ST. PETER, Minn. – After playing five matches on the road last week, the Gustavus volleyball team returns to Gus Young Court tonight to host Buena Vista University in a non-conference match at 7 p.m. The Gusties enter tonight’s match with a 17-6 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the MIAC, while the Beavers are 12-12 overall and 3-4 in the IIAC.
Live coverage of tonight’s match begins at 6:45 p.m.
Tonight the Gustie volleyball team would like to take a moment to thank all the Gustie volleyball campers and high school players who have attended camp and will be in attendance tonight. The team looks forward to seeing the campers at its upcoming winter and spring clinics on December 3 and April 8, and next July at the summer camps.
The Gusties are coming off a 2-2 weekend at the Sandy Schumacher Tournament hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Gustavus defeated UM-Morris and No. 22 UW-Eau Claire, while losing to No. 21 UW-Oshkosh and No. 24 Northwestern-St. Paul. Nora Holtan (So., Rochester, Minn.) continues to impress during her sophomore campaign, leading the league with 9.74 assists per set, which ranks 40th in the nation. Holtan is also a leading attacker, ranking fourth in the league with a .271 attack percentage. Lauren Hanson (So., Redwood Falls, Minn.) ranks second in the MIAC with 293 kills and her 3.37 kills per set average ranks third. As a team, the Gusties top the MIAC with 13.32 kills per set and 1,225 kills.
Buena Vista enters tonight’s match on a two-match skid, losing 3-1 at Central last Tuesday and dropping a five-set match at Dubuque on Oct. 8. After 24 matches, Jade Schaap and Maddie Bardole lead the Beavers on the attack. Schaap has 282 kills and averages 3.2 per set, while Bardole has 279 kills and averages 3.17 per set. Ashley Pelton directs the offense with a team-high 502 assists (5.7 per set), while Sydnee Donnelli leads the back line with 342 digs (3.93 per set).