October 7, 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) announced their eighth installment of the volleyball players-of-the-week honors Monday.  Kealy Kiviniemi of Bellevue (Neb.) was selected as the Attacker-of-the-Week.  Madalyn Groft of Dakota State (S.D.) was chosen as the Setter-of-the-Week, while her teammate Kate VanRooyan was named as the Defender-of-the-Week.

NSAA Volleyball Attacker-of-the-Week
Kealy Kiviniemi – Bellevue (Neb.) – 6’1”, Junior, right side – Bellevue, Neb. – Kiviniemi guided No. 7 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) to a 3-0 record for the week, hitting .479 with 4.3 kills per set.  She added nine digs and eight total blocks for the week.  She smashed double digits kills in all three matches – 19 kills and .472 hitting percentage in BU’s 3-2 road win at Hastings (Neb.), 22 kills and .568 hitting percentage in 3-1 victory over (RV) Valley City State (N.D.), and 11 kills and .348 hitting percentage in 3-0 sweep over Mayville State (N.D.).  Kiviniemi accumulated 52 kills and only committed six attack errors in 96 swings for the week.

NSAA Volleyball Setter-of-the-Week
Madalyn Groft – Dakota State (S.D.) – 5’7”, Graduate Student, setter – Mellette, S.D. – Groft propelled (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) to a 2-0 record for the week in the North Star Athletic Association action.  She averaged 7.7 set assists and 2.7 digs per set.  Groft collected 21 assists (7.0 assists per set) and nine digs (3.0 digs per set) in 3-0 sweep over (RV) Valley City State (N.D.).  She followed up with 25 assists (8.3 assists per set) in 3-0 victory over Mayville State (N.D.).  For the week, Groft collected 46 set assists, a service ace in 27 serves, and 16 digs.

NSAA Volleyball Defender-of-the-Week
Kate VanRooyan – Dakota State (S.D.) – 5’5”, Sophomore, defensive specialist – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – VanRooyan averaged 7.2 digs per set as (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) went 2-0 record to conclude the first half of the North Star Athletic Association volleyball schedule.  She collected 28 digs (9.3 digs per set) in Trojans’ 3-0 victory over (RV) Valley City State (N.D.).  She also had four service aces in the match.  She followed up with 15 digs (5.0 digs per set) in DaSU’s 3-0 sweep over Mayville State (N.D.).  For the week, VanRooyan amassed 43 digs and did not commit a reception error in 25 total receptions.    

Recap from last week’s action
The North Star Athletic Association wrapped up their first half portion of the conference schedule last week.

Jamestown (N.D.), who moved up one spot from No. 3 to No. 2 in the latest NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, remained undefeated after sweeping Dickinson State (N.D.) in three straight sets on Oct. 2.  The Jimmies remained undefeated with an overall record of 13-0 and 5-0 record in the league.  The Blue Hawks fell to 4-13 overall record and winless in five NSAA contests.

Bellevue (Neb.), who also moved up one spot in the national poll from No. 8 to No. 7, went 3-0 record for the week.  The Bruins earned a 3-2 road thriller at Hastings (Neb.) on Oct. 1, followed by a 3-1 victory over (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 3.  BU also produced a 3-0 sweep over Mayville State (N.D.) on Oct. 4.  Bellevue lifted their overall record to 18-3 and 4-1 record in North Star contests.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) went 2-0 record at home last week, sweeping VCSU on Oct. 2 and MSU on Oct. 5.  The Trojans lifted their overall record to 13-7 and 3-2 record in the conference.  Valley City State fell to 10-7 overall record and 2-3 NSAA conference record.  Mayville State, who defeated NCAA Division III Concordia (Minn.) 3-0 on Oct. 1, is 8-10 overall record and 1-4 record in NSAA.

Looking Ahead
The North Star Athletic Association will have a bye week in conference action this week.

No. 2 Jamestown, (RV) Valley City State (N.D.), Mayville State (N.D.), and Dickinson State (N.D.) will be competing in the NSAA/Frontier Cross-Over from Thursday through Saturday in Billings, Mont.

No. 7 Bellevue (Neb.) hosts their own home tournament, the Marvel Bruin Classic on Friday and Saturday.  (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) will be competing two matches in BU’s tournament on Saturday.

            Thursday’s Matches
            NSAA/Frontier Cross-Over – Billings, Mont.
                        (2) Jamestown (N.D.) @ Rocky Mountain (Mont.) – 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain Time)
                        (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) vs. (19) Montana Western – 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time)
                        (2) Jamestown (N.D.) vs. (13) Providence (Mont.) – 8 p.m. (Central Time)/7 p.m. (Mountain Time)

             Friday’s Matches
            NSAA Frontier Cross-Over – Billings, Mont.
                       Mayville State (N.D.) vs. Montana State-Northern – 10 a.m. (Central Time)/9 a.m. (Mountain Time)
                       Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. (13) Providence (Mont.) – 12 p.m. (Central Time)/11 a.m. (Mountain Time)
                       (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) vs. Montana State-Northern – 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time)
                       (2) Jamestown (N.D.) vs. (19) Montana Western – 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain Time)
                       (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) @ Rocky Mountain (Mont.) – 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time)
            Marvel Bruin Classic – Bellevue, Neb.
                       (RV) Ottawa (Kan.) @ (7) Bellevue (Neb.) – 11:30 a.m.
                       (RV) Columbia (Mo.) @ (7) Bellevue (Neb.) – 7 p.m.

            Saturday’s Matches
            NSAA Frontier Cross-Over – Billings, Mont.
                        Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. (19) Montana Western – 10 a.m. (Central Time)/9 a.m. (Mountain Time)
                        Mayville State (N.D.) vs. (13) Providence (Mont.) – 12 p.m. (Central Time)/11 a.m. (Mountain Time)
                        Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. Montana State-Northern – 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time)
                        Mayville State (N.D.) @ Rocky Mountain (Mont.) – 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain Time)
            Marvel Bruin Classic – Bellevue, Neb.
                        (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) vs. (RV) Columbia (Mo.) – 2 p.m.
                        (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) vs. Grand View (Iowa) – 4:30 p.m.
                        (RV) Carroll (Mont.) @ (7) Bellevue (Neb.) – 7 p.m.

NSAA Volleyball Standings
 

School	Overall Record	NSAA Record	Games Behind	Streak
(2) Jamestown (N.D.)	13-0	5-0	-----	Won 13
(7) Bellevue (Neb.)	18-3	4-1	1.0	Won 4
(RV) Dakota State (S.D.)	13-7	3-2	2.0	Won 2
(RV) Valley City State (N.D.)	10-7	2-3	3.0	Lost 2
Mayville State (N.D.)	8-10	1-4	4.0	Lost 2
Dickinson State (N.D.)	4-13	0-5	5.0	Lost 6