Topeka, Kan. – The No. 15 Northern State University volleyball team dropped a pair of top-25 matches on Saturday to No. 18 Harding and No. 8 Washburn in 4-sets. The Wolves move to 2-2 on the year, with four non-conference games on tap next weekend.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 1, HU 3
Final Score Game 2: NSU 1, WU 3
Records: NSU 2-2, HU 1-2, WU 5-0
 
Game 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Harding opened the match with a 25-20 victory, however the Wolves bounced back in the second winning with a mirror score
• The Bison however rattled off set victories in the third and fourth, sealing the match
• Northern tallied 51 kills, 46 assists, 50 digs, five blocks, and two aces in the contest, hitting .234 as a team
• The Wolves struggled against the Bison serving attack, giving up 11 service aces through four sets
• Sally Gaul and Natalia Szybinska led the team with 13 kills apiece, followed by Taylor Buckley with ten
• Keri Walker grabbed a double-double with 43 assists and ten digs, while Havyn Heinz led the defense for the third straight match with 17 digs

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Natalia Szybinska: 13 kills, .379 attack %, 2 aces
• Sally Gaul: 13 kills, 4 blocks
• Taylor Buckley: 10 kills, 6 digs
• Olivia Rud: 7 kills, 4 blocks
• Keri Walker: 43 assists, 10 digs, 3 kills
• Havyn Heinz: 17 digs

 
Game 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Ichabods tallied victories of 25-14 and 25-15 in the opening two sets, before an NSU rally in the third
• Northern forced the third set to extra points, coming away with a 27-25 victory; however the Wolves were unable to extend the match in the fourth, falling 25-20
• NSU recorded 48 kills, 44 assists, 56 digs, six blocks, and one ace in the match, hitting .208 as a team
• Two Wolves hit in double figures, led by Natalia Szybinska with 16 kills and a team leading .371 hitting percentage
• Havyn Heinz matched her totals from the first match of the day with a team best 17 digs, followed by Taylor Buckley with 14

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Natalia Szybinska: 16 kills, .371 attack %
• Sally Gaul: 13 kills, 1 ace
• Havyn Heinz: 17 digs
• Taylor Buckley: 6 kills, 14 digs, 2 blocks
• Keri Walker: 39 assists, 8 digs, 3 blocks, 2 kills

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORES

• Sally Gaul and Taylor Buckley were named to the All-Tournament team

 
UP NEXT
Northern State opens their 2021 home slate Thursday through Saturday hosting the NSU Volleyball Classic. The Wolves will face New Mexico Highlands at 6 p.m. on Thursday, South Dakota Mines and MSU Moorhead at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, and Augustana at 2 p.m. on Saturday.