Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 19 Northern State University volleyball team hosts the 2021 NSU Volleyball Classic from Wachs Arena this Thursday through Saturday. The Wolves will face New Mexico Highlands at 6 p.m. on Thursday, South Dakota Mines at 11:30 a.m. and MSU Moorhead at 7 p.m. on Friday, and Augustana at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
                » Fans can purchase tickets online before the event at nsuwolves.universitytickets.com or at the door
                » Full tournament details can be found at the tournament page above
                » Live video and stat links are available above or on the full schedule on nsuwolves.com
 
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES
                » The Wolves enter the weekend with a 2-2 record overall and a No. 19 ranking in the AVCA Top-25 Poll
                » Northern is hitting .259 on the year, averaging 13.0 kills, 11.9 assists, 12.6 digs, and 1.7 blocks per set through the first four matches
                » Natalia Szybinska leads the team with 49 kills, averaging 3.06 per set, and a .355 attack percentage
                » Keri Walker has dished out 176 total assists, averaging 11.00 per set, as she paces the Wolves offense
                » Havyn Heinz was solid defensively for the Wolves, leading the team with 65 digs, while Olivia Rud notched a team best 18.0 blocks
 
NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS STORYLINES
                » The Cowgirls travel to Aberdeen with a 1-3 record overall, notching a win over Southeastern Oklahoma State
                » NMH is hitting .189 as a team, averaging 11.8 kills, 11.1 assists, 15.5 digs, and 1.7 blocks per set
                » Lisi Langi leads the team with 50 kills, while Stacy Johnson is hitting a team best .338 through four matches
                » Meranda Romero has 114 total assists on the year, averaging 9.50 per set
                » Angelina Oliver and Elena Rivera lead the defensive effort with 14.0 blocks and 79 digs respectively
                » New Mexico is led by head coach Tom Duke
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                » The Wolves and Cowgirls have not matched up in the history of either program
 
SOUTH DAKOTA MINES STORYLINES
                » The Hardrockers enter the weekend with a 3-1 record overall, notching wins over Bemidji State, MSU Moorhead, and Montana State Billings
                » Mines is hitting .153 thus far, averaging 12.4 kills, 11.6 assists, 19.6 digs, and 1.8 blocks per set
                » Emma Grimm and Victoria Zagorski lead the offense with 34 and 33 kills respectively
                » Kiley Metzger and Shyann Bastian tag team the setting effort with 78 and 63 assists apiece this season
                » Addie Stanley has a team best 70 digs on the year, while Jacey Koethe leads the team with 13.0 blocks in 2021
                » Mines is led by head coach Lauren Torvi Prochazka in her fourth season at the helm
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                » Northern last hosted Mines in 2017, coming away with a 3-0 victory
                » The Wolves are 13-6 all-time versus the Hardrockers
 
MSU MOORHEAD STORYLINES
                » The Dragons head to Aberdeen looking for their first win of the season, dropping four matches in Billings to open the year
                » Moorhead is hitting .073 on the year, averaging 10.5 kills, 10.1 assists, 16.7 digs, and 2.8 blocks per set
                » Amanda Carlson leads the offense with 52 kills, while Elisa Bakke is hitting a team best .290
                » The Dragons have worked in three setters this season and the defense is led by Sarah Petrbok and Abby Thompson with 65 total digs and 19 total blocks
                » MSUM is led by head coach Bob Jones in his second season with the program and first year in action
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                » The Wolves swept the Dragons 3-0 in NSIC action in 2019
                » NSU hit .424 in the win, with Sally Gaul and Peyton Ellingson both notching ten kills
                » Northern is 29-45 all-time versus MSU Moorhead
 
AUGUSTANA STORYLINES
                » The Vikings enter the weekend with a 2-2 record overall, notching wins over Ashland and Illinois Springfield
                » AU is hitting .215 as a unit, averaging 12.2 kills, 11.6 assists, 14.3 digs, and 2.2 blocks per set
                » Payton Rosendahl, Maddy Guetter, and Kate Reimann each have over 30 kills this season, with Rosendahl leading the starters hitting .282
                » Avery Thorson has paced the offense with 163 total assists, averaging 9.59 per set
                » Erika Bute and Callie Hohenhaus led the defense with 82 digs and 25.0 blocks repsectively
                » Augustana is led by head coach Jen Jacobs in her fifth season at the helm
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                » The Wolves went 2-0 versus the Vikings in 2019, notching 3-1 and 3-0 victories
                » Sally Gaul led the team with 22 kills in the 4-set victory, while Peyton Ellingson notched five blocks
                » Northern improved their hitting percentage in the sweep to .330, with Gaul adding a team third best 11 kills
                » NSU is 14-25 all-time against Augustana