Sioux Falls, SD (NSUWolves.com) [FRI] – The Northern State University volleyball team continued their winning ways on Friday, recording their first 2-match sweep of the season. The Wolves took down South Dakota Mines in straight sets and battled it out in a 5-set thriller with host Augustana.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Match 1: NSU 3, MINES 0
Final Score Match 2: NSU 3, AU 2
Records: NSU 3-0, MINES 0-2, AU 1-1
Attendance: N/A
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SD MINES
- Northern had full control of the match in their morning victory, taking the contest with set scores of 25-11, 25-9, and 25-15
- The Wolves hit .516 in the win with single set percentages of .652 in the first, .514 in the second, and .429 in the third
- They led the contest with 51 kills, 46 assists, 59 digs, ten blocks, and two aces
- The Northern defense held SD Mines to a .078 attack percentage and just 28 kills in the match-up
- Abby Brooks led the team with 13 kills and a .722 attack percentage, which ranks in the top-10 all-time for single game attack percentage
- All five hitters recorded an attack percentage above .300 with Hanna Thompson second on the team hitting .667 with 12 kills
- Natalia Szybinska added nine kills, followed by Victoria Persha and Morissen Samuels with seven each
- Keri Walker dished out 42 assists, notched three kills of her own, and added 11 digs and three blocks on defense
- Brooks led the team at the net with five blocks, followed by Thompson and Szybinska with four apiece
- The back court was led by Abby Meister with 22 digs
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Abby Brooks: 13 kills, .722 attack%, 5 blocks, 2 digs
Keri Walker: 42 assists, 11 digs, 3 blocks, 3 kills
Abby Meister: 22 digs, 2 assists
Hanna Thompson: 12 kills, .667 attack%, 4 blocks, 4 digs
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. AUGUSTANA
- The Vikings jumped out to an early lead, taking the first set with a score of 25-21
- Northern rallied back with 25-23 and 25-22 victories, however Augustana forced the decisive set with a 25-16 victory in the fourth
- Ultimately, NSU sealed the match with ten kills and a 16-14 win in set five
- The Wolves led the match defensively with 76 digs and held the Vikings to a .205 hitting percentage; they added 59 kills, 59 assists, 12 blocks, and six aces
- Natalia Szybinska led three in double figures with 20 kills, followed by Hanna Thompson and Morissen Samuels with 14 and 13 respectively
- Keri Walker paced the offense with 52 assists and added nine digs and three blocks
- Three Wolves also recorded double digit digs, led by Abby Meister with 27
- Mia Hinsz and Reese Johnson each added a team second best 11 digs and recorded one ace
- Victoria Persha notched a team leading six blocks, while Sara Moberg tallied two aces and nine digs
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Natalia Szybinska: 20 kills, .228 attack%, 2 blocks
Hanna Thompson: 14 kills, .250 attack%, 3 blocks, 3 digs
Keri Walker: 52 assists, 9 digs, 3 blocks
Abby Meister: 27 digs, 3 assists, 1 ace
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Sioux Falls, SD (NSUWolves.com) [SAT] – Outscoring their opponents 75-35, the Northern State University volleyball team returns to Aberdeen with a 4-0 record. The Wolves downed their Saturday opponent, Alaska Anchorage with set scored of 25-19, 25-11, and 25-5.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 3, AA 0
Records: NSU 4-0, AA 2-4
Attendance: 87
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two team’s traded points to open the first set, however the Wolves took control and did not look back
- Northern hit .305 in the match, including a set high .464 in the third
- They tallied a match leading 39 kills, 38 assists, 67 digs, ten blocks, and six aces
- The NSU defense notched 26 more digs than the Seawolves and held their opponents to a .009 attack percentage
- Keri Walker recorded a double-double with 32 assists and 15 digs, adding two aces, two kills, and one block
- Morissen Samuels did not suffer an error offensively, hitting .500 with eight kills; she added four blocks and two digs as well
- Hanna Thompson matched Samuels kill total of eight and Natalia Szybinska led the team with nine kills
- It was all Abby Brooks at the net as the senior led the team with eight blocks; she added six kills and three digs
- Abby Meister notched her third straight 20-plus dig match with 20 in the win, averaging 6.67 per set
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Natalia Szybinska: 9 kills, 2 blocks
Morissen Samuels: 8 kills, .500 attack%, 4 blocks
Keri Walker: 32 assists, 15 digs, 2 aces
Abby Meister: 20 digs, 2 assists
UP NEXT
Northern State travels east next Friday and Saturday to the Wisconsin Parkside Hampton Inn Invitational. The Wolves will face Ohio Dominican, Parkside, Lake Erie College, and Wayne State (Mich.)