BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary volleyball team prepares to host their first home matches of the season, opening against Winona State University on Friday, September 26, at 6 pm in the McDowell Activity Center. UMary then welcomes #13 Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, September 27, at 1 pm.

THE RECORD
The Marauders are 4-7 and 1-2 in the Northern Sun this season.

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

LAST TIME OUT
UMary defeated in-state rivals Minot State University 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-17, 25-20) on Tuesday. Judith Burke posted a career-high 17 kills, and Dani Highum had 13 kills on a .306 hitting percentage. Maddy Freed recorded a season-best 28 assists and four aces.

STAT LEADERS
Judith Burke leads the team in kills (136), kills per set (3.40) and total points (144). She ranks 9^th in the NSIC in kills, 8^th in kills per set and 11^th in total points.

Natalie Boehmer has the most assists (245) on the Marauders and assists per set (6.13). Boehmer ranks 11^th in total assists and 9^th in assists per set.

Katie Bleeker has a team-best 142 digs and averages 3.55 digs per set. Bleeker is 12^th in the NSIC in digs and digs per set.

Dani Highum leads UMary in serving aces (14) and is second in digs (88) and kills (120). She ranks 19^th in the conference in aces and 20^th in aces per set.

Gabby Caskey holds the most blocks (20) on the team, averaging 0.50 blocks per set.

OPPO RESEARCH – WSU
WSU is 7-4 overall and 2-1 in the Northern Sun. Junior outside hitter Kenna Kornely leads the Warriors and the NSIC in kills (175), averaging 4.17 kills per set. Junior setter Ashlyn Steding has the most assists (246) on the team. Senior middle blocker Gianna Vollrath leads the conference in blocks with 51.

OPPO RESEARCH – CSP
CSP is 7-3 overall and 3-0 in the NSIC. The Golden Bears are ranked #13 in the nation. Sophomore outside hitter Mackenna Nold holds the most kills (153) on the team and leads the conference in kills per set (4.25). Sophomore setter Reagan Hickey leads CSP in assists (307).  Senior libero leads the Golden Bears in digs (138).

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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