Wolves Down Crookston & Bemidji For 2-0 Weekend

Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – A Friday sweep saw the Northern State University volleyball team notch their first NSIC victory of the 2023 season and eighth straight. The Wolves downed Minnesota Crookston with set scores of 25-14, 25-11, and 25-16.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 3, UMC 0
Records: NSU 8-1 (1-0 NSIC), UMC 2-7 (0-1 NSIC)
Attendance: 802
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Northern was efficient in the win, hitting .327, as well as a match high .464 in the second set
  • They tallied just three attack errors apiece in the opening two sets and forced 5 apiece defensively
  • In total, the Northern defense held Minnesota Crookston to a .085 attack percentage, forcing 14 hitting errors and recording eight blocks
  • The Wolves added a match leading 47 kills, 42 assists, 56 digs, and seven aces
  • Morissen Samuels and Natalia Szybinska led the team with 12 and 10 kills respectively, as Szybinska hit a season high .474
  • Keri Walker averaged 12.33 assists per set in the win, while leading the team with four aces
  • Abby Meister continued to be a monster in the backrow, notching 21 total digs, and Victoria Persha led the team at the net with five blocks
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
  • Morissen Samuels: 12 kills, 5 digs, 2 blocks
  • Natalia Szybinska: 10 kills, .474 attack%
  • Abby Brooks: 8 kills, .462 attack%, 3 blocks
  • Keri Walker: 37 assists, 8 digs, 4 aces, 4 blocks
  • Abby Mesiter: 21 digs
  • Reese Johnson: 8 digs, 3 aces
  • Sara Moberg: 8 digs, 4 assists

_____________

Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University volleyball team defeated Bemidji State 3-1 on Saturday NSIC action from Wachs Arena. The Wolves have now won eight straight and are 2-0 in league action.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 3, BSU 1
Records: NSU 9-1 (2-0 NSIC), BSU 4-6 (1-1 NSIC)
Attendance: 1207
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Northern opened with a 25-13 victory in set one, however Bemidji State rallied back for a 25-10 victory in set two
  • The Wolves buckled down and tallied 25-20 and 25-14 victories in the final two sets to secure the match
  • NSU hit .232 in the win, racking up a match high 48 kills, 46 assists, and 59 digs, adding six blocks and six aces
  • The Northern defense held Bemidji State to a .119 attack percentage, forcing 23 hitting errors
  • Hanna Thompson led the Wolves offense with 16 kills, hitting .387
  • Keri Walker dished out 42 total assists and tallied a team leading three blocks
  • Abby Meister rallied the defense with 20 digs and recorded a team high three aces
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
  • Hannah Thompson: 16 kills, .387 attack%
  • Natalia Szybinska: 12 kills, 2 blocks
  • Keri Walker: 42 assists, 9 digs, 3 blocks, 2 aces
  • Abby Meister: 20 digs, 3 aces
UP NEXT
Northern heads to top-10 opponents Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State next Friday and Saturday. Match start times are set for 6 p.m. on Friday against the Bulldogs and 2 p.m. on Saturday versus the Huskies.