MANKATO, MN – The University of Mary volleyball team kicks off Northern Sun competition on the road against Minnesota State University, Mankato, on Friday, September 19, at 6 pm. The Marauders then travel to St. Cloud, MN, to take on St. Cloud State University at 2 pm on Saturday, September 20.
THE RECORD
The Marauders are 3-5 to open the season as they begin conference play.
FOLLOW LIVE
Fans can watch live or follow live stats at
www.GoUMary.com/coverage
LAST TIME OUT
UMary went 2-2 at the 1st International Bank Homecoming Classic last week. UMary fell in five sets to the University of Manitoba and Black Hills State University before rallying back to sweep Montana State University Billings and Brandon University.
STAT LEADERS
Judith Burke leads the team in kills (104), kills per set (3.47) and total points (108).
Natalie Boehmer has the most assists (233) on the Marauders and assists per set (7.77).
Katie Bleeker holds a team-best 122 digs and averages 4.07 digs per set.
Dani Highum leads UMary in serving aces (12) and is second in digs (70) and kills (92).
Gabby Caskey and
Jenna Lansing are tied for the most blocks (12) on the team, averaging 0.43 blocks per set.
OPPO RESEARCH – MSU
MSU is 8-0 to begin the season. Junior outside hitter Mary Satori leads the Mavericks in kills (77) and kills per set (3.08). Sophomore setter Jadyn Lester holds the most assists (266) and assists per set (10.64). Senior libero Ellie Kline holds the most digs (110), averaging 4.40 digs per set.
OPPO RESEARCH – SCSU
The Huskies are 5-3 to open the year. Senior middle blocker Ella Thomspon has 97 kills thus far, averaging 3.72 kills per set. Sophomore setter Braya LaPlant leads SCSU with 243 assists, averaging 10.13 assists per set. Sophomore libero Laurin Hamann has the most digs on the team (121), averaging 4.32 digs per set.
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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