Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 15 Northern State University volleyball team opens the 2021 season this Friday and Saturday at the Washburn Invitational presented by Hotel Topeka at City Center. The Wolves are set to face off against William Jewell and No. 25 Rockhurst at 12 and 4:30 p.m. on Friday and No. 18 Harding and No. 8 Washburn at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
» Washburn is pre-selling tickets for the contests at the online link above
» Masks are required to be worn inside the building and social distancing is encouraged
» Live video and stat links are available above or on the full schedule on nsuwolves.com
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES
» The Wolves kick-off the season picked fourth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and ranked 15
th in the AVCA Top-25 Poll
» Northern went 25-6 overall and 17-3 in the NSIC in 2019, winning the first out-right NSIC title in program history.
» NSU appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season and went 1-1 versus No. 7 St. Cloud State and No. 2 Nebraska Kearney
» Northern returns ten from the 2019 roster and adds ten from 2020 and 2021
»
Sally Gaul was picked as the team's player to watch for the 2021 season after an All-Conference performance in her sophomore campaign
»
Peyton Ellingson earned All-Conference accolades as well in 2019 and returns to the starting rotation for the Wolves this season
» The Wolves enter their 11th season under the direction of 3-time NSIC Coach of the Year
Brent Aldridge
WILLIAM JEWELL STORYLINES
» The Cardinal were picked fourth in the GLVC West Division, earning six points
» WJ went 1-19 overall in the 2021 spring season and 11-21 in the fall of 2019
» Anna Godfredsen returns to the court for William Jewell with a team second best 97 kills in the spring of 2021
» The Cardinal are led by head coach Carolyn Beck in her eighth season at the helm
LAST MATCH-UP
» The two programs have not matched up prior to Friday's season opener
#25 ROCKHURST STORYLINES
» The Hawks were picked second overall in the GLVC West Division, earning 13 points and two first place votes
» RU opens the 2021 season sitting at No. 25 in the AVCA Poll, going 12-7 overall in the spring of 2021
» Rockhurst returns four starters, including senior middle hitter Morgan Conner who earned All-GLVC Second Team honors
» The Hawks are led by head coach Trent Jones in his second season at the helm
LAST MATCH-UP
» Northern is 0-2 all-time versus Rockhurst, with contests in 2000 and 2006
» Both loss to the Hawks came in three sets
#18 HARDING STORYLINES
» The Bison went 12-1 overall and 10-0 in the GAC in the spring of 2021
» HU was picked second overall in the GAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
» Logan Smith earned the GAC Player of the Year honor after she ranked second in the league in kills per set, third in points per set and sixth in attack percentage a season ago
» Libby Hinton notched first team honors, hitting a GAC leading .315
» Harding returns six starters from a season ago
» HU is led by head coach Meredith Fear in her tenth season at the helm
LAST MATCH-UP
» The Wolves and Bison have not matched up in the history of either program
#8 WASHBURN STORYLINES
» The Ichabods were picked second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and open the year ranked in the top-10 of the AVCA
» A contender in the Central Region each season, Washburn went 14-5 overall in the spring of 2021
» In 2019, Washburn was ranked in the top-five of the AVCA national poll the entire season and finished with a record of 27-4 (18-2 MIAA) and competed in the NCAA Tournament for the 15th time in program history
» WU is led by head coach Chris Herron in his 20
th season with the program
LAST MATCH-UP
» Northern is 0-1 all-time versus the Ichabods, falling 3-2 in the NCAA Central Region Tournament in 2018
» Gaul was second on the team in the loss with 18 kills, while
Bry Goar tallied 12 digs
