The University of Mary Marauders

The NDPF Female Athlete of the Week is Ally Gruber, outside hitter from the UMary Volleyball team. The Marauders had a solid start to their 2023 season through four non-conference games at the Yellowjacket Volleyball Invitational in Billings, MT. Many players contributed to the successes over the weekend which resulted in a 2-2 start to the year, but Gruber gets the ultimate nod after the numbers she produced, and the big moments when she pulled through for the team. 

The former Laker from Lake Superior State finished the weekend as the leader in kills with 43 on an efficient 0.237 hitting percentage. Gruber also reeled in the second most digs on the team with 49. She was also one of eight Marauders with multiple service aces. 

Gruber's phenomenal weekend started in a big way with 13 kills in UMary's 3-1 victory over host MSU Billings in the season opener. Three of her kills came in the final four points of the third set. She later bookended their Montana stay with a career performance against Black Hills State when she swung for 17 kills (career-high) on a very solid 0.273 hitting percentage. She was only one dig shy of a double-double in the match. 

Gruber is a senior from Belgrade, MN in her second season with Marauders Volleyball.