BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary volleyball team returns to the McDowell Activity Center for their final home series of the 2022 season. The Marauders host the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles on Friday, October 28, at 6 pm and then will wrap up the home schedule Saturday, October 29, at 2 pm against the Bemidji State University Beavers.
PACK THE MAC
The Marauders will be hosting a "Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night" for Friday's matchup against Minnesota Crookston, for which UMary faculty and staff can show their MCard to receive free admission for themselves and a guest. Saturday's matchup against Bemidji State is "2022 Campers Day" for which kids grades K-8 will receive free admission.

LAST TIME OUT
The UMary volleyball team (4-20, 3-13 NSIC) is coming off a 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 16-25, 25-19) victory over Minot State University on Tuesday, completing a season sweep over their in-state rival for the third consecutive season. The last home matchup for the Marauders kicked off the homecoming athletics competition on Thursday, October 20. The MAC was filled with lively energy for a "White Out" night against Northern State University, but the Marauders fell to the Wolves 3-1 despite back-and-forth action throughout most of the matchup.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Robi Binagi has emerged over the past few weeks as a reliable attacker for the Marauders. The sophomore from Pewaukee, WI, is coming off her finest performance of her career thus far in Tuesday's victory over Minot State when she swung for 12 kills (0.267 hitting percentage) and dug up 13 balls defensively. Binagi was also among the Marauders leaders in the attack earlier this season against Northern State, Southwest Minnesota State, and Minnesota State, Mankato.

Nehkyah Ellis is the leader in kills for the Marauders with 195 and ranks second on the team with 18 service aces and 257 digs. Ellis is bound to break 200 kills for the second straight season this weekend and has four regular season matches left to chase her personal season best in kills with 239 from last season.

Kaia Sueker moves back into 2^nd place in the Northern Sun digs column this week. The sophomore from Marshall, MN, has 385 digs on the season and averages 4.75 digs per set. Sueker is closing in on her personal season best in digs with 400 from last season but is currently posting her best digs per set average in a season, 0.83 points higher than her 2021 season mark.

Maddie Cooper has been a consistent threat in the middle for UMary all season. The sophomore from Fargo, ND, has brought down 152 kills (0.236 hitting percentage) and posted a team-high 63 total blocks.

Maddy Freed continues to feed the Marauders attack consistently. The freshman from Lawrence, KS, has 434 assists on the season and posted her 2^nd career-high total of 36 assists Tuesday night against Minot State.

THE OPPOSITION
When UMary hosts the University of Minnesota Crookston (4-20, 3-13 NSIC) Friday night at 6 pm, it will be the second meeting of the season between the Marauders and the Golden Eagles. UMary earned a 3-2 victory over UM Crookston on the road on September 17 (26-28, 25-20, 19-25, 25-21, 15-13). Natalie Koke has been a standout setter for the Golden Eagles this season with 635 assists. Audrey Cariveau leads in the attack with 230 kills.
The Marauders will turn around Saturday afternoon to host the Bemidji State University Beavers (3-21, 2-14 NSIC). The Beavers defeated the Marauders in Bemidji earlier this season 3-0 (13-25, 12-25, 16-25) on September 16. Hallie Mertz leads the Beavers attack with 227 kills and also leads the team in digs with 180.

The Marauders enjoyed hardy victories over both Bemidji State and UM Crookston last season in the MAC. The Marauders defeated the Beavers of Bemidji State 3-1 on October 22, 2021, and later the Marauders gained another 3-1 victory over the Golden Eagles of Minnesota Crookston on October 23, 2021.

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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