For Immediate Release
Monday, September 11, 2017
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet (PDF)

NSIC Volleyball Players of the Week

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#1 Taylor Reiss (OH, 5-10, Jr., Taunton, Minn./ Minneota HS)
Southwest Minnesota State
- Was named Colorado Premier Tournament MVP
- Averaged 4.00 kills/set over the weekend with 56 total kills in four matches
- Had double digit kills in every match after taking a team high 171 total attacks
- Had 18 total kills in Colorado Premier Championship match, a 3-1 win over No. 1 CSP

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#10 Becca Pagel (Libero, 5-7, Fr., Sumner, Iowa / Sumner-Fredricksburg HS)
Winona State
- Totaled 89 digs for a 5.9 dig per set average in four wins at the UIndy Invite
- Added a career-high 31 digs in a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Grad Valley State
- Chipped in 23 set assists and five service aces

NSIC Setter of the Week
#6 Megan Larson (S, 5-9, Sr., Minneota, Minn. / Minneota HS)
Southwest Minnesota State
- Averaged 13.29 assist per set at Colorado Premier Tournament to lead the NSIC last week
- Recorded 186 total assists as SMSU won the Colorado Premier Tournament for the first time in school history
- Had 40 assists in first two matches becoming Mustangs’ all-time career assists leader
- Had 55 assists in Mustangs’ 3-1 win over No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul
 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-1 vs. Truman W 3-2 vs. LU W 3-1 vs. St. Mary’s (Texas) W 3-1 vs. Ill.-Springfield	8-1, 0-0 NSIC	W7	4th
Team Notes
- Augustana volleyball has won seven matches in a row - The Vikings participated in their first five-set match of the season in a 3-2 victory or Lindenwood
Top Performer(s)
- Senior setter Alex Banker accounted for 188 assists on the weekend, including two double-doubles (47 assists/12 digs vs. Lindenwood; 48 assists/15 digs vs. Illinois-Springfield.) - Banker’s 48 assists vs. Illinois-Springfield was a career-high. - Senior libero Tahlyr Banks tallied 86 digs at the Lindenwood Challenge - Junior OH Courtney Place matched her career high with 21 kills vs. Lindenwood
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14 vs. #2 SMSU – 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at Sioux Falls – 3 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week – 2-2		Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 at Michigan Tech W 3-0 vs. UW-Parkside W 3-2 vs LSSU L 3-0 vs. No. Michigan		3-5, 0-0 NSIC	L1	15th
Team Notes
- Went 2-2 at Keweenaw Classic at Michigan Tech - Defeated Wisconsin-Parkside and Lake Superior State during the tournament - Lost to Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan - Begin NSIC play at St. Cloud State, Thursday
Top Performer(s)
- Freshman Anna Averkamp led the team with a 2.33 kills per set average while Julie Touchett led the team with 30 total kills - Sami Leach, Becka Cronin and Jessica Reega each tallied 20 or more kills - Leach led the team with a 5.93 assists per set average - Freshman Hope Spliter centered the Beavers’ back-court and averaged 3.57 digs per set. Touchett guarded the net and tallied 12 blocks (0.86/s) while junior Maddie Filipiak added 11 (0.85/s)
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14 at St. Cloud State – 6 pm Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Minnesota Duluth – 3 pm

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week – 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-1 vs UWF W 3-1 vs #3 LEWIS W 3-1 vs #6 ASU L 1-3 #2 SMSU	7-1, 0-0 NSIC	L1	1st
Team Notes
- After grabbing four set wins in each of their first three matches of the weekend, #1 CSP had their 26-match winning streak snapped by #2 SMSU in the Colorado Premier Challenge title match - In addition to snapping the win streak on Saturday night, SMSU was also the last team to beat the Golden Bears last season in a five-setter on Oct. 14, 2016 - Concordia’s streak of 26 consecutive wins was the second longest in program history, behind their 75-match win streak from 2008-10 - CSP hit .230 as a team over the weekend while holding their opponents to .167 while also holding a 260-238 edge in digs and a 32.0-30.0 edge in total blocks
Top Performer(s)
- Freshman Tori Hanson played a major role in the back row as she paced the team with 78 digs (4.88 per set) in Denver, grabbing 20+ in each of the final three matches of the weekend - Brooklyn Lewis led CSP with 61 kills (3.81 kills per set) over the weekend as she hit .255 and added eight total blocks (0.50 per set)
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14 vs Upper Iowa – 6 pm Saturday, Sept. 16 at #13 Winona State – 4 pm

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week – 2-3	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-1 vs Valley City State L 3-1 at Michigan Tech L 0-3 vs. Northern Michigan W3-1 vs. Lake Superior State L 3-1 vs. Wisconsin Parkside	4-5, 0-0 NSIC	L1	14th
Team Notes
- Captured their home opener 3-1 over Valley City State - Won one of four matches at the Keweenaw Classic, earning a 3-1 win over Lake Superior State - Hosts Northern State to open NSIC play on Thursday, Sept. 14
Top Performer(s)
- Sr. outside hitter Lauren Randall became the second UMary player to reach 1,000 kills during the school’s NCAA era. She became the Marauders NCAA era career kills leader over the weekend and is sitting at 1,074 kills - The old NCAA era mark was 1,057 by Laci Murtha (2007-10) - Randall posted four straight double doubles and earned a slot on the Keweenaw Classic All-Tournament team - For the week Randall averaged 5.22 kills/set and 2.33 digs - Jr. S Amanda Lopes averaged 9.2 assists/set for the week and 2.25 digs
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14, vs. Northern State – 6 pm Saturday, Sept. 16 at MSU Moorhead – 3 pm

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week – 2-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 MINOT, W 3-1 SDMINES, L 3-0 MSU, L 3-0 NSU	3-5, 0-0 NSIC	L2	12th
Team Notes
- Kassi Green was named to the All-Max & Erma’s Classic Tournament team, garnering her second such honor of the season after being named to the All-South Central Classic Tournament Team the previous weekend - Minnesota Crookston went 2-2 at the Max & Erma’s Classic with wins over Minot State and South Dakota Mines. The Golden Eagles fell to Minnesota State and No. 23 Northern State - The Golden Eagles battled back from a 2-1 deficit against Minot State to pick up the 3-2 victory
Top Performer(s)
- Kassi Green notched 25 kills against Minot State and 21 versus South Dakota Mines. She is averaging 3.96 kills per set on the season - Deaira Gresham tallied 11 kills versus Minot State and 13 against South Dakota Mines - Kaycie Hagen is averaging 7.42 assists per set on the season - Kelci Green leads the block with 0.81 blocks per set on the season
Up Next
Thurs., Sept. 14 at Minnesota Duluth - 6 p.m., Sat., Sept. 16 vs. St. Cloud State - 4 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs Lake Superior State W 3-0 vs Northern Michigan W 3-0 vs Wisconsin-Parkside  W 3-0 vs Michigan Tech	7-1, 0-0 NSIC	W4	3rd
Team Notes
- Won the 2017 Keneenaw Classic in Houghton, Mich. over the weekend and had three players (Sarah Kelly- MVP, Makenzie Morgen and Allison Olley) earn honors to the all-tournament team - The Bulldogs hit .313 and held opponents to a .149 hitting percentage - UMD finished with 17.75 digs per set and 1.75 blocks/set
Top Performer(s)
- Makenzie Morgen had 50 kills (4.17 kills/set) while hitting at a .339 clip. Also chipped in 46 digs (3.83 digs/set) to garner two double-doubles in her four matches - Sarah Kelly led the team with a .436 attack percentage on 43 kills plus added nine block assists - Emily Torve averaged 13.1 assists per set and conducted a balanced offense with the team hitting .313 on the weekend
Up Next - Keweenaw Classic
Thursday, Sept. 14 vs Minnesota Crookston - 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at Bemidji State – 3 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week – 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0, vs. Minot State L 3-0, vs. #23 Northern State W 3-1, vs. S.D. School of Mines W 3-0, vs. Minnesota Crookston	6-2	W2	9th
Team Notes
- Went 3-1 over the weekend - Posted two sweeps with 3-0 wins over Minot State and Minnesota Crookston - Topped South Dakota School of Mines, 3-1, after winning three straight sets - Dropped a 3-0 decision to #23 Northern State - Rank second in the NSIC in service aces with 1.81 per set - Slotted third in the NSIC with a .269 hitting percentage - Have recorded four sweeps on the season
Top Performer(s)
-Sophomore Ashton Lee leads the Mavericks with a team-best .419 hitting percentage including 67 kills - Lee recorded 31 kills over the weekend with six blocks - Junior Sydney Powell leads Minnesota State with a team-high 92 kills to go along with a .257 hitting percentage - Powell registered 46 kills over the weekend with 32 digs and six blocks. Notched match-best 13 kills vs. Minot State - She was also named to the Max & Erma’s All-Tournament team - Freshman Alivia Garbe has totaled 63 kills this season including 37 this past weekend - She has a .249 hitting percentage with 73 digs and five blocks. Garbe was named to the Max & Erma’s All-Tournament team
Up Next
Thursday, Sept 14 vs. Winona State – 6:00 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

Last Week – 1-3	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-1 vs Wayne St. (Mi) L 0-3 at Quincy L 1-3 vs NW Missouri State L 0-3 vs McKendree	5-3, 0-0 NSIC	L3	10th
Team Notes
- Dragons went 1-3 at Quincy Invitational - MSUM opened with four-set win over Wayne State (Mich.) before losing to Quincy, NW Missouri State and McKendree - Jr. Libero Monica Vega surpassed 1,000 career digs on Saturday and is third in NSIC at 5.47 digs per set - Fr. MB Kylie Kanwischer is sixth in NSIC at 1.03 blocks per set
Top Performer(s)
- Fr. Setter Ellie Hoyt had 98 set assists in four matches - Jr. libero Monica Vega had 72 digs in four matches - Fr. OH Lauren Kiewiet had 26 kills in four matches
Up Next
Sept. 14 at Minot State, 6 p.m. Sept. 16 vs. Mary, 3 p.m.

 

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week – 0-4	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-2 vs. UMC L 3-0 at NSU L 3-0 vs. MSU L 3-0 vs. SDSMT	3-5, 0-0 NSIC	L4	16th
Top Performer(s)
- Shelby Spuller was named to All-Tournament team after posting 59 kills on the weekend - Kelsey Dewulf dished out 111 assists, including 57 vs. Minnesota Crookston
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14 vs. MSU Moorhead – 6 pm Saturday, Sept. 16 at Northern State – 5 pm

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs. SD Mines W 3-0 vs. MSU W 3-0 vs. Minot W 3-0 vs. UMC	7-1, 0-0 NSIC	W6	8th
Team Notes
- Northern State opened 2017 ranked 23rd nationally in the AVCA Top-25 Preseason Poll - The Wolves won the Max & Erma’s Classic sweeping all four team and notching 156 kills, 33 aces, 189 digs, and 24 blocks - Northern averaged 13.00 kills and 15.75 digs per set, while hitting .329 on the weekend - NSU hit a season high .429 against the Golden Eagles with just five attack errors in 84 attempts - Defensively the Wolves held three of their four opponents below a .100 attack percentage, including a -.089 mark for UMC - Five Wolves were named to the All-Tournament team in Ashley Rozell, Jaiden Langlie, Jenna Reiff, Hailey Busch, and Holly Vancura
Top Performer(s)
- Hailey Busch led the team with 47 kills. She hit .298 with five aces, 31 digs, and seven blocks - Ashley Rozell racked up 135 assists, averaging 11.25 per set. She also added a team leading 15 aces - Jaiden Langlie led the team averaging 4.00 digs per set with a total of 48 digs on the weekend
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14 at U-Mary – 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept.16 vs. Minot State – 5 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week – 1-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 vs Texas A&M Kingsville	5-0, 0-0 NSIC	W5	7th
Team Notes
- Defetaed Texas A&M-Kingsville in five sets, winning their fifth straight match on the season  - USF’s defense held TAMUK to .203 hitting while the Cougars posted a .279 attack percentage with four hitters in double figures for kills  - The 5-0 start is the second-most wins to open a season for USF, closing in on the 2015 start
Top Performer(s)
- Bria Barfnecht posted her second straight double-double, leading USF with 17 kills and was second on the Cougars with 10 digs - Megan Hamstad dished out 55 assists (11.00 per set) while picking up eight digs and hitting three service aces - Makenna Rockeman finished with 13 kills while Lexi Scott had 10 with a .333 attack percentage
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14 – at Wayne State - 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 – vs. Augustana - 3 p.m.

 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs. Tampa W 3-0 vs. Ferris State W 3-1 vs. Tarleton State W 3-1 vs. #1 Concordia-St. Paul	8-0, 0-0 NSIC	W8	2nd
Team Notes
- SMSU knocked off No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul in the championship match of the Colorado Premier Challenge at the Auraria Event Center on the campus of MSU Denver on Saturday - The Mustangs’ won their first Colorado Premier championship in eight trips and now hold a 27-9 all-time record in the tournament - SMSU held its opponents to a .180 hitting percentage and had 33.0 blocks as a team - The Mustangs defeated four ranked opponents and have now started the year 5-0 against the AVCA Top-25 - SMSU had 15.4 kills/set as a team and had 24 total service aces on the weekend
Top Performer(s)
- Megan Larson became the program’s all-time career assists leader in the Mustangs’ win over Ferris State - Larson averaged 13.29 assists/set and had 55 assists in the Mustangs’ win over Concordia-St. Paul - Taylor Reiss had 18 kills in the Colorado Premier Championship match and averaged 4.0 k/set with 28 digs on the weekend - Brooke Borchardt had 39 kills with a .423 hitting percentage and added 10 total blocks - Sarina Smith had 43 kills and had 17 total blocks over the weekend
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14 at Augustana– 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Wayne State– 2 p.m.

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week – 2-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 Wisconsin Parkside L 3-2 Michigan Tech L 3-0 Northern Michigan W 3-1 Lake Superior State	7-2, 0-0 NSIC	W1	13th
Team Notes
- St. Cloud State went 2-2 at the Keneenaw Classic in Houghton, Michigan - The program ended non-conference play with seven wins in nine matches - The program won a total of nine matches all of last season
Top Performer(s)
- Becca Gruber led the team with her 47 kills and .222 hitting percentage last week - She also tied for the team lead with 13 block assists - Nicole Miller totaled 41 kills, five service aces and 54 digs - Marah Mulso recorded 36 kills, a .216 hitting percentage plus 13 block assists. - Kayla Crane led the team with her 113 assists plus five service aces - Clara Krenz picked up 104 digs (6.12 per set)
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14, vs. Bemidji State -  6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at Minnesota Crookston - 4 p.m.

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week – 5-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 at Missouri S&T W 3-0 vs. Ohio Dominican W 3-0 vs. #18 Washburn W 3-2 vs. William Jewell W 3-1 at Missouri S&T	9-0, 0-0 NSIC	W9	9th
Team Notes
- The Peacocks are off to the best start in program history with their 9-0 start thanks to a perfect 5-0 week in Rolla, Missouri - UIU defeated Missouri S&T twice (once in the Middle of Everywhere Classic Championship), as well as Ohio Dominican, #18 Washburn and William Jewell - Upper Iowa hit .236 while holding their opponents to a .151 average - Two Peacocks were named to the Middle of Everywhere Classic All-Tournament Team; they were Anna Winter and Ashley Larson
Top Performer(s)
- Anna Winter racked up 70 kills (3.9/set), while Haley Weepie added 50 and Bethany Lovhaug tallied 41 - Malissa LeClaire averaged 9.56 assists/set with a total of 172 in the five matches - Ashley Larson came up with 98 digs (5.44/set) on the backline - UIU blocked well as a team with 1.78/set thanks to the efforts of Lovhaug (.89/set), Poula (.78) and Wombles (.72)
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 14 - at #1 Concordia-St. Paul Saturday, Sept. 16 - vs. Minnesota State

 

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week – 2-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 at CSUP W 3-1 vs. TAMC L 3-0 at UCCS L 3-1 #22 CMU	5-3, 0-0 NSIC	L2	6th
Team Notes
- Posted 2-2 record in Colorado at Steel and Silver Classic - Averaged 2.62 blocks per set in four matches
Top Performer(s)
- Senior Erin Gross averaged team-high 2.50 kills per set with 0.81 blocks - Sophomore Katie Stephens had double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs in 3-2 win at CSU Pueblo - Redshirt freshman Jaci Brahmer accounted for 2.12 kills and 1.19 blocks per set
Up Next
Thursday, September 14 vs. Sioux Falls - 6 p.m. Saturday, September 16 at Southwest Minnesota State - 2 p.m.

Winona State University Warriors