BISMARCK, ND - Led by many returners who pitched in consistently big performances, the University of Mary Volleyball team enjoyed solid play to start the new season 2-2 in Billings, MT last weekend. The Marauders will look to finish their non-conference schedule off strong this weekend in the Black Hills.

THIS WEEKEND
UMary Volleyball will be one of the six teams playing at the 2023 Yellow Jacket Classic September 8-9 hosted by Black Hills State University. The Marauders will once again play four non-conference games in two days, starting Friday morning against South Dakota Mines (3-1) at 8 a.m., and then the host BHSU (3-1) at 6 p.m. The weekend concludes Saturday with matchups against Montana State University Billings (2-2) at 9 a.m. and later Texas A&M University - Kingsville (4-0) at 1 p.m. 

This weekend marks the Marauders second meeting between MSU Billings and Black Hills State in consecutive weeks. UMary defeated MSU Billings 3-1 in their first matchup of the season, and narrowly lost in five sets to BHSU to end the tournament on a competitive note. 

FOLLOW LIVE
Each match will feature live stats and live video streams. All of the links can be found at goumary.com/coverage.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ally Gruber was named the first NDPF Female Athlete of the Week for the 2023 season after a great start to her second year in the orange and blue. She enters week two as the Marauders leader in kills with 43 on a 0.237 hitting percentage. The senior from Belgrade, MN had a career-high 17 kills last Saturday night against BHSU. Gruber also stands second on the team in digs with 49 (3.50 per set) and has 2 service aces. 

Along with Gruber, Nehkyah Ellis was a standout hitter for the Marauders last weekend. The senior from Central Point, OR smacked 40 kills throughout the Yellowjacket Invitational. Her weekend started off strong with a team-high 14 kills in the Marauders season-opening win over MSU Billings. 

Maddie Cooper and Alexandria Harper proved to be a dynamic duo in the middle last weekend. Cooper, a junior from Fargo, ND, led the Marauders with 13.0 total blocks (5 solo) and swung for 31 kills on a team-high 0.244 hitting percentage. Harper, a junior from Las Vegas, NV, was strong at the net as well, putting up 12.0 total blocks and 29 kills. 

Kameron Selvig was key in the Marauders first two wins of the season. The senior from Jamestown, ND paced the Marauders with 113 assists and 5 service aces, both team-highs for UMary. 

Chloe Lieser was big for the Marauders in the back row last weekend. The junior from Cold Spring, MN led the Marauders with 54 digs (3.60 per set) and added 4 service aces. 

Reyna Isenbart started her second year off with the Marauders with solid performances last weekend. The senior from Stratton, CO had 24 kills and 10.0 total blocks. 

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. 

HOME DEBUT
UMary Volleyball will return home to the McDowell Activity Center on September 15-16. The Marauders will open league play in the Northern Sun against #8 Minnesota Duluth on Friday, September 15 at 6 p.m. The homestand will end with a 2 p.m. matchup on Saturday, September 16 against #7 St. Cloud State University. These matches will be the first official contests on the newly redesigned Al Bortke Court inside the MAC on the University of Mary campus. 

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