Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 1 Northern State University volleyball team hits the road this Friday and Saturday at St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. The Wolves face off against the Huskies at 6 p.m. on Friday and the No. 9 Bulldogs at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Quick Hits on the Wolves
                • The Northern State volleyball team enters the third week of NSIC action after earning the first AVCA No. 1 ranking in program history. NSU received 41 first place votes.
                • The Wolves are hitting .383 as a team, averaging 14.9 kills, 14.0 assists, 15.5 digs, 2.1 aces, and 1.8 blocks per set.
                • They currently lead the NSIC in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, and aces per set in contests against league opponents, while Jenna Reiff and Ashley Rozell lead the league in hitting percentage and assists per set.
                • Nationally, NSU sits first in hitting percentage and second in kills and assists per set.
                • Hailey Busch leads the team with 166 total kills, averaging 4.05 per set, while hitting .376 this season.
                • Reiff is hitting at a team high .524 clip with a team leading 39 total blocks.
                • Rozell is pacing the offense, averaging 12.73 assists per set, and leads the team with 32 aces.
                • Jaiden Langlie sits atop the defense with 169 total digs, averaging 4.12 per set, while Lexi Boesl and Busch are nearing the 100 mark with 94 each.
                • The Wolves have hit over .400 in six matches this season, with a season high mark of .556 against UMary on September 5.
                • Brent Aldridge grabbed the 150th victory of his career at Northern State in the Wolves 3-0 victory over Minnesota Crookston on Saturday.
 
About the Huskies
                • St. Cloud State enters the weekend with a 9-2 record overall and 5-0 mark in the NSIC, as one of just three unbeaten teams in NSIC play.
                • The Huskies are hitting .232 on the year, averaging 13.1 kills, 12.2 assists, 16.1 digs, 1.4 aces, and 1.6 blocks per set.
                • Linsey Rachel leads the team with 147 total kills, averaging 3.77 per set, while also hitting a team high .310  this season.
                • Maddy Torve has dished out 391 total assists, averaging 10.03 per set.
                • Clara Krenz leads the defense with 185 digs, averaging 4.74 per set, while Marah Mulso leads the team at the net with 31 blocks.
                • St. Cloud State is led by head coach Chad Braegelmann in his fourth season at the helm.
 
Last Match-up
                • The Wolves defeated the Huskies 3-0 in 2017 with set scores of 25-12, 25-13, and 25-17.
                • Northern hit .388 in the match with 45 kills, 53 digs, and 40 assists.
                • Jenna Reiff led the team with 15 kills, while Ashley Rozell notched a double-double with 34 assists and 15 digs.
                • NSU is 17-9 all-time against SCSU, and currently on an 8-game win streak dating back to 2012.
 
About the Bulldogs
                • Minnesota Duluth enters the weekend with a 10-3 record overall and 4-1 mark in the league, as well as the No. 9 ranking in the nation. They have suffered just one NSIC loss to St. Cloud State.
                • The Bulldogs are hitting .236 this season, averaging 13.9 kills, 13.2 assists, 14.8 digs, 1.4 aces, and 2.1 blocks per set.
                • Makenzie Morgen leads the team with 129 kills, while Sarah Kelly is hitting a team high .337 this season.
                • Emily Torve has paced the offense with 487 total assists, averaging 11.60 per set.
                • Keena Seiffert sits atop the defense with 167 total digs, averaging 3.98 per set, while Abby Thor has a team leading 41 blocks, averaging 0.98 per set.
                • Kate Berg and Sarah Kelly hold a team high 12 and 11 aces on the year.
                • Duluth is led by head coach Jim Boos in his 16th season with the program.
 
Last Match-up
                • The Wolves defeated the Bulldogs 3-0 in league play, and fell 3-2 in the NCAA Central Region Tournament.
                • Hailey Busch led the team in the win with 15 kills, while Jaiden Langlie added 15 digs.
                • The Wolves out-hit the Bulldogs .242 to .239 in the region tournament, notching 64 total kills.
                • Laura Snyder led the team with 16 kills, while Holly Vancura tallied a team high 20 digs.
                • Northern is 5-46 all-time against Minnesota Duluth, and 3-4 in the past five seasons.