AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll Week 5 (Oct. 5, 2015)
2015 NSIC Volleyball Weekly Release No. 5 (Oct. 5, 2015)
UMD's No.1 Rankings

Continuing positive momentum with a pair of three-game sweeps over the weekend, the top-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth maintained its hold on the No. 1 spot in Monday's American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Coaches Top 25 poll for a school-record fourth-straight week. Meanwhile, junior outside hitter Taylor Wissbroecker and senior setter Ashley Hinsch each earned Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week honors for the Bulldogs.

No. 1 UMD (13-2, 6-1 NSIC) held 17 first-place votes a week ago and gained ten to now hold 27 of 48 overall. The Bulldogs will meet up with Concordia University, St. Paul at Romano Gymnasium on Tuesday night in the latest meeting of the longtime rivals with the Golden Bears holding on to the No. 3 position for the second-straight week while preseason favorite the University of Tampa holds tight on No. 2. UMD will also meet Southwest Minnesota State University this Friday night on the road in Marshall. The Mustangs remain at No. 5 while No. 4 Ferris State University rounds out the top of the poll.

After a weekend of top-25 matches across the NSIC, the rest of the teams represented in the poll shifted around. No. 8 Northern State University, No. 10 Wayne State (Neb.) College, and No. 24 Winona State University each move up one spot from a week ago, while No. 20 Augustana (S.D.) University dropped one spot from 19. Minnesota State University Mankato remains just on the outside of the poll among teams receiving votes.

HINSCH, WISSBROECKER EARNS NSIC HONORS
Junior outside hitter Taylor Wissbroecker had a career weekend for UMD, earning the title of NSIC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career. She led the Bulldog offense averaging 5.17 kills per game (31 total) with just five errors on 57 swings for a .456 hitting percentage. She also grabbed 19 total digs, a pair of service aces, and four blocks all in Friday night's three-game sweep of the University of Mary. She had a double-double Saturday against Minot State University with 10 digs and 20 kills without a single error (.714 attack percentage). The 20 kills far surpassed her previous career-best of 13 and marked three-straight matches reacing double-digit kills for the Bulldogs.

Senior setter Ashley Hinsch also had a strong weekend for UMD and was named the league's setter of the week for the first time this season. She averaged 14.17 assists per game as UMD made quick work of the Marauders and Beavers in three sets. She finished with a season-high for three-game matches with 49 assists against Minot State while setting her offense up for a season-best .490 attack percentage with just six errors by her attackers. She collected her second double-double of the season with a team-high 12 digs on Friday against U-Mary while also adding 36 assists.

UP NEXT
UMD plays host to Concordia-St. Paul Tuesday night in Duluth. The rivalry reignites at 7:00 p.m. in Romano Gym.