Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 8 Northern State University volleyball team opens the 2019 season tomorrow and Saturday at the Oredigger Classic in Golden, Colorado. The Wolves will face Alaska Fairbanks and Dallas Baptist at 3 and 8 p.m. (CT) on Friday, and (RV) Colorado Mesa and (RV) Colorado Mines at 3 and 5:30 p.m. (CT) on Saturday.
 
Quick Hits on the Wolves

• Northern State opens the 2019 season with a No. 8 ranking in the AVCA Preseason Top-25 Poll
• The Wolves were picked to win the NSIC after taking home the first conference championship in program history last season
• Ashley Rozell was named the Northern State player to watch for 2019 and will look to lead a potent offense for the Wolves
• NSU went 26-5 overall a season ago and returns five starters (Bry Goar, Morgan Baufield, Ashley Rozell, Jenna Reiff, Laura Snyder) from that squad, as well as libero Jaiden Langlie
• Head coach Brent Aldridge enters his ninth season with a career record of 163-71. Holly Vancura and Maura Chadwick round out the Northern State coaching staff
• In addition, NSU boasts a roster of six more returners and four incoming freshman for the fall of 2019
• Wolves volleyball has become a mainstay on the AVCA Top-25 national poll and qualified for the NCAA National Tournament the past two seasons

 
About Alaska Fairbanks

• The Nanooks are coming off a 14-13 record in 2018 and were picked fifth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
• Juniors Lahra Weber (OH) and Cate Whiting (S) were honored on the preseason all-conference team after leading UAF a season ago
• Alaska Fairbanks is led by head coach Brian Scott in his first season at the helm

 
Last Match-up

• Northern State is 0-2 all-time versus Alaska Fairbanks falling 3-0 in 1995 and 3-1 in 2008

 
About Dallas Baptist

• The Lady Patriots are coming off a 12-17 record in 2018
• Dallas Baptist was picked 13^th overall in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll
• Leading hitter Brooke Clark returns for her junior campaign after recording 257 kills in 2018
• DBU is led by head coach Cathy Kokel in her 17^th season with the program

 
Last Match-up

• The two teams have not faced each other in the history of either program

 
About (RV) Colorado Mesa

• The Mavericks went 24-7 overall in 2018 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Regional Tournament
• Colorado Mesa opened the year receiving votes in the AVCA Top-25 Poll and was picked second overall in the RMAC after a conference tournament championship in 2018
• Mesa returns two All-American middle hitters in Kasie Gilfert and Camille Smith
• CMU is led by head coach Dave Fleming in his 15^th season at the helm

 
Last Match-up

• The two teams have not faced each other in the history of either program

 
About (RV) Colorado School of Mines

• The Orediggers open the year receiving votes in the AVCA Top-25 Poll
• Colorado Mines went 24-6 overall in 2018 with a berth to the NCAA South Central Region Tournament
• Mines was picked to win the RMAC in 2019 and return 13 of 15 players from last year's squad
• Abby Tiesman and Drew Stokes were tabbed as the team's players to watch for the upcoming season. Tiesman earned AVCA All-America honorable mention accolades, while Stokes was named the AVCA Freshman of the Year in 2018
• Colorado Mines is led by head coach Jamie Magalei in her 11the season at the helm

 
Last Match-up

• The Wolves last faced the Orediggers in 2017, coming away with a 3-1 victory
• Laura Snyder and Jenna Reiff each tallied double figure kills with 12 and 11 respectively
• Ashley Rozell racked up 44 assists, while Jaiden Langlie tallied 13 digs
• Northern hit .377 in the match and tallied a then season high 11 blocks
• NSU is 2-1 all-time versus MINES notching wins in 1999 (3-1) and 2017 (3-0)