Live Stats
MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Volleyball will compete in its second tournament in as many weeks this weekend. The Dragons will face three Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponents in the MIAA/NSIC Challenge in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Friday and Saturday. MSUM will face Fort Hays State and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology on Friday. On Saturday, the Dragons face Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State.
MSUM split four matches last week at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic in Golden, Co. to open the season. On Friday they dropped matches to No. 14 Grand Valley State and Colorado Christian. The Dragons bounced back quickly however, defeating both of their Saturday opponents in three straight sets, Bentley and Dominican.
Junior Abby Wolpern led the Dragon offense over the weekend, smashing 50 kills in four games. Wolpern averaged 3.57 kills per set and hit a spectacular .360 on the weekend. Junior Casie Baer and senior Sam Sullivan split the setting duties for the Dragons. Baer had 90 assists in four games for an average of 6.43 per set. Sullivan had 57 assists of her own for an average of 4.07 per set. Senior Kaitlin Van Winkle led the Dragons in blocks with 22 and junior Amber Krenske led the team in digs with 75.
About Fort Hays State
Fort Hays State competed in the Henderson State Classic in Arkadelphia, Ark. last weekend. In the two-day event, the Tigers went 3-1. On Friday, the defeated McMurry in three straight sets and outlasted Southeastern Oklahoma State in four sets. On Saturday, Fort Hays State lost to Union 3-2 and swept tournament host Henderson State in three sets. The Tigers will bring an explosive offense to Sioux Falls. The team averaged 14.67 kills per set and 13.67 assists per set in the first weekend of play, hitting a respectable .231 as a team. Junior right side hitter Mallory Flagor leads the offensive attack with 4.20 kills per set, hitting .372 in her first four games, including a career high 24 kills against SOSU. Senior Libby Ary and sophomore Kristen Conor split the setting duties in Arkansas, averaging 6.47 and 5 assists per set respectively.
About South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of M&T lost three out of four matches in their opening tournament in Kearney, Nebraska last weekend. On day one of the tournament, the Hardrockers lost to Northern State 3-0 and defeated Western Colorado 3-0. On the second day of the tournament, SDSMT were swept in three straight sets to host team Nebraska-Kearney and Newman. Senior setter Carsyn Garcia was a shining moment in an otherwise frustrating weekend for the Hardrockers. Garcia averaged 9.14 assists per set over the weekend, posting 29 in the victory over Western Colorado. Sophomore outside hitters Jena Kreuzer and Kirsten Johnson led the team offensively, recording 2.93 and 2.43 kills per set respectively.
About Missouri Western
Missouri Western came out victorious in three out of four matches in the Rockhurst Classic last weekend. The Griffons beat Findlay 3-1 and lost to Rockhurst 3-1 on the first day and swept East Central and William Jewell in three straight sets on day two. Junior setter Jordan Chohon starred over the weekend, posting over 40 assists in three of four matches. Chohon averaged 12.09 assists per set during the weekend. Senior outside hitter Erica Rottinghaus and junior right side hitter Jessie Thorup will lead the offensive charge for the Griffons. Rottinghaus hit a spectacular .400 in the tournament, averaging 4.36 kills per set. Thorup hit .326 and averaged 3.95 kills per set. As a team, the Griffons are averaging 13.4 digs, 12 kills, and 11.3 assists per set. In the victory over William Jewell, Missouri Western posted 48 kills as a team.
About Northwest Missouri State
The Bearcats from Northwest Missouri State split four matches in the Rockhurst Classic last weekend. The Bearcats defeated William Jewell 3-0 and lost to Findlay 3-1 on day one and lost to Rockhurst 3-0 and beat East Central 3-0 on day two. In her collegiate debut, freshman Sarah Dannettell posted 138 total assists over the four game span. Dannettell averaged 9.86 assists per set and recorded over 30 assists in both matched of day one of competition. As a team, the Bearcats are averaging 11.7 kills, 11.1 assists, and 14.7 digs per set.
Last Week's MSUM Highlights
Abby Wolpern (MB, 6-0, Jr., Belle Plaine, Minn. / Belle Plaine HS) set career game highs in kills, attacks, digs, and points over the weekend against Colorado Christian at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic. In her best game as a Dragon, Wolpern had 17 kills, 41 attacks, 17 digs, and 20.5 points. Wolpern also set a career high in hitting percentage against Bentley, at .692. Wolpern led the team in kills and attacks over the four game span at 50 and 100.
Kaitlin VanWinkle (MB, 5-11, Jr., Farmington, Minn. / Lakeville South HS) began the season right where she left off from last season. VanWinkle led the Dragons in blocks over the opening weekend with 22. Her 1.57 blocks per set currently ranks 2nd in the NSIC. VanWinkle was second on the team in kills with 43 and first on the team in points with 60.
Casie Baer (S/DS, 5-8, Jr., Canby, Minn. / Canby HS) shined as the Dragons starting setter in Colorado. She posted 90 assists in total, averaging 6.43 assists per set, leading the team in both categories. Baer also contributed 24 digs and three service aces for MSUM.
