DULUTH, MN – The University of Mary volleyball team travels to Duluth, MN, to take on the #15 University of Minnesota Duluth on Friday, October 3, at 6 pm. UMary then travels to Bemidji, MN, to challenge Bemidji State University on Saturday, October 4, at 11 am.

THE RECORD
The Marauders are 4-9 and 1-4 in the Northern Sun this season.

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

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders fell in their first home matches of the season, losing 3-0 to Winona State University and Concordia-St. Paul.

STAT LEADERS
Judith Burke leads the team in kills (154), kills per set (3.35) and total points (163.5). She ranks 9^th in the NSIC in kills, 9^th in kills per set and 18^th in total points.

Natalie Boehmer has the most assists (258) on the Marauders. Boehmer ranks 13^th in the conference in total assists and in assists per set (5.61).

Katie Bleeker has a team-best 150 digs and averages 3.26 digs per set. Bleeker is 15^th in the NSIC in digs and digs per set.

Dani Highum leads UMary in serving aces (15) and is second in digs (96) and kills (133).

Gabby Caskey holds the most blocks (28) on the team, averaging 0.61 blocks per set.

OPPO RESEARCH – UMD
UMD is 11-1 overall and 4-1 in the NSIC. The Bulldogs are ranked #15 in the country. Junior right side hitter Madeline Guetzkow leads the team in kills (171) with a .320 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Ava Jones is second in the conference in assists (554) and assists per set (11.79). Junior defensive specialist Madison Reed leads in digs with 219.

OPPO RESEARCH – BSU
BSU is 3-10 this season and 0-5 in the Northern Sun. Sophomore outside hitter Lily Riese has recorded 141 kills for the Beavers. Freshman setter Madison Tripp leads the team in assists (274), averaging 5.83 assists per game. Freshman right side hitter Karley Dunham has the most blocks (35) on BSU.

FREED NAMED PLAYER TO WATCH
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced that Maddy Freed was named the Marauders Player to Watch. The senior setter led the Marauders in assists (843), assists per set (9.16) and aces (25). The Lawrence, KS, native also contributed 168 digs and 27 blocks.

MARAUDERS PICKED TO FINISH 14^TH IN THE NSIC
The 2024 NSIC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll projected the Marauders to finish 14^th in the conference for this upcoming season. Last year, UMary took 14^th in the NSIC after finishing the season with a 4-22 record overall and a 2-16 record against Northern Sun competition.

THE STAFF
Rob Frost enters his first year as the Marauders head volleyball coach. A native of Ohio, Frost spent the 2024 season as an assistant coach at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN. Frost's head coaching résumé includes leading Bethel University (IN) in 2023 to a 26-7 overall record and a 13-5 mark in conference play. The Pilots reached as high as No. 15 in the national poll and qualified for the NAIA national tournament.

Prior to that, he spent eight seasons (2011-18) as the head coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) in Belton, TX. There, he guided the Crusaders to three national tournament appearances and five American Southwest Conference (ASC) West Division championships. 

Madeline Caillicoat returns for her second season as an assistant coach for the UMary volleyball program. Last year, Callicoat served as the graduate assistant coach for the Marauders.

RETURNERS
The Marauders bring back 12 returners from last year's team. Returning alongside Freed are Gabby Caskey, Jenna Lansing, Chloe Solheid, Karina Hixon, Judith Burke, Aubrey Flynn, Holli Klettheimer, Dani Highum, Natalie Boehmer, Shea Barron and Bailey Barnes.

NEW FACES
Coach Frost and his staff added five freshmen to the mix for the 2025 season. Abby LeMay, Emma Bixby, Lily Peterson, Myra Newman and Katie Bleeker will each look to make an impact in their first debut college season.

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