THIS WEEK
The University of Mary volleyball team (2-12, 1-5 NSIC) venture this weekend for a test on the road in southern Minnesota. Friday at 6 pm, the Marauders will square off with the third-ranked team in NCAA Division II, Concordia-St. Paul (12-2, 5-1 NSIC). The road trip will conclude Saturday at 2 pm with the Marauders taking on Minnesota State University – Mankato (2-12, 1-5 NSIC).
 
LAST TIME OUT
UMary battled tough last weekend at home against the always-solid volleyball programs from Upper Iowa and Winona State. The Marauders fell 3-0 in the opener Friday against Upper Iowa (19-25, 11-25, 10-25), who have won its last three straight matches. On Saturday, the Marauders hung around with Winona State but suffered the same fate to the Warriors in a 3-0 defeat (17-25, 14-25, 17-25).
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kaia Sueker remains among the best liberos in the Northern Sun after five weeks of great effort from the back row. Sueker stands out as the Marauders leader in digs with 228, averaging 4.65 per set, and those numbers rank 2^nd in the NSIC. Sueker also stands 2^nd on the team with 11 aces from the service line.
 
Nehkyah Ellis is coming off another weekend where her versatility was on full display, leading the Marauders attack with 16 total kills and 19 total digs against the Peacocks and Warriors. Ellis still stands as the leader of the Marauders attack with 118 kills on the season, as well as the leader in aces with 12. To compliment her offensive prowess, Ellis has also collected 176 digs, which stands 2^nd on the team to Sueker.
 
Maddy Freed is also coming off a solid weekend, setting the Marauders up with 18 assists against Upper Iowa and 25 against Winona State, earning ND Petroleum Foundation Player of the Game honors. The freshman Freed currently is 2^nd on the team with 170 assists. Kameron Selvig has contributed a team-high 202 assists thus far.
 
Maddie Cooper has been solid in the middle all season for the Marauders. She is currently second on the team with 85 kills and has been a force defensively with a team-high 40 total blocks. Emily Torborg and Alexandria Harper have complimented Cooper nicely, with Torborg collecting 80 kills and 9 aces, and Harper rejecting 33 balls at the net.  
 
Reyna Isenbart has been a great addition to the Marauders starting lineup as she stands 3^rd on the team with 82 kills and 32 blocks.
 
THE OPPOSITION
Friday's opponent Concordia – St. Paul currently stands as one of the best teams in the nation, coming in as the third-ranked team this week in the NCAA DII AVCA poll. The Golden Bears are 12-2 overall and 5-1 in the NSIC, their only blemishes so far on the year are from Wayne State, the number one ranked team in NCAA DII women's volleyball. Junior outside hitter Jasmine Mulvihill has the most total kills of any attacker in the NSIC with 223 and ranks 2^nd in the conference with 4.55 kills per set. Sophomore Teagan Starkey is among the best setters in the conference with 506 assists currently and averages an NSIC-best 12.97 assists per set.
 
Saturday's opponent Minnesota State University – Mankato is currently 2-12 overall with a 1-5 record in the NSIC. The Mavericks offensive attack is paced by Brooke Bolwerk with 286 assists, as well as Makayla Snow with 228 assists. Junior Sophie Tietz leads the Mavericks attack with 119 kills.
 
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.
 
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