 16 contests. Northern's four loss of come in 2008, 2004 (two times), and 2003.