Wolves 0 - Neb. Omaha 3

Northern State University hosted the NSIC/NCC Crossover Tournament this year in the Wachs Arena at the Barnett Center. All member schools from each conference, along with Upper Iowa University, participated in the annual event, which holds the title of second biggest NCAA Division II volleyball tournament in the nation. 

NSU started off the tourney with a 0-3 straight game loss to the North Central Conference’s Nebraska Omaha, 25-30, 30-32, and 11-30. The Wolves started with a quick start in the first game, 3-0, but let the lead slip away and were never able to get back into it. The second game was a much more contested battle. Both teams battled back and forth, eventually leading to a tiebreaker loss for NSU. Finally, in the third game the Wolves just ran out of gas, losing the game and match 0-3.     

Northern was led by junior Chelsey Deibert, Aberdeen and junior Angie Aadahl, Elysian, Minn., with seven kills a piece. Sophomore Katie Hegge, Dell Rapids, had 12 digs., and sophomore Kellie Heier, Aberdeen, also had a team high 23 assists.

Wolves 0 - #7 Minn.- Duluth 3

In the second game of the NSIC/NCC Crossover Tournament, the Wolves again took a 0-3 defeat to former NSIC turned NCC rival Duluth. The first game was back and forth for the most part until 16-20, when Duluth took the win from there with NSU only putting up two points the rest of the way, 18-30. The second game didn’t fair much better. Duluth led most of way en route to a 15-30 win. NSU only had leads at 1-0 and 2-1. The third and final game again didn’t go NSU's way, with seventh ranked Duluth finishing off the match, 19-30. 

Northern was led by a number of Wolves. Junior Chelsey Deibert, Aberdeen, had 10 kills; Sophomore Kellie Heier, Aberdeen, had 24 assists; Junior Angie Aadahl, Elysian, Minn., had 17 digs; Freshmen Alecia Stark, Moorhead, Minn., had two aces; and Senior Tara Engquist, Oakes, ND, had the only solo block of the match.   

Wolves 0 - #19 Augustana 3

In the final match of the NSIC/NCC tournament the Wolves again fell, this time to Augustana. The first game was pretty evenly matched, going back and forth throughout the match with Augie pulling out the win, 30-23. The second game followed in much the same fashion with it going back and forth and again Augie pulling out the win, this time 30-28. In the final game of the match, NSU stuck with Augie most of way, but like the way the tournament went for the Wolves they couldn’t quite recover the match, with Augie pulling out the last five points to win 30-17.

The Wolves were led by Heier, who had 25 assists and seven digs,; Deibert,who had 10 kills and a .250 hitting percentage; Aadahl, who had 14 digs; and freshmen Alecia Stark, Moorhead, Minn., who had 13 digs.

Wolves 0- Wayne State 3

The Wolves returned to conference play against Wayne State. Unfortunately, Wayne took all three games of the match, 30-23, 30-22, and 30-15. The first two games were close with NSU only losing by seven and eight points respectively. The momentum stayed with Wayne as they finished off the Wolves in the third and final game. The Wolves were led by Stark, who had 22 assists and 19 digs. Hegge, who had 12 kills, was followed closely by Diebert with ten kills.   

Wolves o - Southwest State 3

The Wolves next NSIC opponent was Southwest. Again, the Wolves dropped the conference match in three straight. One bright spot was that Deibert recorded a double-double in the match with 11 kills and ten digs. She also had five aces in the match. Other leading Wolves were Stark with 23 assists and 11 digs and Hegge with 17 digs.

Wolves 0- South Dakota 3

The next game for NSU featured NCC opponent University of South Dakota. The Coyotes proved to be too tough for the Wolves who lost 12-30, 26-30 and 27-30. The first match was all USD. NSU came back to contest during the last two matches, but came up short both times. There were six lead changes and six ties in the last game. Heier led the Wolves with 23 assists and 13 digs. Junior Kristina Sabby, Sauk Rapids, Minn., had ten digs and a .250 hitting percentage.

Wolves 0- Minn.-Crookston 3

After a six game home stand, the Wolves headed on road again. It didn’t get any easier there, as the Wolves lost the three set match, 25-30, 22-30, and 15-30. Leading the Wolves were several players including Heier with 21 assists, Deibert with14 kills and a team high .500 hitting percentage. Stark had 17 digs, and Hegge had 12 digs.

Wolves 0- Bemidji State 3