THIS WEEK
The University of Mary Volleyball team returns to action September 2-3 with four more matches in the Pittsburg State Gorilla Classic Tournament in Pittsburg, KS. The Marauders open tournament play on Friday against the University of Arkansas at Monticello (11:30 am) followed by a nightcap against the host Pittsburg State University (4:30 pm). Saturday will consist of an early morning match against New Mexico Highlands University (9:00 am) and later the Marauders will take on Cameron University (2:00 pm).
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Visit www.goumary.com/coverage for links to webcasts and live stats for all Marauders sports.
 
THE RECORD
The Marauders are entering the tournament 0-4 after starting off the 2022 season at the Yellowjacket Volleyball Invitational August 26-27 in Billings, MT hosted by Montana State University Billings. UMary took two set victories on the weekend including their first of the season, 25-11, over Chadron State College, and later on Saturday in set 3, 25-16, over South Dakota Mines. The Marauders opponents from the opening weekend yield a combined record of 11-6. Seven total sets were decided within 6 points. The Marauders opponents in the Pittsburg State Gorilla Classic have a combined record of 5-12.
 
EARLY ONSLAUGHT
Nehkyah Ellis continues to prove herself as one of the most formidable attackers for UMary. Coming off a junior campaign that was highlighted by a team-high 239 kills, the senior from Central Point, OR leads the Marauders currently with 34 kills. Ellis got off to a hot start in the opening match garnering 15 kills in the defeat to Chadron State. Incoming junior Reyna Isenbart is second on the team with 23 kills after leading the Marauders in the attack in the matchups against MSUB (9 kills) and South Dakota Mines (7 kills). The Marauders also received nice support in the middle from returners Maddie Cooper (22 kills), Emily Torborg (19 kills), and Alexandria Harper (16 kills).
 
SERVICE LINE
Nehkyah Ellis leads the Marauders in another offensive stat after collecting six aces throughout the stay in Billings. Two of those aces came consecutively to close out a 25-16 set victory against South Dakota Mines. Junior transfer Emily Baumstarck added to the Marauders service success with 5 aces throughout the weekend. Emily Torborg, Kaia Sueker, Ally Gruber, and Kayla Lewinski all added multiple aces on the weekend as well.
 
SUEKER DIGS
Sophomore libero Kaia Sueker returned with her range on full display, which led the Marauders with an impressive 400 digs (3.92 digs per set), ranking 10^th in the NSIC in 2021. Sueker covered plenty of ground throughout the weekend reaching for 69 digs (4.93 per set) throughout 14 sets.
 
SUPPORT FROM THE MIDDLE
To compliment 22 kills, Maddie Cooper also leads the Marauders defensively having a hand in 9 total blocks. She's followed by Alexandria Harper with 7 blocks, and Kameron Selvig and Reyna Isenbart who each add 5.
 
DIRECTION
Kameron Selvig leads the Marauders in a wide margin of assists with 88 total. The sophomore from Jamestown, ND is the returning leader in assists from 2021 with 604, and 5.92 assists per set which ranked 14^th in the NSIC last season.
 
NEXT UP
The Marauders will return to Bismarck to open up NSIC competition at the MAC September 9-10. UMary's home opener will be against St. Cloud State Friday September 9 at the MAC (6 pm), followed by a matinee matchup against the visiting University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday September 10 (2 pm).
 
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