Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 6 Northern State University volleyball team returns home this Friday and Saturday, facing off against No. 20 Winona State and No. 19 Upper Iowa. Game times are set for 6 p.m. on Friday versus the Warriors and 3 p.m. on Saturday against the Peacocks.
QUICK HITS ON THE #6 NORTHERN STATE WOLVES
• The Northern State Wolves enter the weekend at home on a current 6-game win streak, including three top-25 victories over Sioux Falls, Minnesota Duluth, and St. Cloud State
• Northern climbed to No. 6 in the week 6 AVCA Top-25 Poll after their 2-0 weekend versus the Bulldogs and Huskies
• The Wolves are currently ranked second in the nation hitting .296 this season, while averaging 14.6 kills, 13.5 assists, 15.8 digs, 2.2 blocks, and 1.2 aces per set
• They lead the NSIC in hitting percentage and total blocks in matches against league opponents
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Laura Snyder leads the team with 260 kills, averaging 4.19 per set with a .352 attack percentage; she continues to rank in the top-10 nationally averaging 4.76 per set
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Jenna Reiff has been hot as of late, recording her 1,000 career kill over the weekend with 211 total this season
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Peyton Ellingson leads the team in efficiency hitting .382 on the year, in addition to a team high 74 blocks, averaging 1.25 per set
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Ashley Rozell has dished out 731 total assists, averaging a national top-10 mark of 11.79 per set
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Jaiden Langlie leads the defense and the team at the service line with 279 total digs, averaging 4.50 per set, and 20 service aces
MATCHING UP WITH THE #20 WARRIORS
• Winona State returns to Aberdeen with a 14-3 record overall and 6-3 mark in the NSIC, after a huge mid-week victory over No. 5 Concordia-St. Paul
• The Warriors climbed to No. 20 in this week's AVCA Top-25 Poll
• WSU is hitting .255 as a unit, averaging 13.7 kills, 12.4 assists, 15.3 digs, 1.9 blocks, and 1.1 aces per set this season
• Megan Flom leads the team with 205 kills, averaging 3.87 per set, while hitting a team best .388; she also leads the NSIC against league opponents hitting .458 on the year
• Bre Maloney has dished out 640 total assists, averaging 10.49 per set
• Becca Pagel leads the Warrior defense with 271 total digs, averaging 4.23 per set, while Madison Rizner has tallied 71.0 total blocks, averaging 1.11 per set
• Winona State is led by head coach Joe Getzin in his sixth season with the program
LAST MATCH-UP
• The Wolves defeated Winona State 3-2 on the road in 2018, winning the second, third, and fifth sets
• Northern hit .345 in the win with a match high 75 kills, 68 assists, and 75 digs
• Snyder led the team with 22 kills, hitting .500 in the match, while Langlie tallied a team high 25 digs
• NSU is 33-31 all-time versus WSU and 7-4 under the direction of Aldridge
MATCHING UP WITH THE #19 PEACOCKS
• Upper Iowa enters the weekend with a 12-5 record overall and 4-5 mark in the NSIC, coming in this week at No. 19 in the AVCA Top-25 Poll
• The Peacocks are hitting .262 this season, averaging 13.3 kills, 12.3 assists, 17.3 digs, 2.0 blocks, and 1.4 aces per set
• Anna Winter leads the team with 270 total kills, averaging 4.43 per set
• Sarah Johnson is hitting a team high .346 and leads the Peacocks with 63 total blocks, averaging 1.03 per set
• Carlee Ketchum has tallied 641 total assists on the year, averaging 10.51 per set
• Five Peacocks have over 100 digs this season, led by Haley Weepie with 278 total, averaging 4.56 per set
• Upper Iowa is led by head coach Aaron Nelson in his ninth season at the helm
LAST MATCH-UP
• Northern defeated Upper Iowa 3-1 on the road a season ago
• The Wolves tallied a match and season high 113 digs in the win
• Langlie added 34 digs, followed by
Bry Goar with 27, and was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the week
• NSU is 17-4 all-time versus UIU and 9-1 in the Aldridge-era
