Volleyball Top Stories

 

Team Sets Hitting Record In 3-0 Win

October 10, 2006	1	2	3
University of Mary	23	18	26
Northern State	30	30	30

Jill Rasmussen and Heather Pudwill combined for 12 individual blocks Tuesday night.

ABERDEEN, SD – A season high attack percentage propelled the Northern State volleyball team (12-11, 6-7 NSIC) past the University of Mary (7-15, 4-9 NSIC) Tuesday night at Wachs Arena. The Wolves hit .257 as they knocked off the Marauders in three straight games, 30-23, 30-18, 30-26. It was the Wolves' first three-game win since September 9th.

The Wolves came out firing right from the beginning, hitting at a clip of .339 in game 1. In that game, NSU totalled 23 kills, including eight each from Emily Knaeble and Odemaris Diaz. The Wolves' average slipped in game 2, but what they lacked in offense, they made up for in defense. The team shut down UM hitters six times in that game, including a stretch in the middle of the match in which the NSU front line came up with blocks in three out of four consecutive rallies. Jill Rasmussen had five block assists in game 2.

Game 3 was more of a dual between the teams, with both the Wolves and the Marauders swinging for kills and digging like each point was game point. The Wolves proved the stronger team, however, and edged out Mary in both hitting percentage and digs.

NSU was led by Odemaris Diaz and Emily Knaeble with 14 kills each, with Diaz also marking five block assists on the night. Kelsey Aden set a new hitting percentage high, garnering 11 kills while hitting at a .550 clip. Rasmussen wound up with eight block assists. Melanie Perez led all players with 20 digs. The Wolves hit at a rate of .257, had 71 digs, and ten blocks.

The Marauders were led by Ashley Maas and Tatiani Santos with 10 kills each. Santos led the team in digs with 11. The team hit .074 on the night, had 54 digs, and four blocks.

The Wolves will return to Wachs Arena on Saturday, where they will host MSU Moorhead at 6:00 pm.