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The Dragons have three home matches this week against solid NSIC opponents in Northern State, St. Cloud State, and Minnesota Duluth.

Northern State (10-0, 2-0 NSIC), has been more than impressive this season as they have not yet lost a set in the 2015 season. They have out-killed their opponents 465-251, and have dominated that category with a hitting percentage of .404. The Wolves are averaging 15.7 digs per set and have 52 service aces on the season. NSU is led by senior outside hitter Kelsey Chambers who was named Pre-season NSIC Player of the Year last season. She has tallied 4.13 kills per set (.432), and 4.57 points per set this season.

In the second match of the week, the Dragons will face the St. Cloud State Huskies. The Huskies are 5-5 overall and 1-1 in the NSIC. SCSU split in their last two sets as they beat Bemidji State 3-1 and were swept by Minnesota Crookston 0-3.

The third and final match of the week brings the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs to Alex Nemzek. The Bulldogs are 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference this season. They swept both of their last opponents in Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State. On the season, UMD has 91 total blocks and 14.3 kills per set.

A Look Back at Last Week...

Last week, the Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team opened play in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with matches against Minot State and the University of Mary. The Dragons continued to show consistency as they swept both teams.

They started the week at Minot State where they took the Beavers in three sets, 25-20, 25-15, and 26-24.  MSUM was led by sophomore outside hitter Carly Masloski's 10 kills and senior hitter Abby Wolpern added nine more. Senior setter Casie Baer dished out 30 assists and 12 digs and senior libero Amber Krenske contributed with 14 digs. As a team, the Dragons recorded seven service aces.

On Saturday afternoon, the Marauders came to Alex Nemzek Hall to take on the Dragons. MSUM won the match in three sets, 25-18, 25-20, and 25-12, also in NSIC play. The Dragons were strong at the net with 19 total blocks including five assisted blocks and one solo block by Kelsey Hartkopf. Maskloski added four assisted blocks and one solo block as well. The Dragons hit a solid .317 for the match thanks in part to VanWinkle's 15 kills. Baer had 37 set assists, and Krenske added 20 digs.

Although the first set was a close back and forth battle, the Dragons never trailed in sets two and three sealing their sixth sweep of the season.

With the victories, the Dragons are 9-1 on the season, 2-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Head coach Tammy Blake is in her 21st season for MSUM.   

Krenske Named NSIC Defensive Player of the Week

Senior libero Amber Krenske was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week for her play in the matches against Minot State and Mary last week. She led the Dragons' back row defense with 5.7 digs per set as MSUM swept both opponents last week. She now has 162 digs on the season to go along with seven service aces.

Krenske and VanWinkle Achieve Milestones

Senior libero Amber Krenske and senior middle hitter Kaitlin VanWinkle have both achieved milestones with their play this season. Krenske surpassed 1,000 digs for her career this past weekend and now sits at 1,181 total digs. VanWinkle became the 11th volleyball player in Dragon history to surpass 1,000 kills in her career. She is now has 1,018 total kills. Additionally, senior setter Casie Baer is just 210 sets away from the 2,000 mark on her career at MSUM.  

Wolpern and All-Around Threat

Senior Abby Wolpern has been a consistent all-around player during her Dragon career. Entering this week, she has 621 career kills, 560 career digs and 200 block assists. She is not far from the top 10 in block assists, trailing 10th-place Maggie Gruber by 54 with 18 regular-season matches remaining.

Hartkopf Strong at the Net

Junior middle blocker Kelsey Hartkopf has established herself as one of the NSIC's premier blockers. She is second in the league at 1.38 blocks per set, trailing only Concordia-St. Paul's Heather Schiller. Hartkopf has six solo blocks and a team-high 45 assisted blocks. MSUM is holding opponents to a .125 hitting percentage, which is second-best in the NSIC.