THIS WEEK: The University Of Mary (3-1) is scheduled to play Dickinson State University (1-7) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 in Dickinson N.D. Three days later the Marauders travel to Kearney, Neb., to compete in the New Victorian Inn & Suites/Runza Fall Classic. UMary's first match is at 2:30 p.m. against Newman University (2-2) at the Health & Sports Center. The other teams participating in the tournament are Black Hills State University (0-3), Northwestern Oklahoma State University (0-4) and host, the University of Nebraska at Kearney (4-0). Live stats are available here and live video will be available here for the Marauders second match against the Loopers at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.
 
THE SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, Sept. 6
7 p.m.. Dickinson State University vs. University of Mary
 
Friday, Sept. 9
2:30 p.m. Newman University vs. University of Mary  
7 p.m. University of Nebraska at Kearney vs. University of Mary
 
Saturday, Sept. 10
10 a.m. University of Mary vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State University
4:45 p.m. University of Mary vs. Black Hills State University
 
UP NEXT: UMary will compete in its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match of the 2016 season at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 at Aberdeen, S.D. against Northern State University.
 
THE SERIES: This will be the third meeting between UMary and DSU, the Marauders lead the series 2-0 … UMary and the Jets meet for the first time, NU is a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference … For the third time the Marauders will take on the Loopers, a member of the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association. UNK holds the 2-0 record over the blue and orange … UMary and the Rangers, a member of the Great American Conference, meet for the second time as the Marauders lead the series 1-0 … And the final opponent of the week, the Yellow Jackets, a member of the Rock Mountain Athletic Conference, will meet UMary for the third time. BHSU leads the series 2-0.
 
RANDALL EARNS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM HONORS: UMary junior outside hitter Lauren Randall finished with a tournament high 71 kills and 10 service aces while making the 2016 All-Tournament Team at the Washburn Invitational last weekend. For her career, Randall has 580 kills and is averaging 4.73 kills per set this season.
 
PROUD HISTORY: The Marauders 3-1 start through four matches is the best start since joining the NCAA. UMary has started a season off with a 2-2 record three times since 2006.
 
MARAUDERS PICKED 12th IN NSIC: After coming off one of the best seasons in team history, the University of Mary women's volleyball team was picked 12th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason coaches' poll. 
 
UMary finished 10th in the NSIC last season, and received 65 points in the poll to place them tied for 12th out of 16 teams with St. Cloud State.  
 
The Marauders will return five starters, including junior outside hitter Lauren Randall plus the libero in Alex Brown.
 
2016 Northern Sun Coaches Preseason Poll

1. Concordia-St. Paul (13)	219
2. Southwest Minnesota State (1)	194
3. Minnesota Duluth	185
4. Winona State	174
5. Wayne State (2)	171
6. Augustana	169
7. Northern State	148
8. Minnesota State	137
9. Sioux Falls	105
10. MSU Moorhead	101
11. Upper Iowa	73
12. UMary	65
St. Cloud State	65
14. Minnesota Crookston	60
15. Minot State	29
16. Bemidji State	25

THE COACH: A former All-American with extensive playing and coaching experience in the United States and internationally, Thais Franca was announced as the new University of Mary head volleyball coach on Dec. 4, 2014.
 
A native of Santos, Brazil, Franca returned to collegiate coaching in the spring of 2014 when she moved to Bismarck, N.D., as the Marauders assistant coach. While working in her home country since 2010, she was a volunteer volleyball assistant coach for Prefeitura Municipal de Cubatão from 2011-13.
 
In her second season at the helm, Franca has a career record of 13-18 with the Marauders.
 
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