Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University volleyball team hits the road this weekend for a pair of NSIC matches at the University of Sioux Falls and No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State. First serve is set for 6 p.m. on Friday against the Cougars and 4 p.m. on Saturday versus the Mustangs.
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Live stat and video links are above or on the schedule page at nsuwolves.com

 
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• The Wolves head to face the Cougars and Mustangs with an 11-8 record overall and 6-5 mark in the NSIC, sitting seventh in the league standings
• Northern is hitting .246 on the year; averaging 12.9 kills, 12.0 assists, 14.4 digs, 1.7 aces, and 2.4 blocks per set
• Sally Gaul leads the offense with 226 total kills, averaging 3.83 per set, while Abby Brooks is hitting a team high .336
• Keri Walker has paced the Northern offense this season, who recorded two matches hitting above .300 last week, with 643 total assists
• Walker along with Madison Langlie lead the team with 19 aces on the year
• Langlie sits atop the team's defensive efforts with 261 total digs, averaging 4.42 per set, while Taylor Buckley is second on the team with 159
• The Wolves net play is led by Brooks with 68.0 total blocks, followed by Gaul and Kennedy Gravelle with 48.0 and 42.0 respectively

 
SIOUX FALLS STORYLINES

• Sioux Falls holds an 11-7 record overall and 7-4 mark in the NSIC, sitting one match ahead of Northern State in the league standings
• The Cougars are averaging 13.1 kills, 12.3 assists, 14.3 digs, 1.7 aces, and 1.7 blocks per set with a .237 attack percentage
• Courtney Holsteen and Grace Hanel lead the offense with 187 and 170 kills apiece this season, while Jordan Kuper leads the team with a .306 hitting percentage
• Elise Gillen has dished out a team leading 421 assists, followed by Dacis Guetterman with 270
• The USF defense is led by Sadie Voss with 194 total digs, averaging 3.13 per set, while Jordyn Hamm leads the team at the net with 57.0 blocks
• The Cougars are led by Dan Mathews in his second season at the helm

 
LAST MATCH-UP

• The Wolves fell to the Cougars in 4-sets a season ago
• Northern is 17-5 all-time versus Sioux Falls

 
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE STORYLINES

• The Mustangs enter the weekend with a 17-2 record overall and 9-2 mark in the NSIC
• SMSU is hitting .269 on the year; averaging 14.1 kills, 13.0 assists, 14.4 digs, 1.4 aces, and 2.1 blocks per set
• Saari Kuehl leads the offense with 204 total kills, while Karlie Arkell is hitting a team leading .324 this season
• Alisa Bengen has 746 total assists this season, averaging 10.66 per set
• Natalee Rolbiecki and McKenzie Tolk lead the defense with 203 and 191 digs respectively in 2022, while Arkell leads the net defense with 69.0 blocks
• Tyler Boddy is in his first season at the helm of SMSU and 11th season overall

 
LAST MATCH-UP

• The Wolves defeated the sixth-ranked Mustangs, 3-2, at home a season ago
• Northern is 11-59 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State