BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The Northern Sun (NSIC) released their first weekly release of the season and Concordia-St. Paul sophomore Sara Macek was named NSIC Player of the Week while junior Elizabeth Mohr was named NSIC Setter of the Week.

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#12 Sara Macek (MB, 5-11, So., Monticello, Minn. / Monticello HS)
Concordia-St. Paul
- Led CSP with 3.27 kills per set (49 total) and a .450 hitting percentage in four wins
- Collected double-digit kills in each of the final three matches, including a career-best 19 in a win over Central Washington
- Hit at least .300 in all four matches and tied for the team lead with 0.73 blocks per set (4 solo blocks and seven block assists)
- Helped top-ranked CSP defeat two ranked teams, (No. 12 Western Washington & No. 17 Tampa)

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#1 Janelle Lam (DS, 5-0, Sr., Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley HS)
Sioux Falls
- Named Country Inns & Suites Invitational MVP after averaging 6.31 digs per set and leading USF to 4-0 record
- Recorded 16 or more digs in all four matches and posted 20-plus in both Saturday matches
- Set USF record with 23 digs in a three-set match in sweep of William Jewell
- Posted career-high 25 digs in four-set victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith
- Picked up 18 digs against Black Hills State and 16 more against Fort Hays State
- Recorded three total service aces and handed out six total assists

NSIC Setter of the Week
#13 Elizabeth Mohr (S, 5-7, Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn. / Eden Prairie HS)  
Concordia-St. Paul
- Averaged 13.67 assists per set (205 total) in CSP's four wins over the weekend
- Collected at least 46 assists in all four matches, including reaching 60-assist plateau for the first time in her career with 61 in Saturday's win over #17 Tampa
- Led the offense to a .269 hitting percentage while leading five different Golden Bears to averages at least 2.50 kills per set

 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week – 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs. CSUSB L 3-0 vs. Regis W 3-0 vs. Rollins W 3-0 vs. Eastern New Mexico	3-1, 0-0 NSIC	W2	4th
Team Notes
- Went 3-1 at the Oredigger Classic - Had three sweeps on the Weekend
Top Performer(s)
- Alex Banker had a career high 40 assists and 11 digs and a .750 hitting percentage against CSUSB - Banker also had a double – double 29 assists and 10 digs vs. ENMU
Up Next
Wednesday, Sept. 6 vs. Texas A&M Kingsville – 7:30 p.m.  Friday, Sept. 8 vs. Missouri Western - 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 vs. Palm Beach Atlantic – 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Missouri – St. Louis – 11 am Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Embry – Riddle 1:30 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week – 1-3	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-1 vs SD Mines L 3-0 vs. MSUM L 3-0 vs MSUB L 3-1 vs. Minot St.	1-3, 0-0 NSIC	L3	15th
Team Notes
- Went 1-3 at the Minot State Classic - Defeated SD Mines, 3-1, for the first win of 2017 - Lost final three games against MSU-Moorhead, Montana State Billings and Minot State to close out the tournament - Return to action this weekend at Keweenaw Classic at Michigan Tech
Top Performer(s)
- Sami Leach led the team with 6.87 assists per set, 3.13 digs per set and finished second on the team with 2.00 kills per set - Mikhaila Ness led the team with 2.42 kills per set while Julie Touchett posted a team-high 2.94 hitting percentage and 21 kills - Emma Halllmann led the team with nine aces while Maddie Filipiak tallied seven blocks to lead the team
Up Next
Friday, Sept. 8 at Michigan Tech – 1:30 pm Friday, Sept. 8 vs. Wisconsin Parkside – 5:30 pm Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Lake Superior State – 11 am Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Northern Michigan – 5 pm

 

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs #12 Western Washington W 3-0 at Florida Southern W 3-1 vs Central Washington W 3-2 at #17 Tampa	4-0, 0-0 NSIC	W4	1st
Team Notes
- Concordia extended their winning streak to 23 dating back to Oct. 14, 2016 as they won all four matches in the 2017 Terrace Hotel Classic - CSP held edges in nearly every statistical category, including hitting percentage (.269-.222), kills (224-193), digs (239-212) and aces (20-7) - The Golden Bears utilized much of their roster as eight different players averaged at least 2.50 kills or 2.50 digs on the weekend (Hope Schiller averaged higher in both)
Top Performer(s)
- Elizabeth Mohr orchestrated the balanced attack as she averaged 13.67 assists per set (205 total) to go along with 1.47 digs per set (22 total) - Sara Macek paced the squad offensively with a team-best 3.27 kills per set (49 total) and a .450 hitting percentage as well as tying for the team lead with 0.73 blocks per set (11 total)
Up Next - Colorado Premier Challenge
Friday, Sept. 8 vs West Florida – 12 pm; vs #3 Lewis (Ill.) – 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 9 vs TBD

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week – 2-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-1 vs Northwestern (IA) W 3-2 Concordia (NE) W 3-1 Missouri Southern L 3-1 Chadron State	2-2, 0-0 NSIC	L1	14th
Team Notes
- Split four games at the Bulldog Bash, defeating host team Concordia (NE) and Missouri Southern while falling to #13 Northwesterm (IA) and Chadron State - Eight newcomers played over the weekend for the Marauders - Convereted six more attacks than their opponents into 19 more kills - Seniors Lauren Randall and Freddie Campbell are the Marauders two returning starters
Top Performer(s)
- In two games (eight sets), Sr. OH Lauren Randall accumulated 51 kills, producing 28 against Missouri Southern and 23 against Chadron State. She hit .321 on the weekend. Randall has 984 career kills - So. OH Anna Nietfeld averaged 2.21kils/set after leading the Marauders in kills the first two games of the weekend. She produced double digits in kills in each of her first three games, including a career-high 17 against Concordia (NE) - Jr. S Amanda Lopes had two double doubles, including 39 assists and 10 digs against Concordia and 55 assists and 11 digs against Missouri Southern
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 5 vs. Valley City State – 6 pm on BEK Thursday, Sept. 7 at Michigan Tech – 5:30 pm CST Friday and Saturday, Sept. 8-9 vs. Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State and Wisconsin-Parkside at the Keweenaw Classic in Houghton, MI.

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week – 1-3	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 Central Missouri L 3-0 Southeastern OK State W 3-0 Southern Nazarene L 3-0 Ouachita Baptist	1-3, 0-0 NSIC	L1	12th
Team Notes
-  The Golden Eagles picked up their first win of the season with a 3-0 victory over Southern Nazarene University Saturday - The victory was the first collegiate head coaching win for Sarah Rauen - UMC faced a tough gauntlet of games over the weekend as the four teams they faced posted a combined mark of 12-4 - The Golden Eagles averaged 11.1 kills per set with a .185 hitting percentage over the first weekend
Top Performer(s)
- Kassi Green averaged 4.33 kills per set and hit .239 in four games for Minnesota Crookston - Kelci Green notched 2.17 kills per set and averaged 0.83 blocks per set - Kaycie Hagen averaged 7.08 assists per set - Maggie Perrel tallied 2.67 digs per set
Up Next at NSU Invite
Fri., Sept. 8 – vs. Minot State – 10 a.m. Fri., Sept. 8 – vs. South Dakota School of Mines – 4:45 p.m. Sat., Sept. 9 – vs. Minnesota State – 2:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 9 – at Northern State – 7 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week – 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs St. Anselm W 3-0 vs Nova Southeastern W 3-0 vs American International L 3-1 St. Leo	3-1, 0-0 NSIC	L1	3rd
Team Notes
- UMD is now 15-1 in season openers under Jim Boos - Hit a robust .360 over the weekend, leading all other teams by at least .122 percent margin in the Shark Invitational - Had 23 service aces in their four matches (5.5 per match)
Top Performer(s)
- Sarah Kelly tallied 47 kills (3.62 kills per set) and hit .575 and tossed up seven aces - Kelly Madison collected at least 20 digs twice including a career-high 29 digs vs. Nova Southeastern
Up Next - Keweenaw Classic
Friday, Sept. 8 vs Lake Superior State– 8:30 a.m. & Northern Michigan – 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 vs Wisconsin-Parkside – 2 p.m. & at Michigan Tech – 6 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week – 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0, vs. UW-Parkside L 3-0, vs. Wayne State W 3-2, vs. Gannon W 3-0, vs. Ohio Dominican	3-1	W2	9th
Team Notes
- Recorded two sweeps over the weekend with 3-0 wins over both UW-Parkside and Ohio Dominican - After falling behind, 2-0, Minnesota State won three straight sets to cap off a 3-2 come from behind win over Gannon - Dropped a 3-0 decision to Wayne State - Posted a season-high 62 kills and 57 assists vs. Gannon
Top Performer(s)
- Junior Sydney Powell leads the Mavericks with a team-best 46 kills (3.29/set) including a match-high 27 kills vs. Gannon - She also adds 27 digs and six blocks. Powell was named to the Warrior Invitational All-Tournament team Freshman Alivia Garbe posted a match-high 15 digs against Ohio Dominican. She also reached double-digits vs. Gannon with 14 - Garbe was named to the Warrior Invitational All-Tournament team -Junior Autumn Risch leads the Mavericks with a team-best 73 assists
Up Next
Friday, Sept 8 vs. Minot State at the Max & Erma's Classic – 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 8 vs. Northern State at the Max & Erma's Classic – 7:00 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 vs MSUB W 3-1 vs BSU W 3-1 vs. Minot W 3-0 vs SDMT	4-0, 0-0 NSIC	W4	10th
Team Notes
- The Dragons opened year with 4-0 mark at Minot State/Sleep Inn Classic - MSUM beat Montana State Billings, Bemidji State, Minot State and South Dakota Mines at event - MSUM averaged 2.22 blocks per set for the week compared to 1.25 for opponents - The Dragons held opponents to .129 hitting percentage
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore Kaylyn Jenkins led MSUM with 54 kills on the weekend and also had 14 blocks while hitting a team-best .368 - Sophomore Courtney Selbitschka had 49 kills and 49 digs - Junior libero Monica Vega led with 92 digs, averaging 5.75 per set - Freshman MB Kylie Kanwischer had a team-best 18 blocks - Freshman setter Ellie Hoyt had 163 assists, averaging 10.19 per assist
Up Next - at Quincy Tournament
Sept. 8 vs. Wayne State (Mich.) - 11:30 a.m. Sept. 8 vs. Quincy - 4:30 p.m. Sept. 9 vs. NW Missouri State - 9 a.m. Sept. 9 vs. McKendree - 2 p.m.

 

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week – 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 vs. SDSMT W 3-2 vs. MSU Billings L 1-3 vs. MSUM W 3-1 vs. BSU	3-1, 0-0 NSIC	W1	16th
Team Notes
- Head coach Dana Cordova's first win at Minot State - Tripled last season's amount of wins vs. D2 programs in one weekend - Recorded first win vs. NSIC opponent since Nov. 8, 2014
Top Performer(s)
- Shelby Spuller notched 62 kills in four matches - Karli Koza totaled 86 digs and four matches of 20+ digs
Up Next - Northern State Invitational
Friday, Sept. 8 vs. Minnesota Crookston – 10 am Friday, Sept. 8 vs. Minnesota State – 2:30 pm Saturday, Sept. 9 at Northern State – 12:15 pm Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. South Dakota School of Mines & Technology – 4:45 pm

 

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week – 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs. Texas Women's L 3-2 vs. #15 CSUSB W 3-0 vs. Rollins W 3-1 vs. #19 Colo. School of Mines	3-1, 0-0 NSIC	W2	8th
Team Notes
- Northern State opened the 2017 ranked 24th nationally in the AVCA Top-25 Preseason Poll - The Wolves hit .273 over the weekend from the Oredigger Classic with 205 total kills - NSU hit a season high .377 in their 3-1 victory over No. 19 Colorado School of Mines - The Wolves notched a season high 11 blocks as well in their win over the Orediggers - Through the first week of competition, Northern is averaging 13.67 kills, 12.33 assists, 12.87 digs, 2.00 blocks, and 1.13 service aces per set
Top Performer(s)
- Hailey Busch led the team with 62 kills, hitting .305 through the four matches. The junior also recorded a career high 23 kills against Cal State San Bernardino - Ashley Rozell averaged 11.13 assists per set recording 167 total in the four matches - Jaiden Langlie led the Wolves defense with 53 digs, averaging 3.53 per set
Up Next
Friday, Sept. 8 vs. SD Mines & Minnesota State – 12:15 & 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Minot State & Minnesota Crookston - 12:15 & 7 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs Black Hills St W 3-0 vs Fort Hays St W 3-0 vs William Jewell W 3-1 vs Ark. Fort Smith	4-0, 0-0 NSIC	W4	7th
Team Notes
- Sioux Falls went undefeated as hosts of the Country Inns & Suites Invitational, sweeping their first three opponents before winning their final match 3-1  - USF rolled Black Hills State and Fort Hays State with commanding sweeps on the first day of the season  - USF hit .384 as a team against BHSU and held FHSU to a .036 attack percentage on the back of 11 blocks  - The Cougars held their third straight opponent below .100 hitting in their 3-0 win over William Jewell  - Matched up against Arkansas-Fort Smith, four different Cougars hit double-digit kills to cap off an undefeated weekend with a 3-1 win over UAFS.
Top Performer(s)
- Janelle Lam was named tournament MVP with a tournament-best 6.31 digs per set and 82 overall - Lam's 23 digs against William Jewell set a USF record for most digs in a three-set match and she followed it with 25 in the tournament finale - Lexi Scott hit a tournament high .456 in four matches, posting double-digit kills in each match which earned her a spot on the all-tournament team - Bria Barfnecht posted 44 kills and 35 digs in four matches, capped off with her first collegiate double-double of 17 kills and 18 digs, which placed her on the all-tournament squad
Up Next
Wednesday, Sept. 6 – vs. Texas A&M Kingsville - 4 p.m. Sept. 8-9 – Saint Leo Volleyball Tournament

 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-1 vs North Alabama W 3-1 vs Wheeling Jesuit W 3-0 vs Southern Indiana W 3-1 at West Florida	4-0, 0-0 NSIC	W4	2nd
Team Notes
- SMSU started the season 4-0 after competing in the West Florida Invitational - The Mustangs hit .243 as a team and held opponents to a .158 hitting percentage forcing 86 total attack errors - SMSU finished with 2.4 blocks per set as a group finishing with 36 total blocks as a team on the weekend
Top Performer(s)
- Taylor Reiss had 75 total kills (5.0 k/set) over the weekend taking over a third of her team's total swings with 236 total attacks. Reiss also had 52 total digs (3.47 d/set) on the weekend - Brooke Borchardt led the Mustangs with a .422 hitting percentage with 43 kills while adding 19 total blocks - Kaylee Burmeister averaged 4.53 digs per set and added 48 total kills - Megan Larson averaged 11.53 assists per set and added 19 total kills as the Mustangs' primary setter
Up Next - Colorado Premier
Friday, Sept. 8 vs. Tampa– 12 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 vs. Ferris State– 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. TBA

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week – 5-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs St. Katherine W 3-0 Saint Martin's W 3-0 CSUSM W 3-0 Adelphi W 3-0 Fresno Pacific	5-0, 0-0 NSIC	W5	13th
Team Notes
- St. Cloud State is off to a 5-0 record and have swept each of the team's first five matches - The 5-0 start to the season is the best for the program since the 1985 season when the team won 11 straight to open the campaign - Following the 2017 Cougar Classic, St. Cloud State had four players named to the All-Tournament team in senior Becca Gruber, senior Nicole Miller, junior Krista Kuglin and sophomore Clara Krenz
Top Performer(s)
- Nicole Miller put up double-doubles in two of the first five matches and currently leads the team with her 51 kills (3.40 per set), and eight service aces - Miller is second on the team with her 55 digs (3.67 per set) - Becca Gruber has put up 48 kills (3.20 per set) while hitting at a .363 clip - Clara Krenz had totaled 82 digs (5.47 per game) plus six service aces - Senior transfer Kayla Crane has been a welcome addition to the squad and leads the team with her 92 assists, while placing second with seven service aces
Up Next
Friday, Sept. 8 vs. University of Parkside, 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 at Michigan Tech, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, vs. Northern Michigan, 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Lake Superior State, 5 p.m.

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week – 4-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs. Quincy W 3-1 vs. GVSU W 3-0 vs. NMU W 3-0 vs. Davenport	4-0, 0-0 NSIC	W4	9th
Team Notes
- UIU started the season 4-0 at the Ferris State Invitational losing only one set in their four matches - The Peacocks hit .201 over the weekend limiting their attack errors to just 4.8 per set - UIU's defense was strong as well notching 20.2 digs/set and 1.46 blocks/set - Three Peacocks were named to the All-Tournament Team including Anna Winter, Ashley Larson and Malissa LeClaire
Top Performer(s)
- Malissa LeClaire paced the offense with 119 assists (9.2/set) while picking up 36 digs and 8 kills - Anna Winter led the attack at the net with 40 kills (3.1/set) followed closely by Haley Weepie and Haley Poula, who both tallied 33 kills apiece - Ashley Larson held down the back line with 72 digs (5.5/set) while Weepie added 46 to the cause - Bethany Lovhaug recorded 29 kills and 12 blocks from her middle position
Thursday, Sept. 7 - at Missouri S&T Friday, Sept. 8 - vs. Ohio Dominican & Washburn (at Missouri S&T) Saturday, Sept. 9 - vs. William Jewell & TBD (at Missouri S&T)

 

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week – 3-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-1 vs. Rollins W 3-1 vs. ENMU W 3-0 vs. WNMU L 3-2 to #15 CSUSB	3-1, 0-0 NSIC	L1	6th
Team Notes
- Posted 3-1 record at Colorado Mines Oredigger Classic - Averaged NSIC leading 3.25 blocks per set on opening weekend
Top Performer(s)
- Senior rightside hitter Erin Gross averaged 2.88 kills and 1.31 blocks per set - Junior Maria Wortmann had 2.44 kills and 1.50 blocks per set - Redshirt freshman Jaci Brahmer had 13 kills and 11 blocks in first match as a Wildcat and averaged 2.38 kills and 1.69 blocks per set
Up Next
Friday, Sept. 11 at CSU Pueblo Tournament in Pueblo, Colorado Saturday, Sept. 12 at UC-Colorado Springs Tournament in Colorado Springs, Colorado

 

Winona State University Warriors