Northern State defended its home court on Saturday afternoon and as a result will likely get to play there again in the postseason.

The Wolves collected a 12-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22 win over Minnesota Duluth in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball action. The victory puts NSU in a prime position to be able to host a first-round match during the NSIC postseason tourney at Wachs Arena, where the team is 9-1 this season.

“We made plays when they had to be made. … The last thing I told them, you’ve got to give your best when your best is needed,” said Northern coach Brent Aldridge. “I told them the best is for sure needed.”

The victory avenged a sweep at the hands of Duluth earlier this season, and came on senior day, where the Wolves were determined to make sure it wouldn’t be the final local appearance for three players: Victoria Persha, Cara Cyr, and Sara Moberg.

“Today was just really special. My parents are here,” said Persha, who led the Wolves with 15 kills. “They flew all the way from Arizona, and I really just wanted to go out with a bang this season.”

As they did in a Friday night win over Bemidji State, the Wolves struggled early, dropped the opening set, and then roared back to win three straight.

“I don’t know why we’re starting slow, but we are,” Aldridge said, “and then we kind of get it turned around.”

The Bulldogs played big at the net in the first set, blocking Northern hitters and forcing the Wolves to figure out a different course of action.

“We were definiltey frustrated with that at the beginning, but you come back and you talk with the girls on the bench,” Cyr said. “Linnea (Nesheim) was super helpful to Katelyn (Schroeder), especially, telling her you have line, you have cross.”

Soon, the Wolves were finding away around the blocks and also producing some well-placed tips to switch the momentum.

Northern dominated the second and third sets, and then found a way to rally from behind to finish off the match.

“It’s hard to come back against any team,” Cyr said. “You have to try to find your rhythm fast and then stick with it.”

Cyr said it helps to have a short memory in volleyball.

“You have kind of have to be a gold fish, forget about the last play and you’ve got to move to the next one,” Cyr said. “We always say every point is just worth one. There’s no two points, three points.”

Northern tailed 17-11 in the fourth set before mounting a major comeback, eventually catching the Bulldogs at 19-19 on a kill by Schroeder. The Wolves then surged in front with two more points, one coming on a block from Ava Nilsson, before the former Warner standout kept a ball off the floor with an all-out dive during a point that eventually resulted in a kill from Cyr.

“I just kind of told the girls, we’re in this. It’s OK,” Persha said. “It’s one point. They’re going to get their kills and we’re going to get ours.”

In the end, the Wolves were highly motivated to not only exact a measure of revenge on Duluth, but also to help ensure another home match this season.

“We’re ready to fight. We want to win,” Persha said. “We want to go to NCAA conference. We’re just so ready.”

When asked if the squad was peaking at the right time of the season, Cyr responded, “I think we’re still going up. I think we have a lot of potential to grow still.”

Schroeder added a dozen kills to the Northern total. Nilsson contributed 40 set assists.

Northern improved to 19-7 overall and 14-4 in the NISC with one of its top performances of the season, according to Aldridge.

“We’re definitely a different serving team here. I thought we blocked pretty well when we needed some key blocks. When we needed a key dig, we got it down the stretch,” Aldridge said. “I’m about as ecstatic as I’ve been this year.”

Northern closes out its season with two road matches, the first at Minnesota State, Moorhead on Friday night before playing at Minnesota Crookston on Saturday.

The Wolves will head to those matches with a busload of momentum after taking care of business at home.

“Back-to-back to wins on the weekend,” Aldridge said, “not starting great, but finishing like a champion.”

To see a box score of the Duluth match, click on the following link:

https://nsuwolves.com/sports/womens-volleyball/stats/2026/minnesota-duluth/boxscore/14683