For Immediate Release
Monday, October 30, 2017
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet (PDF)

NSIC Volleyball Players of the Week 

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#3 Brooklyn Lewis (OH, 5-10, Jr., Kasson, Minn. / Kasson-Mantorville HS)
Concordia-St. Paul
- Averaged a team-best 5.57 kills per set while hitting a solid .397 in CSP’s two road wins over the weekend
- Matched her career high of 19 kills for the third time in Friday’s win at USF
- Set a new high kill mark with 20 kills in the win over No.1 SMSU on Saturday
- Has collected at least 15 kills in 13 matches this season, 10 of which have come in NSIC play
- Ranks second in league action with 4.26 kills per set

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#7 Tahlyr Banks (L, 5’6”, Sr. Omaha, Neb. / Gross Catholic HS)
Augustana
- Racked up 60 digs on the weekend to lead the NSIC with 7.50 digs per set
- Had 20 digs on Friday versus WSU and 40 on Saturday in a 3-1 win over Upper Iowa
- Named NSIC Defensive Player of the Week for second time this season (10/16/17)

NSIC Setter of the Week
#8 McKenna Larsen (S, 5-7, Sr., Oconto Falls, Wis. / Oconto Falls HS)
Winona State
- Averaged 11.86 assists/set (83 total) and 4.4 digs (31 total) over two road wins vs. Top 20 opponents
- Chipped in 15 kills, one service ace and one block on the weekend
- Posted her third triple-double of the year on Saturday at No.20 WSC w/ 10 kills, 48 assists and 18 digs
- Ranks sixth in the NSIC in assists/set (10.42) and service aces (0.38)

 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 vs. #17 WSU W 3-2 vs. UIU	18-7 overall 9-6 NSIC	W1	10th
Team Notes
- The Vikings were swept for just the second time all season on Friday vs.  #17 Winona State - Augustana won their second 5-setter on Saturday vs. Upper Iowa - Four Vikings notched career highs in the win over Upper Iowa on Saturday - As a team, Augustana had 121 digs on Saturday
Top Performer(s)
- Junior outside hitter Courtney Place accounted for 43 kills over the weekend. On Friday, she had a double-double with 17 kill and 11 digs. Saturday night, the Okabena, Minn. native recorded a career-high 26 kills to go along with 9 digs and 3 blocks. - Senior libero Tahlyr Banks tallied 60 digs on the weekend. She had 20 digs on Friday and 40 on Saturday in the win over Upper Iowa. - Hanna Justesen had 21 digs on Saturday while Kaylea Ahrens had 18 - both of which were career highs - Payton Rosendahl tied a career high with 14 kills
Up Next:
Tuesday, Oct. 31 vs. #20 Wayne State, 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3rd at Minnesota Crookston - 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4th at Bemidji State - 3 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 at UMary L 3-0 at MISU	3-21, 0-15 NSIC	L17	15th
Team Notes
- Bemidji State fell in both matches this weekend on the road at U-Mary and Minot State - The Beavers began the weekend by falling to U-Mary, 3-0 - Bemidji State then fell to Minot State, 3-0. - BSU hosts Minnesota Crookston, Wayne State and Augustana for its final home matches of the season.
Top Performer(s)
- Junior Sami Leach led the Beavers with 14 kills and also tallied 21 assists. She led the team by hitting .355 this weekend and had just three errors. - Julie Touchett added 11 kills and hit .304.
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 vs. Minnesota Crookston – 6 pm Friday, Nov. 3 vs. Wayne State – 6 pm Saturday, Nov. 4 vs. Augustana – 3 pm

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 at USF W 3-1 at #1 SMSU	21-2, 14-1 NSIC	W6	1st
Team Notes
- Concordia moved into sole possession of first place in the NSIC after picking up a pair of huge road wins at USF and #1 SMSU - Saturday’s victory moved the Golden Bears to a perfect 12-0 all-time against the top-ranked team in the country - CSP and SMSU have met five times as the top two ranked teams with CSP going 3-2 and the #2 team going 4-1
Top Performer(s)
- Brooklyn Lewis tied her career high in kills on Friday night with 19 before surpassing that mark with 20 on Saturday to give her 5.57 kills per set and a .397 hitting percentage on the weekend - Elizabeth Mohr orchestrated a CSP offense that finished the weekend with a .310 hitting percentage and 14.57 kills per set as she collected 90 total assists (12.86 per set) and 14 digs (2.00 per set)
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Minnesota State – 6 pm Friday, Nov. 3 vs Northern State – 6 pm Saturday, Nov. 4 vs MSU Moorhead – 2 pm

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs. BSU W 3-0 vs. UMC	7-17, 3-12 NSIC	W2	14th
Team Notes
- The Marauders swept a weekend series for the first time this season with identical 3-0 wins over Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston - For the weekend the Marauders hit .262, including a season single-game high .328 against the Beavers - UMary had a 52-31 edge in kills over BSU and 44-27 over UMC - The Marauders match against Minot State on Oct. 31 will be televised by BEK Broadcasting throughout the region
Top Performer(s)
- For the seventh time this season, senior outside hitter Lauren Randall cracked the 20-kill barrier with 20 terminations in the 3-0 win over Bemidji State. She had her 13th double double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs in the Minnesota Crookston victory. Randall is second in the NSIC in kills/set at 4.48. - Senior utility player Katelyn Olson had a stellar game against UMC. She had 11 kills in 18 swings and just one attack error for a .556 attack percentage. She also distributed nine assists and had three blocks (one solo, two assists). -Freshman Madeleine Burch had a solid weekend, posting six kills in eight attacks with no errors against BSU. She added three kills with no errors and three assisted blocks against UMC. In the two games she totaled nine kills, no attack errors and a .643 hitting percentage. - Geovana Almeida averaged 5.17 digs/set in the two UMary wins with 12 against BSU and 19 against UMC. - Natalia Cruz had 12 kills and 16 digs against SCSU, her second-best career totals in both categories
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31, vs. Minot State - 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Upper Iowa - 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at Winona State - 1 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 MINOT L 3-0 U-Mary	6-17; 3-11 NSIC	L1	12th
Team Notes
- Minnesota Crookston went 1-1 on the weekend with a 3-0 win over Minot State and a 3-0 loss to University of Mary. The Golden Eagles are 2-2 in the last four matches with wins over Minot State and MSU Moorhead. Minnesota Crookston is 2-0 on the season against Minot State - The Golden Eagles hit .241 in the win over Minot State with 44 kills and just 16 errors - Minnesota Crookston returns to action Tues., Oct. 31 as they take on Bemidji State at 6 p.m. The Golden Eagles defeated the Beavers 3-2 after coming back down 2-1 in the fourth set Sept. 19 - The Golden Eagles wrap up their home slate Fri., Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. against Augustana and Sat., Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. versus Wayne State. Minnesota Crookston will send off their seven seniors (Maggie Perrel, Becca Vandenheuvel, Kaycie Hagen, Alyssa Muelken, Kassi Green, Kelci Green and Rachel Freund)
Top Performer(s)
- Kaycie Hagen notched a double-double of 39 assists and 17 digs in a win over Minot State - Kassi Green tallied 16 kills and hit .250 in Friday’s win over Minot State - Kaitlin Sikkink had nine kills and just one error, as she hit .421 in the win over Minot State
Up Next
Tues., Oct. 31 at Bemidji State – 6 p.m. Sat., Nov. 3 vs. Augustana – 5 p.m. Sun., Nov. 4 vs. Wayne State – 2 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-2 at MSUM L 3-0 at No. 9 NSU	19-4, 12-3 NSIC	L2	3rd
Team Notes
- The Bulldogs hit under the .200 mark both games this weekend making it first time they hit below that threshold in consecutive games since MSU-Moorhead and Northern State accomplished that feat in 2012, also on the road - UMD was swept for only the second time this season, and 2015 was the last time the Bulldogs lost back-to-back road games - The offense was sluggish for the first time all season as they committed a season-high 40 errors vs. MSU-Moorhead, the most since Grand Valley State University forced 41 mistakes back on Sept. 3, 2005. - Despite hitting .132 for the weekend, UMD has an attack percentage above .300
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore setter Emily Torve had 85 assists, 10.6 per set, 51 of those in the five-set loss to MSU-Moorhead -Sophomore libero Keena Seiffert scooped up 34 digs for a team-high 4.25 digs/set - Junior right side hitter Sarah Kelly and junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen led the UMD offense with 24 kills each (3.00 k/set). Kelly had a team-high 16 kills vs. the Dragons. Morgen compiled four more service aces increasing her team-leading total (31/ 0.40 sa/set) - Sophomore middle blocker Abby Thor was the most efficient hitter swinging for a .261-clip
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 at St. Cloud State – 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 vs. Southwest Minnesota State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 vs. Sioux Falls – 4 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0, at #1 SMSU W 3-0, at USF	12-11 (6-9 NSIC)	W1	9th
Team Notes
- Stumbled at No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State, 3-0 - Blanked Sioux Falls, 3-0, to close the weekend - Picked up its eighth sweep of the season after downing Sioux Falls - Totaled 11 service aces over the weekend and lead the NSIC with 155 (1.91/s) this season
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore Morgan Olson posted a team-high 17 kills to go along with a .294 hitting percentage. Her weekend was highlighted by match-best 11 kill performance at Sioux Falls - Freshman Mara Quam led the Mavericks on the defensive end of the floor with a team-best 27 digs. She registered a match-high 17 digs at Sioux Falls and match-best 10 digs at SMSU -Freshman Micayla Porter rounded out the top performers handing out 35 assists. She contributed a team-best 19 assists to go along with three service aces at Sioux Falls
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 vs. #2 Concordia-St. Paul – 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 vs. MSU Moorhead – 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 vs. #9 Northern State – 3 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W, 3-2 vs. No. 4 UMD; L 1-3 to SCSU	9-14, 4-11 NSIC	L1	10th
Team Notes
- MSUM beat No. 4 ranked UMD on Friday night in five sets, it was the Dragons’ first win over a top-five ranked opponent since beating the Bulldogs in 2010 - MSUM had 29 blocks for the week, an averaging of 3.22 per set, compared to 17 for its opposition - MSUM committed just 35 hitting errors on the weekend compared to 67 for their opponents - Dragons lead NSIC at 2.46 blocks per set and freshman MB Kylie Kanwischer is second in the league at 1.14
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore MB Kaylyn Jenkins had 22 kills and hit .327 for the week - Freshman RS/S Lauren Kiewiet had 16 kills, 36 set assists and seven blocks for the week - Junior Libero Monica Vega had 48 digs - Courtney Selbitschka had 13 kills and 19 digs along with seven block assists
Up Next
Oct. 31 at Northern State - 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at Minnesota State - 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at Concordia-St. Paul - 2 p.m.

 

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 vs. UMC W 3-0 vs. BSU	5-19, 1-14 NSIC	W1	16th
Team Notes
- Went 1-1 last weekend off a 3-0 loss vs. Minnesota Crookston and 3-0 win over Bemidji State - Recorded their first NSIC win since November 8, 2014 - Averaged 13.17 kills per set and hit .188 last week, including .248 in 3-0 sweep over Bemidji State
Top Performer(s)
- Emily Falldorf averaged 10 kills and two blocks last weekend, including 13 kills and 4 blocks vs. Bemidji State - Karli Koza posted 42 digs, averaging 7 digs per set in the two matches
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Mary – 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Winona State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at Upper Iowa – 4 p.m.

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs. SCSU W 3-0 vs. #4 UMD	20-3, 13-2 NSIC	W4	8th
Team Notes
- No. 9 Northern State defeated St. Cloud State and No. 4 Minnesota Duluth over the weekend in straight sets - The Wolves hit .284 in the two matches, and held their opponents to a .128 attack percentage - NSU averaged 13.83 kills, 12.33 assists, 17.50 digs, 2.0 blocks, and 0.83 service aces in the two wins - The win over the Bulldogs gave the Wolves their fifth top-25 victory of the 2017 season - Northern hit a weekend high .388 against the Huskies recording 15 more kills than their opponents
Top Performer(s)
- Hailey Busch led the team with 24 kills, averaging 4.00 per set - Jenna Reiff hit a team leading .455 on the weekend, while adding six blocks - Ashley Rozell dished out 66 assists, averaging 11.00 per set - Jaiden Langlie led the Wolves defense with 27 digs, averaging 4.50 per set
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 vs MSU Moorhead – 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Concordia-St. Paul – 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at Minnesota State – 3 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 0-3 vs CSP L 0-3 vs MSU	13-7,8-7 NSIC	L2	7th
Team Notes
- USF Volleyball suffered their first 0-2 weekend of the season, falling in straight sets to No. 2 Concordia St. Paul and Minnesota State -  The Cougars hit just .189 on the weekend and were limited to 11.33 kills per set - USF remains tied for eighth in the NSIC standings with an 8-7 record and five matches remaining
Top Performer(s)
- Janelle Lam picked up 27 digs in two matches, averaging 4.50 digs per set - Lam registered 10 and 17 digs in the two matches, extending her streak of double-digit digs to 20 straight matches - Lexi Scott posted 14 total kills with a team-high .310 attack percentage - Makenna Rockeman posted five service aces and had a team-high 23 kills in the two matches
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Southwest Minnesota State - 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at St. Cloud State - 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at Minnesota Duluth - 4 p.m.

 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs MSU L 1-3 vs CSP	21-2, 13-2 NSIC	L1	2nd
Team Notes
- SMSU swept Minnesota State on Friday night in the program’s annual “Red Out” match before falling at home to No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul - The Mustangs averaged 13.29 kills per set as a team while opponents averaged just 12.29 k/set - SMSU outblocked its two opponenets 11-6 and outdug opponents 79-76 - SMSU had 13 service aces as a team including eight against Minnesota State - SMSU hit .372 as a team over the weekend while holding opponents to a .238 hitting percentage - The Mustangs’ loss to CSP ended a 16-match home winning streak which was tied for the longest in program history
Top Performer(s)
- Taylor Reiss had 33 kills (4.71 k/set) including a 22 kill performance against Concordia-St. Paul and finished the weekend with a .467 hitting percentage in the Mustangs’ two matches - Sarina Smith led SMSU with seven blocks over the weekend (1 blk/set) - Kaylee Burmeister averaged 2.86 k/set - Payton Hjerleid had four service aces in the Mustangs’ win over Minnesota State - Megan Larson averaged 11.29 assists per set with 79 assists and 3.29 digs/set
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 vs Sioux Falls, 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Minnesota Duluth, 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at St. Cloud State- 2 p.m.

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 NSU W 3-1 MSUM	15-10, 7-8 NSIC	W1	13th
Team Notes
-  St. Cloud State split the team’s two road matches last week with a 3-0 loss to No. 9 Northern State and a 3-1 victory over MSU Moorhead - The program now has 15 wins on the season which is the most for the program since the 2004 squad had 19 victories - On the week, the Huskies had 83 kills, 80 assists, eight service aces and 118 digs - The program will take on two more ranked opponents this week with home matches against No. 5 UMD on Tuesday and No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday
Top Performer(s)
- Becca Gruber led the team with her 17 kills (2.43 per set) and .341 hitting percentage - Krista Kuglin put up 13 kills (217 per set) - Erin Navrtail totaled 13 kills and 15 digs - Clara Krenz picked up 39 digs (5.57 per set) - Maddy Torve led the team with her 40 assists (5.71 per set) - Krenz now has 522 digs this season, which is the fourth-most in a single season in school history - She also has moved to ninth in the career digs list with 969
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 vs. UMD - 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 vs. Sioux Falls - 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 vs. Southwest Minnesota State - 2 p.m.

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 at #20 WSC L 3-2 at #15 Augie	18-6, 9-6 NSIC	L1	11th
Team Notes
- The Peacocks rallied for a five-set win at #20 Wayne State after dropping the opening two sets (25-23, 25-23); UIU won the final three sets (25-21, 25-9, 15-12) to earn the win - UIU took a 2-1 lead in Saturday's match at #15 Augustana (25-23, 23-25, 25-18) and held a four point lead late in the fourth set, but the Vikings rallied for a 25-21 win and got the home win with a 15-13 win in the final set - UIU hit .240 over the weekend, while holding their opponents to a .226 percentage - The Peacocks were working hard on defense averaging 22.1 digs/set, but were out-blocked 24-13 by the Wildcats and Vikings - Upper Iowa is 3-6 this season against NCAA Top 25 teams or those receiving votes and 15-0 against the rest of their schedule
Top Performer(s)
- Malissa LeClaire set back-to-back career highs in assists with 59 at WSC and 61 at Augie - The weekend total of 120 (12/set) marks the highest in the Northern Sun this season and the 61 is a NSIC-only match high for 2017 - Anna Winter notched 39 kills, while Bethany Lovhaug added 32 and Haley Poula put down 27 - Haley Weepie (51) and Ashley Larson (49) combined for 100 digs and LeClaire added 38 as well - Lovhaug registered 11 blocks for the Peacocks including 2 solo stops
Up Next
Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Winona State at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 vs. UMary at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 vs. Minot State at 4 p.m.

 

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-2 to UIU, L 3-1 to WSU	15-10, 8-7 NSIC	W1	6th
Top Performer(s)
- Redshirt freshman Jaci Brahmer had career-high 21 kills in 3-2 loss to UIU - Sophomore Katie Stephens had double-doubles vs. UIU and WSU - Brahmer averaged team-high 3.44 kills with .417 attack percentage vs. UIU, WSU
Up Next
Tuesday, October 31 at Augustana - 6 p.m. Friday, November 3 at Bemidji State - 6 p.m. Saturday, November 4 at Minnesota Crookston - 2 p.m.

Winona State University Warriors