Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University volleyball team moved into fifth in the NSIC standings following a 4-set victory over Minnesota State Friday evening. The win solidifies their place in the NSIC postseason with one game remaining in the regular season tomorrow. In addition, NSU avenged a loss to the Mavericks suffered earlier this season.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 3, MSU 1
Records: NSU 18-8 (10-7 NSIC), MSU 13-12 (8-9 NSIC)
Attendance: 521
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Wolves opened the match with a 25-23 victory before falling 25-22 in the second set
- Northern then rattled off 25-22 and 25-21 wins to seal their tenth league victory of the season
- NSU hit a match leading .221 and led the teams with 88 digs, 54 assists, nine blocks, and eight aces
- They added 56 kills to the Mavericks 58 and held Minnesota State to a .188 attack percentage
- Four Wolves notched double figure kills in the balanced offensive attack led by Hanna Thompson and Natalia Szybinska with 14 apiece
- Keri Walker was dealing, dishing out 51 total assists, averaging 12.75 per set with an added 14 digs and three blocks
- Abby Meister hit all ends of the floor racking up 30 digs and a team leading three aces; she averaged 7.5 digs per set
- Both Reese Johnson and Sara Moberg had stellar evenings for NSU adding 15 and 12 digs respectively
- Finally, Eliza Bauers led the team in offensive efficiency hitting .375 with seven kills and a team leading six blocks
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Natalia Szybinska: 14 kills, 3 blocks
- Hanna Thompson: 14 kills, 2 blocks
- Morissen Samuels: 10 kills, 4 digs
- Abby Brooks: 10 kills, 3 blocks
- Keri Walker: 51 assists, 14 digs, 3 blocks
- Abby Meister: 30 digs, 3 aces
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Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – In sweeping fashion, the Northern State University volleyball team capped off the regular season with a victory over No. 14 Minnesota Duluth. With the win the Wolves solidified a fifth place standing in the NSIC with an 11-7 league record.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 3, UMD 0
Records: NSU 19-8 (11-7 NSIC), UMD 17-9 (10-8 NSIC)
Attendance: 474
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two teams battled 28-26 in the first set with Northern coming away on top and the Wolves continued the momentum with 25-15 and 25-22 victories in the second and third
- Northern recorded a match leading 41 kills, 39 assists, and 67 digs, adding ten blocks and four aces
- Offensively NSU hit .178 and defensively they held UMD to a .036 attack percentage
- Natalia Szybinska led two Wolves in double figures with 13 kills and a team leading six blocks
- For the second straight match, Keri Walker averaged over 12 assists per set, notching 37 total in the win
- Abby Meister and Reese Johnson led the defense with 29 and ten digs respectively
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Natalia Szybinska: 13 kills, 6 blocks, 2 digs
- Keri Walker: 37 assists, 9 digs, 4 blocks, 1 ace
- Abby Meister: 29 digs, 1 assist
UP NEXT
The NSIC Volleyball Tournament kicks off on November 14 with the quarterfinal round. Northern is slated to play St. Cloud State on the road. Start time is set for 6 p.m. in St. Cloud.