THIS WEEK
Fresh off a midweek sweep of their closest rival, the University of Mary volleyball team (3-14, 2-7 NSIC) remains at home inside the McDowell Activity Center on Friday and Saturday, October 7-8, for another home series of conference matchups. The Marauders will host the University of Sioux Falls Cougars (9-7, 5-4 NSIC) Friday at 6 pm, and then the nationally ranked #8 Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs (15-2, 7-2 NSIC) Saturday at 2 pm.
 
SWEEP DRIPPED IN ORANGE
UMary volleyball had one of their best outings of the season earlier this week with a 3-0 sweep (25-23, 26-24, 25-13) over Minot State on Tuesday. Nehkyah Ellis had a great performance with a team-high nine kills and 17 digs, plus eight kills apiece from Maddie Cooper and Reyna Isenbart paced the Marauders attack. Maddy Freed turned in another impressive setting performance with 26 assists. Kaia Sueker also aided in the win with 18 digs. The Marauders also dominated the Beavers from the service line with Chloe Lieser dishing out an incredible five ace serves and Kameron Selvig also chipping in two aces.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nehkyah Ellis continues to stand out as a versatile leader for UMary. Ellis is still the leading attacker for the Marauders with 140 kills, holds a team-high 14 ace serves and is second in digs with 201.
Kaia Sueker has contributed consistently from the back row all season as the libero for the Marauders. Sueker remains 2^nd in the NSIC with 273 digs, averaging 4.71 per set.
 
Three Marauders hitters are bound to surpass the century mark for season kills this weekend. Maddie Cooper is one of three Marauders who have started in every match this season and she has earned it with 99 kills (0.228 hitting %) and a team-high 47 total blocks. Reyna Isenbart has also turned heads from the outside with her 97 kills, 33 blocks, and 104 digs. Emily Torborg has also been a key contributor with 90 kills, 128 digs, and nine ace serves.
 
Maddy Freed now leads the Marauders with 235 assists, averaging 5.11 per set. The lone freshman on the Marauders has now turned in six consecutive performances with no less than 18 assists.
 
THE OPPOSITION
Sioux Falls enters the weekend with a 9-7 overall record and 5-4 in the Northern Sun. The Cougars are led by a balanced attack behind three underclassmen in Courtney Holsteen (172 kills), Grace Hanel (149 kills), and Sadie Voss (146 kills). Another freshman, Elise Gillen, has also had success as the leading setter with 400 assists for the Cougars offensively.
 
Saturday's matchup will mark the 4^th NSIC opponent ranked nationally in the top 10 for the Marauders this season. Southwest Minnesota State is ranked 8^th team in the country this week with a 14-2 overall record and a 7-2 record in the Northern Sun. The Mustangs have enjoyed success under a very well-rounded attack at the net, which has been orchestrated by standout setter Alisa Bengen (659 assists, 10.46 per set). Rachel Fink has also stood out with stellar serving, pitching in 27 ace serves on the season.
 
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.
 
CANCER AWARENESS WEEKEND
Paired with UMary SAAC, the UMary Volleyball team will be putting on a "Fight Night" No One Fights Alone Cancer Awareness Weekend. After each set, fans can help contribute to the fight against cancer by offering donations to SAAC athletes navigating through the stands. Fans can also offer donations to honor loved ones either currently battling or having dealt with cancer. Fans will receive ribbons for which they can write the names of the people they choose to honor. Those ribbons will be hung during the matchups as the Marauders will honor all those battling or who have battled cancer throughout the weekend.
 
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