INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI volleyball team embarks on a tough two-game road trip this weekend when it heads to the Dakota’s to take on South Dakota State and North Dakota State on Friday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 23, respectively. Both matches are slated to begin at 8 p.m. EST.

The Jaguars recently met the Bison and the Jackrabbits on Oct. 8 and 9 and split the two matches falling to North Dakota State in three sets, before sweeping South Dakota State. North Dakota State enters the weekend sitting alone in third place in the Summit League standings at 8-3, while IUPUI and South Dakota State are in sixth place with identical 5-6 league marks.

ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA STATE: The Bison come into this weekend’s conference action with an overall record of 11-9 and a league mark of 8-3. North Dakota State sits among the Top 3 in conference-only play in six of seven statistical categories, including leading the Summit League in service aces (71) and digs per set (18.83). As a squad, the Bison rank third in the league in hitting percentage, hitting at a .219 clip.

ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE: The Jackrabbits welcome the Jaguars to Frost Arena on Friday, Oct. 22 as both teams look to improve their standing in league action. South Dakota State enters the weekend as the second-best hitting team in the conference at .220, thanks in large part to the play of sophomore Kelli Fiegen, who leads the Summit League in conference-only play with a .403 hitting percentage. Fiegen also ranks fifth in league play with 3.14 kills per set.

LAST LINE OF DEFENSE: Throughout the season, one of the strengths for IUPUI has been its back row defense led by junior libero Shari Bernhardt. The Jaguars rank second in the conference and 20th nationally in digs entering the week averaging 17.32 digs per set. After collecting her fifth 30-plus dig effort of the season with 30 digs against UMKC, Bernhardt is averaging 5.54 digs per set, which not only leads the Summit League but ranks 14th nationally as of Oct. 17.

STEPPING IN: In the absence of starting setter Alexis Meeks last week, sophomore Nicole Ramey stepped in and led the Jaguars to a weekend split against conference-leading Southern Utah and UMKC. Ramey tallied consecutive assist-dig double-doubles, including a 47-assist, 13-dig performance in a five-set win over the Kangaroos. For the weekend, Ramey averaged 10.1 assists per set, 2.7 digs per set, and added four aces.

FOGLER ON FIRE OVER LAST FIVE: In a five-set win over UMKC on Oct. 16, sophomore Bethany Fogler helped lead the Jaguars to the victory with 11 kills in 19 attempts without making an error en route to a .579 hitting percentage. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native has been one of IUPUI’s most consistent hitters over the last five matches posting a .378 hitting percentage during the stretch, making just three errors in her last 74 attempts.

ACES UP: Despite ranking sixth in overall matches in aces, the serving of the Jaguars has improved in conference action as IUPUI ranks fourth in league-only play in aces entering the weekend. In Summit League play, the Jaguars average 1.44 service aces per set, but over the last three matches, IUPUI is averaging 2.42 sa/s. In their last match on Oct. 16 vs. UMKC, the Jaguars tied a season-best with 12 service aces.