BISMARCK, ND - The University of Mary Volleyball team ventures to southern Minnesota for a pair of NSIC challenges October 6-7. The Marauders will start the weekend Friday night against the nationally-ranked #2 Concordia - St. Paul Golden Bears at 6 p.m. They will conclude the weekend Saturday afternoon against the Winona State University Warriors at 2 p.m.
THE RECORDS
UMary enters the weekend 4-11 overall and 0-7 in the NSIC. #2 Concordia - St. Paul sits only behind #1 Wayne State in both the AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II national poll and in the NSIC standings with a 15-1 overall record and 6-1 in the conference. Winona State is receiving national votes just outside the AVCA top 25 with an 11-4 overall record and 4-3 in conference play.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Maddie Cooper had a big night in the Marauders 3-2 defeat to Northern State (RV) Tuesday night. The junior from Fargo, ND earned North Dakota Petroleum Foundation Player of the Game honors with 11 kills (0.346 hitting percentage), 4.0 blocks, and 2 ace serves. Cooper sits third on the team in kills with 98 and is still the blocks leader with 46.0 total.
Ally Gruber is still the kills leader for the Marauders with 144. The senior from Belgrade, MN also has 12 aces, 148 digs, and 23.0 blocks to her credit. Gruber swung for 14 kills Tuesday night against NSU.
Nehkyah Ellis had another solid game attacking on Tuesday with 13 kills, and her 9 digs were just one shy of her fourth double-double on the season. Ellis has 126 kills, 12 service aces, and 135 digs so far this season.
Kameron Selvig has been solid setting up the Marauders attack this season with 417 assists, 43 of which came on Tuesday against NSU. Selvig also has 31 kills, 11 aces, 135 digs, and 18.0 blocks thus far.
Kaia Sueker is the team leader in digs with 211, averaging 4.49 per set.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
The Golden Bears return home to Gangelhoff Center Friday on a 6-game winning streak. A big reason for their continued success this season is the attack led by Sophia Anderson and Jasmine Mulvihill who are among the kills leaders in the NSIC with 194 a piece.
Teagan Starkey is also the nation's assists leader with 13.15 per set (767 total).
The Golden Bears were national runner-ups in Division II Volleyball last season, coming up just one game short 1-3 to West Texas A&M in the National Championship game.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS
The Warriors return home for the first time in two weeks this weekend, playing Minot State Friday night before meeting the Marauders Saturday afternoon. Sidney Paulson leads the Warriors attack with 191 kills, which stands amongst the most in the NSIC.
Kylie Welch is also one of the most lethal servers in the conference with 30 aces, tied for the second most in the NSIC.
THE STAFF
Abby Pollart returns for her third season as the head coach of Marauders Volleyball. Joining Pollart also for her third season in the program is Assistant Coach
Bree Spenner, as well as
Thalianette Garcia in her first season as a Graduate Assistant Coach.
FOLLOW ALONG
Both games this weekend will have links to live stats and live video streams which can be found at goumary.com/coverage.
#marauders#
