Topeka, Kan. – The No. 15 Northern State University volleyball team swept opening day with 4-set victories over William Jewell and No. 25 Rockhurst University. The Wolves tallied 109 kills in the two victories and held both their opponents to attack percentages under 200.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 3, WJ 1
Final Score Game 2: NSU 3, RU 1
Records: NSU 2-0, WJ 0-1, RU 1-1
 
Game 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After dropping the first set 25-23, Northern downed William Jewell with set scores of 25-16, 25-21, and 25-13
• The Wolves recorded 55 kills, 51 assists, 35 digs, nine blocks, and four aces in the win, hitting .324 as a team
• Defensively, they held the Cardinals to a .108 attack percentage with 40 kills and 28 hitting errors
• Three Northern State players tallied double figure kills, led by Taylor Buckley and Natalia Szybinska with 12 apiece
• Peyton Ellingson led the team hitting .538 in the win, giving up just one attack error, while Olivia Rud led the squad with seven blocks
• Havyn Heinz led the team defensively with 12 digs, while Keri Walker dished out 48 total assists, averaging 12.00 assists per set

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Natalia Szybinska: 12 kills, .400 attack %
• Taylor Buckley: 12 kills, 6 digs, 2 blocks
• Sally Gaul: 11 kills, 3 blocks
• Havyn Heinz: 12 digs, 1 ace
• Keri Walker: 48 assists, 4 digs, 4 kills, 3 blocks

 
Game 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Northern State opened the match with set victories of 26-24 and 25-16
• Rockhurst battled back in the third, taking the set 25-17, however the Wolves sealed the deal with a 25-13 fourth set
• NSU tallied 54 kills, 50 assists, 61 digs, seven blocks, and seven aces, hitting .290 as a unit
• Olivia Rud and Taylor Buckley led the offense with 13 kills apiece, followed by Sally Gaul with 11
• Buckley notched her first double-double of the season with ten digs, adding two service aces as well
• Havyn Heinz led the team defensively for the second straight game with 19 digs, averaging 4.75 digs per set
• Keri Walker served up 46 total assists and added four digs, two blocks, two aces, and three kills

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Olivia Rud: 13 kills, .440 attack %, 3 blocks, 2 digs
• Taylor Buckley: 13 kills, 10 digs, 2 aces
• Sally Gaul: 11 kills, 6 digs, 3 aces
• Keri Walker: 46 assists, 4 digs, 3 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks
• Havyn Heinz: 19 digs, 2 assists

 
UP NEXT
The Wolves will face a pair of top-25 opponents tomorrow from Topeka. Game times are set for 11 a.m. versus No. 18 Harding and 4 p.m. versus host No. 8 Washburn University.