KEARNEY, NE - The University of Mary volleyball team travels to Kearney, NE, to compete in the Rosella Meier UNK Fall Classic.

UMary opens with two games on Friday, September 13, first going up against the University of Nebraska at Kearney at noon and Chadron State College at 4 pm. The Marauders then play two more matches on Saturday, September 14, taking on Missouri Southern State University at 10 am and Oklahoma Christian University at 4 pm.

FOLLOW LIVE
Fans can watch live or follow live stats at www.GoUMary.com/coverage

LAST TIME OUT
UMary went 1-3 in the Mountain Lion Classic. The Marauders defeated Cameron University (3-1) but fell to the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (3-1), Fort Hays State University (3-2) and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (3-1).

Gabby Caskey was efficient in her attacks as she recorded 52 kills over the four games to give her a hitting percentage of .404. Gaskey averaged 3.06 kills per set and 3.56 points per set.

Maddy Freed recorded 168 assists, averaging 9.88 assists per set. Freed also recorded ten blocks and 29 digs.

Charli Blackman leads the Marauders in kills after the Mountain Lion Classic. Blackman posted 55 kills while averaging 3.24 kills per set. She also recorded 44 digs.  

Kaia Sueker leads the team in digs with 63, averaging 3.70 digs per set.

OPPO RESEARCH
UNK is 5-0 to open the season and has yet to concede a set this year. Mia Berg leads the team in Kills with 38. Peyton Neff is the Lopers leader in assists with 180. Ali Wiese has the most digs on the team, with 56.

CHS is 0-4 to begin the year. Kally Kirkwood has the most kills on the team with 22. Kendyl Kirkwood has recorded the most assists on the Eagles with 63. Alondra Hernandez leads the team in digs with 55.

MSSU is 0-4 to start the season. Alana Moesch has recorded 52 kills, which leads the team. Kyla Randall leads the Lions in digs with 79. Landrey VanOverschelde has posted the most assists on the team, with 108.

OCU is undefeated at 4-0 to open the year. Sophie Mae Smith leads the team in assists with 101. Chloe Jones has the most kills on the Eagles with 57. Cameron McGough has recorded the most blocks on the team, with 18.  

MARAUDERS PICKED TO FINISH 12^TH IN THE NSIC
The 2024 NSIC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll projected the Marauders to finish 12^th in the Northern Sun this upcoming season. Last season, UMary took 12^th in the NSIC after finishing the season with a 9-19 record overall and a 4-14 record in conference action.

PLAYER TO WATCH
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced that returning fifth-year senior Maddie Cooper is the player to watch for UMary for the 2024 season. Cooper is the Marauders leading returner from last year in kills (204), kills per set (2.04), blocks (77), blocks per set (0.75), and hitting percentage (.230). The Fargo, ND, native also provided UMary with 24 serving aces and 50 digs last season.

THE STAFF
Abby Pollart returns for her fourth season as the head coach of Marauders Volleyball. Joining Pollart, also for her fourth season in the program, is assistant coach Bree Spenner, as well as Madeleine Callicoat in her first season as a Graduate Assistant Coach.

RETURNERS
The Marauders bring back ten returners from last year's team. Returning alongside Cooper are seniors Kayla Lewinski, McKenna Kirkpatrick, Reyna Isenbart, Robi Binagi, Chloe Lieser and Kaia Sueker. Other returners include junior Maddy Freed and sophomores Chloe Solheid and Karina Hixon.

NEW FACES
Coach Pollart and her staff added three transfers to the mix for the 2024 season. Jenna Lansing (Wartburg College), Gabby Caskey (McCook Community College) and Charli Blackman (Western Nebraska Community College) will each look to make an immediate impact. The 2024 freshman class includes Judith Burke, Aubrey Flynn, Holli Klettheimer, Natalie Boehmer, Shea Barron, Bailey Barnes and Dani Highum.

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