MOORHEAD, Minn. -- After splitting a couple pairs of games at the Chadron State College Tournament last weekend, MSU Moorhead volleyball travels to Kenosha, Wis., for the Hampton Inn Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

The tournament will feature four different challengers for MSUM (2-2). The first game of the weekend will be up against Purdue University Northwest at 9 a.m. on Friday. Game number two later that day will see the Dragons taking on Truman State University at 5 p.m. During the second day of the tournament, MSUM will face Westminster University (Utah) at noon. Then the Dragons will close out the tournament against the host Parkside University at 4 p.m.

Live stats and video are available at msumdragons.com.
 
About the Dragons

There were plenty of positives to take away from MSUM's first action on the court last weekend. Senior outside hitter Bridget Witzmann leads the team in kills with 46, while hitting for a .231 hitting percentage. Witzmann also was solid in serving the ball, as she recorded seven service aces during the weekend. Junior outside hitter Jadyn Feist tallied 40 kills with a .220 hitting percentage, which is good enough for third-best on the team. Senior middle blocker Tori Thompson had the team's highest hitting percentage last weekend, hitting for .288 while knocking down 24 kills and seven blocks.

Sophomore setter Emily Skalicky racked up 72 assists and two aces. In her first game action as a Dragon, junior libero transfer McKenna Crews played in all 15 sets during the tournament and totaled 56 digs, nine assists and six aces, making her presence felt on the court right away. MSUM's best game last weekend came against York University where they took the match in three sets to win 3-0. In that contest they had 41 kills and hit for a .277 hitting percentage.

The Dragons are coached by head coach Kari Thompson in her first season. 
 
Scouting Purdue University Northwest

The Purdue University Northwest Pride will come into this weekend's tournament hoping to improve on a 1-3 record. They are led onto the court by head coach Sean Douglas. So far this season, one of their biggest impact players has been freshman standout outside hitter Anika Huelskamp. She has 42 kills so far this season, tacking on three service aces. Another player to watch out for is senior middle hitter Erica Brohm. She brings a lot of experience and knowledge to her squad, but she is also very difficult to hit over in the middle of the Pride defense. Scoring 15 blocks so far this season, as well as knocking down 24 kills.
 
Scouting Truman State University

The Bulldogs of Truman State have had a pretty good start to their 2023 campaign as they have gone 3-1 in their first four contests. Their only loss coming to a fellow NSIC team that MSUM is very familiar with, Northern State. The Bulldogs as a team have hit for a .137 hitting percentage, and they have 129 kills compared to their opponent's 145. Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Proszenyak has no doubt been one of their best pieces so far, with 41 kills, a .193 hitting percentage, and an impressive 12 service aces. The Bulldogs' head coach is third-year man David Gannon.
 
Scouting Westminster University (Utah)

Head coach Sue Dulaney's squad has gone 1-3 through their first tournament weekend of the season. As a team, they have totaled 140 kills compared to their opponent's 161. Accounting for a team-leading 34 of those kills is senior outside hitter Olivia Curtis. Standing tall in the middle for Westminster is sophomore middle hitter Mailei Myers. On the court so far this season, she has a team-leading 11 blocks, as well as contributing offensively with 21 kills of her own.
 
Scouting Parkside

The Rangers of Parkside have split their first four games going 2-2 in their weekend tournament. Redshirt junior setter Karlee Lois had an especially spectacular weekend, being named to the all-tournament team. She tallied up a total of 120 assists and 55 digs throughout the tournament, helping her team win a couple of hard-fought games. Sophomore outside hitter Ava Irvin and freshman middle blocker Sam Fisch combined for 81 kills on the weekend. The Rangers also had three ladies reach the 10-block mark over the weekend. Fisch added to her stellar weekend with 10 blocks, and junior middle blocker Lindsay Krznarich and sophomore middle blocker Mariena Coon had 10 blocks each. Parkside is coached by Leigh Barea.