August 19, 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) announced its first edition of 2024 volleyball players-of-the-week honors Monday.  Sydney Schell of Dakota State (S.D.) was selected as the Attacker-of-the-Week, while her teammate Kate VanRooyan was named as the Defender-of-the-Week.  Sadie Hansen of Valley City State (N.D.) was chosen as the Setter-of-the-Week.

NSAA Volleyball Attacker-of-the-Week
Sydney Schell – Dakota State (S.D.) – 5’8”, Senior, outside hitter – Aberdeen, S.D. – Schell averaged 3.4 kills per set to help (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) to a 2-2 record in the Keiser (Fla.) Vipers Sports Academy Classic.  She highlighted with a 23-kill performance (4.6 kills per set) and .375 hitting percentage, despite a 3-2 setback to No. 11 ranked Missouri Baptist.  She posted double digits digs in all four matches and earned double-doubles twice during the tournament.  Schell finished the tournament with 54 total kills, 58 digs (3.6 digs per set), and nine blocks (0.6 blocks per set). 

NSAA Volleyball Setter-of-the-Week
Sadie Hansen – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’10”, Senior, setter – Oakes, N.D. – Hansen totaled 147 set assists to help No. 22 Valley City State (N.D.) to a 2-2 record in the Keiser (Fla.) Vipers Sports Academy Classic.  She posted a triple-double to take down (RV) Indiana Tech in five sets, including 47 assists, 17 digs, and 10 kills.  Hansen finished the tournament with 8.7 assists per set, 47 total digs (2.8 digs per set) and 20 kills (1.2 kills per set).  She also had six blocks in the tournament.

NSAA Volleyball Defender-of-the-Week
Kate VanRooyan – Dakota State (S.D.) – 5’5”, Sophomore, defensive specialist – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – VanRooyan paced (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) with 80 total digs (6.0 digs per set), going 2-2 record in the Keiser (Fla.) Vipers Sports Academy Classic.  She hit double digits digs in all four matches, including 31 digs (6.2 digs per set) in Trojans’ 3-2 season opening victory over Campbellsville (Ky.).  VanRooyan also finished the tournament with 16 set assists.  She produced 77 receptions and committed just two reception errors for a .974 reception rate. 

Recap from last week’s action
The 2024 NAIA Women’s Volleyball season officially started on Aug. 15.  Four North Star Athletic Association teams were in action.

Bellevue (Neb.), ranked No. 14 in the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll, went 2-1 record in the Raider Invitational.  The Bruins opened the season with a 3-0 sweep over No. 12 ranked Corban (Ore.) before falling to host team No. 10 ranked Southern Oregon in three straight sets.  BU closed the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Simpson (Calif.).  Bellevue is 2-1 overall record.

No. 22 Valley City State (N.D.) and Dakota State (S.D.), receiving votes in the national preseason poll, played four matches in the Keiser (Fla.) Vipers Sports Academy Classic in West Palm Beach, Fla.  Both teams went 2-2 record in the tournament.  The Vikings opened the season with a 3-2 victory over (RV) Indiana Tech and fell to Taylor (Ind.) on Aug. 16.  VCSU defeated No. 11 Missouri Baptist in three sets before closing the tournament with a 3-2 setback to No. 19 ranked St. Thomas (Fla.).

The Trojans began their 2024 season with a 3-2 thrilling victory over Campbellsville (Ky.) and were swept by nationally ranked St. Thomas in three sets on Aug. 16.  DaSU fell short to another nationally ranked team Missouri Baptist in five sets and closed with a 3-0 sweep over Taylor on Aug. 17.

Mayville State (N.D.) kicked off their season with a split (1-1 overall record) in the Dordt (Iowa) triangular.  The Comets fell to host-team Dordt in three sets and produced a 3-2 victory over William Penn (Iowa) in the second match on Aug. 17. 

Jamestown (N.D.), preseason favorite to win the North Star conference title and No. 9 ranked in the national poll, awaits their season until Labor Day weekend tournament in North Sioux City, S.D.

Dickinson State (N.D.) begins their 2024 season in Bellevue, Neb., on Aug. 23-24.

Looking Ahead
No. 14 Bellevue (Neb.) hosts a home tournament Friday and Saturday.  Dickinson State (N.D.) also compete in the GoSarpy.com tournament, kicking off their 2024 season.
Dakota State (S.D.) plays their home opener on Saturday afternoon versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).

No. 22 Valley City State (N.D.) is set to play a pair of scrimmages during the week, at home on Wednesday and at NCAA Division II Mary (N.D.) on Saturday.

No. 9 Jamestown (N.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) are idle until Labor Day weekend in the Siouxland Invitational.

            Friday’s Matches
            GoSarpy.Com Invitational – Bellevue, Neb..
                        Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. (25) Ottawa (Kan.) – 11:30 a.m. (CT)/10:30 a.m. (MT)
                        Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. (RV) Benedictine (Kan.) – 2 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MT)
                        (RV) Benedictine (Kan.) @ (14) Bellevue (Neb.) – 7 p.m.

            Saturday’s Matches
            GoSarpy.Com Invitational – Bellevue, Neb..
                        Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. Avila (Mo.) – 9 a.m. (CT)/8 a.m. (MT)
                        Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. (17) College of Saint Mary (Neb.) – 11:30 a.m. (CT)/10:30 a.m. (MT)
                        Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) @ (14) Bellevue (Neb.) – 2 p.m.
                        (13) Oklahoma Wesleyan @ (14) Bellevue (Neb.) – 4:30 p.m.

NSAA Volleyball Standings
 

School	Overall Record	NSAA Record	Games Behind	Streak
(14) Bellevue (Neb.)	2-1	0-0	-----	Won 1
Mayville State (N.D.)	1-1	0-0	-----	Won 1
(22) Valley City State (N.D.)	2-2	0-0	-----	Lost 1
(RV) Dakota State (S.D.)	2-2	0-0	-----	Won 1
Dickinson State (N.D.)	0-0	0-0	-----	-----
(9) Jamestown (N.D.)	0-0	0-0	----	-----