ST. JOSEPH, Mo – Road action continues this weekend as the Griffs trek north to compete in the NSIC Challenge with matches scheduled against Bemidji State and Augustana on Friday and Minnesota State - Moorhead and Sioux Falls on Saturday. Griffon Volleyball started 3-1 after competing in the Rockhurst Classic in Kansas City this past weekend.

NSIC Challenge (tournament website)
Sept. 12, 11:30 a.m. vs. Bemidji State (live stats)
Sept. 12, 4:30 p.m. vs. Augustana (live stats) 
Sept. 13, 2 p.m. vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead (live stats)
Sept. 13, 7 p.m. vs. University of Sioux Falls (S.D.)  (live stats)

Scouting the Griffons - MWSU was able to take down Findlay (3-1) and completed clean sweeps of East Central Oklahoma and William Jewel. Missouri Western's only loss came Friday night, 3-1, to Rockurst.

Senior Erica Rottinghaus paced the Griffons offensively with 62 total kills for the four games. The Griffons also received contributions from junior Jessie Thorup with 46 kills, and Kelsey Olion posting 29 kills. Junior Jordan Chohon effectively ran the offense dishing out 161 total assists during the four matches. Finally, senior Sarah Faubel recorded a team-high 51 digs over the weekend.

MWSU had two individuals named to the all-tournament team at the Rockhurst Classic. Senior Sarah Faubel and Erica Rottinghaus each took a spot with their stellar play.

Scouting Bemidji State University – The Beavers come into the weekend with a record of 2-2 after spending a weekend in Houghton, Michigan.  Bemidji State had wins over Northern Michigan (3-1), and Lake Superior State, (3-0). The losses for BSU came from UW-Parkside (3-2), and Michigan Tech (3-1).

Sophomore Jessica Yost averaged four kills per game and totaled 64 kills in four matches for the Beavers earning herself a place on the all-tournament team in Houghton, Michigan. The assist leader is Courtney Volkmann accounting for 157 total assist. Defensively, junior Kayla DeJong recorded an average of 5.06 digs per match.

Scouting Augustana College (SD) – Augustana College competed it's their first tournament this past weekend in Golden, Colorado. The Vikings came away from the weekend with a record of, 3-1. Augustana recorded wins against Colorado Mines (3-0), Grand Valley State (3-1), and Colorado Christian (3-1). Both Colorado Mines and Grand Valley State were ranked in the top-25 before getting beat by the Vikings. Northwest Nazarene beat the Vikings by a score of 3-1.

Individual leaders for the Vikings include senior Courtney Ysker posting 4.27 kills per set and Ashley Wilson who had a .364 hitting percentage to lead the team. Freshman Tahlyr Banks recorded 93 total digs over the weekend good enough for 6.20 digs per set and earning herself defensive player of the week in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Minnesota State University Moorhead – The Dragons also headed out to Golden, Colorado for the Oredigger Volleyball Classic. MSUM finished with a record of 2-2 falling to Grand Valley State (0-3) and Colorado Christian (2-3). Minnesota State rebounded and finished the weekend with two wins coming against Bentley (3-0) and Dominican (3-0) on Sept. 6.

MSUM has two individuals, junior Abby Wolpern and junior Kaitlin VanWinkle posting a hitting percentage of at least .300. Wolpern and VanWinkle had 50 and 43 kills respectively in the four matches this past weekend. The Dragons, Casie Baer recorded a team-high 90 assist to help run the offense. Defensively, junior Amber Krenske had 5.36 digs per set leading the team in the statistical category.

University of Sioux Falls (SD) – After traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina to compete in the Queens University Fall Volleyball Invitational, the Cougars went 3-1. The loss for the Cougars was against the 22^nd ranked Armstrong Athletic in five sets. USF posted wins against Catawba College (3-1), University of Montevallo (3-1), and Queens University (3-0).

Senior outside hitter Emily Johnson led the way for USF earning all-tournament honors. Johnson had a team-high 52 kills over the four matches.  The Cougars rely heavily on two setters, freshman Kayla Crane and Sydney Schaap, each posting at least 74 total digs. On defense, freshman Janelle Lam lead the team with 2.86 digs per set.