BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary volleyball team officially kicks off the athletic schedule during homecoming week on Thursday night. The Marauders host Northern State University for a "White Out" game Thursday at 6 pm in the McDowell Activity Center. UMary will then be on the road for an I-94 matchup with Minnesota State University Moorhead on Saturday at 2 pm.
 
WHITE OUT NIGHT
Thursday night's matchup against NSU will be a "White Out" theme so fans are encouraged to pack the MAC and support the Marauders wearing white in the stands. The first 250 UMary students will receive a free homecoming shirt!
 
LAST TIME OUT
UMary is coming off another weekend facing stout NSIC competition, including the top-ranked team in the AVCA DII polls for five weeks in a row. The Marauders (3-18, 2-11) suffered a pair of defeats on October 14 and 15 to #1 Wayne State College and Augustana University. Maddie Cooper had a solid weekend with 19 total kills and Maddy Freed dished out 51 assists through the two matchups to help the Marauders attack.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Kaia Sueker currently ranks 3^rd in the NSIC amongst the top liberos with her 322 digs on the season, averaging 4.6 a set. Sueker is also third on the team with 14 ace serves.
• Nehkyah Ellis remains the top Marauders attacker coming into this week with 167 kills. She also is tied for the team-high in aces with 16 and is second behind Sueker in digs with 231.
• Maddie Cooper is coming off another solid weekend as she stands second on the team with 128 kills and leads the Marauders with 55 total blocks.
• Robi Binagi has emerged as of late as a reliable attacker for the Marauders. The sophomore from Pewaukee, WI has stood among the leaders in kills for the past two weeks of competition and turned in a double-double performance (11 kills, 10 digs) against #5 Southwest Minnesota State on October 8^th.
• McKenna Kirkpatrick is another Marauder emerging as a notable presence in the middle of the net. The sophomore from Chapman, KS, blocked seven total balls against #5 Southwest Minnesota State on October 8 and had three blocks and two aces against Augustana on Saturday. Kirkpatrick is also tied with Ellis for the team-high in aces with 16.
• Reyna Isenbart remains a top attacker for UMary with 119 kills and is second on the team with 41 total blocks. Maddy Freed also had another solid weekend setting for the Marauders as the freshman added to her team-high assists total at 338.

 
THE OPPOSITION
Northern State enters the MAC Thursday night with a 12-9 overall record, and 7-6 in the Northern Sun. The Wolves are led by a solid attack, paced by Sally Gauld who ranks 4^th in the NSIC with 253 kills, averaging 3.83 a set. Keri Walker is also among the leading setters in the NSIC, ranking 6^th with 708 assists and averaging 10.73 per set.
Minnesota State University Moorhead will host the Marauders Saturday at 2 pm. The Dragons have a 5-16 overall record, 2-11 in the Northern Sun. Bridget Witzmann ranks 13^th in the NSIC with 228 total kills while averaging 3.17 per set. Tori Thompson stands 2^nd on the team with 130 kills but hits a very efficient 0.284% offensively.
 
THE STAFF
Abby Pollart is in her second season as head coach of the University of Mary volleyball team. Pollart returned to UMary in 2021 after serving as an assistant coach from 2018-19. Pollart returned with head coaching experience after a successful stint at Central Community College (CCC) in Columbus, NE, from 2019-21. Pollart also has previous coaching experience with Concordia University (NE) and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.

Also returning for her second season as an assistant coach is Bree Ackerman. Ackerman was a standout libero/defensive specialist for the Wayne State College Wildcats where she was three-time NSIC All-Academic. Jeni Walsh also returns for her third season as an assistant coach for the Marauders. Walsh also serves UMary as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Student Success and Senior Woman Administrator. Tara Callahan enters her first year as an assistant coach, previously playing collegiately under Pollart at Concordia University where Callahan was a standout setter, ranking second in career assists. Nate Nguyen also returns for another year as an assistant coach for the Marauders.
 
VOLLEYBALL TICKETS
Game tickets for Marauders athletics are available online at www.UMaryTickets.com and at the gate for all UMary athletics

• Adults | $10 + fees online and $15 (CASH ONLY) at the gate
• Seniors (65+) and youth 13-18 | $5 + fees online and $10 (CASH ONLY) at the gate
• Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult | Free
• Children 12 and under with no adult present| $5
• UMary students and faculty and staff with their MCard and youth 12 and younger are admitted free.

Please note that ticket sales at the gate are CASH ONLY purchases. Fans receive a discounted rate on tickets when purchased online at www.umarytickets.com than at the gate. Fans are also able to purchase tickets using credit and debit cards when ordering online while sales at the ticket booth are cash only.
 
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