October 9, 2023

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) announced its eighth edition of volleyball players-of-the-week honors Monday.  Morgan Freije of Valley City State (N.D.) was chosen as the Attacker-of-the-Week, while her teammate Sadie Hansen was named as the Setter-of-the-Week.  Taylan Keefer of Bellevue (Neb.) was selected as the Defender-of-the-Week.

NSAA Volleyball Attacker-of-the-Week
Morgan Freije – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’11”, Sophomore, right side – Edmore, N.D. – Freije posted back-to-back matches with double-figure kills as (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) went 2-0 record on the road for the week, including a 3-0 win over No. 15 Bellevue (Neb.).  She posted 10 kills and five blocks with .500 hitting percentage against Bellevue and followed up with 10 kills and four blocks with .471 hitting efficiency in 3-0 victory at Dakota State (S.D.).  For the week, Freije averaged 3.3 kills per set (20 total kills) and recorded an impressive .485 hitting percentage, committing just four attack errors in 33 swings.  She had nine blocks for the week (1.5 blocks per set).

NSAA Volleyball Setter-of-the-Week
Sadie Hansen – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’9”, Junior, setter – Oakes, N.D. – Hansen fueled (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) to a 2-0 record on the road, including a 3-0 victory at No. 15 ranked Bellevue (Neb.).  She tallied 39 set assists (13.0 assists per set) and seven digs at Bellevue and followed up with 37 set assists (12.3 assists per set) and 15 digs (5.0 digs per set) in 3-0 victory at Dakota State (S.D.).  Hansen accumulated 76 assists (12.7 set assists per set) and 22 digs (3.7 digs per set) for the week.  She also had six kills, four blocks, and two service aces for the Vikings.

NSAA Volleyball Defender-of-the-Week
Taylan Keefer – Bellevue (Neb.) – 5’4”, Senior, libero/defensive specialist – Council Bluffs, Iowa – Keefer averaged 6.2 digs per set as No. 15 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) went 1-1 record for the week at home.  She collected 14 digs (4.7 digs per set) and added three set assists in 3-0 sweep over Dickinson State (N.D.).  She followed up with 23 digs (7.7 digs per set), despite a 3-0 setback to (RV) Valley City State (N.D.).  For the week, Keefer amassed 37 digs (6.2 digs per set).

Recap from last week’s action
Viterbo (Wis.), ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, continued their dominance in the North Star Athletic Association with a 3-0 home sweep over Mayville State (N.D.) on Oct. 5.  The V-Hawks raised their overall record to 19-3 and remained undefeated in the NSAA conference play with a 6-0 record.

The Comets, who defeated NCAA Division III Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) on Oct. 3, bounced back in the winning column on Oct. 6 in a 3-0 sweep at Waldorf (Iowa).  MSU is 12-6 overall record and 3-3 record in the league.  The Warriors fell to 10-7 overall record and 0-6 NSAA conference record.

Valley City State (N.D.), receiving votes in the national poll, earned a pair of 3-0 road sweeps at No. 16 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) on Oct. 6 and at Dakota State (S.D.) on Oct. 7.  The Vikings raised their overall record to 17-4 and 5-1 record in the North Star. 

Both Bellevue and Dakota State earned a 3-0 home sweep over Dickinson State (N.D.), at BU on Oct. 5, and at DaSU on Oct. 6.  The Bruins are 16-5 overall record and 4-2 NSAA conference record, while the Trojans are 9-11 overall record and 2-4 record in the league.  Dickinson State is 1-17 overall record and 1-5 NSAA conference record.

Looking Ahead
The North Star Athletic Association volleyball schedule begins their second half of the conference schedule Tuesday evening.  No. 16 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) travels on the road to take on Dakota State (S.D.), while Dickinson State (N.D.) stays on the road on the same night at Valley City State (N.D.).  Viterbo (Wis.) heads to Waldorf (Iowa) on Wednesday evening.

VCSU remains home Wednesday evening, hosting No. 14 Jamestown (N.D.) in a non-conference contest.

Mayville State (N.D.) visits Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference match on Thursday evening.

Bellevue hosts a tournament on Friday and Saturday.  The Bruins play No. 23 ranked Ottawa (Kan.) and No. 9 ranked Montana Tech on Friday.  BU faces Grand View (Iowa) on Saturday.  Dakota State also plays in the tournament on Saturday, taking on Grand View and nationally ranked Montana Tech.

Viterbo also hosts a tournament on Friday and Saturday, hosting Trinity Christian (Ill.) and Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Friday.  Waldorf also play in the tournament, taking on St. Francis (Ind.) on Friday.  Saturday’s schedule includes St. Francis facing Viterbo, while Waldorf plays Rocky Mountain and Trinity Christian.

            Tuesday’s Matches
            (15) Bellevue (Neb.) @ Dakota State (S.D.) – 6 p.m.
            Dickinson State (N.D.) @ (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) – 7 p.m.

            Wednesday’s Matches
            (14) Jamestown (N.D.) @ (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) – 7 p.m.
            (6) Viterbo (Wis.) @ Waldorf (Iowa) – 7 p.m.

            Thursday’s Match
            Mayville State (N.D.) @ (RV) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) – 6 p.m.

            Friday’s Matches
            Bellevue (Neb.) Tournament – Bellevue, Neb.
                        (23) Ottawa (Kan.) @ (15) Bellevue (Neb.) – 11:30 a.m.
                        (9) Montana Tech @ (15) Bellevue (Neb.) – 7 p.m.
            Viterbo (Wis.) Tournament – La Crosse, Wis.
                        Trinity Christian (Ill.) @ (6) Viterbo (Wis.) – 12 p.m.
                        (RV) Rocky Mountain (Mont.) @ (6) Viterbo (Wis.) – 6 p.m.
                        Waldorf (Iowa) vs. St. Francis (Ind.) – 6 p.m.

            Saturday’s Matches
            Bellevue (Neb.) Tournament – Bellevue, Neb.
                        Dakota State (S.D.) vs. Grand View (Iowa) – 11 a.m.
                        Dakota State (S.D.) vs. (9) Montana Tech – 1:30 p.m.
                        Grand View (Iowa) @ (15) Bellevue (Neb.) – 4 p.m.
            Viterbo (Wis.) Tournament – La Crosse, Wis.
                        Waldorf (Iowa) vs. (RV) Rocky Mountain (Mont.) – 9 a.m.
                        St. Francis (Ind.) @ (6) Viterbo (Wis.) – 11 a.m.
                        Waldorf (Iowa) vs. Trinity Christian (Ill.) – 1 p.m.

NSAA Women’s Volleyball Standings
 

School	Overall Record	NSAA Record	Games Behind	Streak
(6) Viterbo (Wis.)	19-3	6-0	-----	Won 3
(RV) Valley City State (N.D.)	17-4	5-1	1.0	Won 3
(16) Bellevue (Neb.)	16-5	4-2	2.0	Lost 1
Mayville State (N.D.)	12-6	3-3	3.0	Won 1
Dakota State (S.D.)	9-11	2-4	4.0	Lost 1
Dickinson State (N.D.)	1-17	1-5	5.0	Lost 2
Waldorf (Iowa)	10-7	0-6	6.0	Lost 5