Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University volleyball team will hit the road this weekend, traveling to No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State and Augustana. Match start times are set for 6 p.m. on Friday in Marshall and 2 p.m. on Saturday in Sioux Falls.
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Live video and stat links are available above or on the full schedule on nsuwolves.com

 
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• The Wolves head into the final three weeks of the regular season with a 16-5 record overall and 8-4 mark in the Northern Sun
• NSU is hitting .219 as a team, averaging 12.7 kills, 11.8 assists, 17.5 digs, 2.3 blocks, and 1.7 aces per set
• Natalia Szybinska leads the offense with 222 total kills, averaging 3.04 per set, while Abby Brooks is hitting a team leading .348
• Hanna Thompson and Morissen Samuels follow, adding 209 and 201 kills respectively
• Keri Walker surpassed the 3,000 assist mark last week and leads the offense with 808 total assists, averaging 10.49 per set
• Walker and Reese Johnson each have a team leading 34 aces in 2023
• Abby Meister leads the Wolves and the NSIC with 441 total digs, averaging 5.80 digs per set
• Brooks is the team leader at the net with 76.0 total blocks, averaging just under one per set

 
#6 SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE STORYLINES

• The Mustangs enter the weekend with a 19-3 record overall and 10-2 mark in the NSIC, sitting tied for second in the league standings with CSP
• Southwest is hitting .249, averaging 14.0 kills, 13.0 assists, 17.0 digs, 2.1 blocks, and 1.8 aces per set
• Leah Jones leads the offense with 236 total kills, averaging 3.11 per set
• Alisa Bengen paces the offense in 2023 with 809 total assists, averaging 10.64 assists per set
• McKenzie Tolk is the team defensive leader with 361 total digs, averaging 4.75 digs per set; just has committed just seven receive errors in 406 attempts this season
• Emma VanHeel and Karli Arkell lead the team in net defense with 69.0 and 67.0 blocks respectively
• Southwest is led by head coach Tyler Boddy in his second season

 
LAST MATCH-UP

• The Wolves fell to the Mustangs 3-0 on the road in 2022
• Northern is 11-61 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State

 
AUGUSTANA STORYLINES

• Augustana holds an 8-13 record overall and 5-7 mark in the NSIC
• The Vikings are hitting .181 as a team, averaging 12.8 kills, 11.8 assists, 15.5 digs, 1.8 blocks, and 1.6 aces per set in 2023
• Kia Kriener sits atop the offense with 274 total kills, averaging 3.61 kills per set
• Setter Lucy Bartee has 805 assists in 2023, averaging 10.32 per set
• Reagan Jansen leads the team with 31 service aces this season
• The AU defense is led by Erika Bute with 424 total digs, averaging 5.44 digs per set
• Maya Wente and Callie Hohenhaus lead the team at the net with 70.0 and 61.0 blocks respectively
• The Vikings are led by head coach Jennifer Jacobs in her seventh season

 
LAST MATCH-UP

• The Wolves and Vikings faced off twice in 2022 with Augustana taking the non-conference bout 3-0 and Northern sweeping league play
• NSU is 16-27 all-time versus Augie