For Immediate Release
Monday, September 18, 2017
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet (PDF)

NSIC Volleyball Players of the Week

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#15 Bria Barfnecht  (RS, 5-10, Jr., Delano, Minn. / Delano HS)
Sioux Falls
- Posted two double-doubles while leading the Cougars with a .484 attack percentage in two matches
- Connected on a career-best 21 kills with just two errors for a .526 attack percentage in USF’s five-set loss at No. 17 Wayne State
- Posted 13 more kills, again with just two errors, while hitting .423 to help the Cougars to the upset win over No. 9 Augustana
- Picked up 15 digs against WSC and a career-high 21 against Augie, which helped hold the Vikings to a .188 team attack percentage
- In two conference matches, Barfnecht ranks fourth in hitting percentage at .484 and 11th in kills per set with an average of 3.40
- Added three block assists in each match and an ace against WSC to finish with 38 points on the week, and average of 3.80 per set

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#6 Kylie Kanwischer (MB, 6-1, Fr., Fargo, N.D. / Shanley HS)
MSU Moorhead
- Had an NSIC high 15 total blocks in the Dragons’ two wins last week
- Averaged an NSIC high 2.14 blocks per set
- Had a career-high 10 block assists in a 3-1 win over UMary
- Ranks third in the NSIC at 1.24 blocks per set

NSIC Setter of the Week
#13 Elizabeth Mohr (S, 5-7, Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn. / Eden Prairie HS)  
Concordia-St. Paul
- Put up a massive 117 assists (14.62 per set) as well as 20 digs (2.50 per set) in a pair of wins
- Had 59 assists and 10 digs against Upper Iowa before adding 58 assists and 10 digs against No. 11 WSU
- Has recorded three double-doubles on the season
- Guided the offense to an impressive .339 hitting percentage for the weekend
- Named NSIC Setter of the Week for the second time this season (9/5/17)
 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-2 vs. #1 SMSU L 3-2 at USF	8-3, 0-2 NSIC	L2	10th
Team Notes
- In both five set thrillers last week, the Vikings were down 0-2 before coming back to force a fifth set - Augustana was on a seven match win streak before dropping its last two matches.
Top Performer(s)
- Senior setter Alex Banker knotted a career-high 54 assists in the Vikings loss to Sioux Falls last week - Senior Ashley Wilson led Augustana with 16 kills in the loss to SMSU - Junior Courtey Place tallied 14 kills and 14 digs in the loss to SMSU
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 19 at #17 Wayne State – 6 p.m.  Friday, Sept. 22 at St. Cloud State – 6 p.m.  Saturday, Sept. 23 at Minnesota Duluth – 2 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week – 0-2		Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-1 at SCSU L 3-0 vs. #7 UMD		3-7, 0-2 NSIC	L3	15th
Team Notes
- The Beavers went 0-2 to start conference play over the weekend - BSU opened NSIC action falling to St. Cloud State, 3-1, on the road - The Beavers then hosted their first home match of the season falling to No. 7 UMD, 3-0 - The Beavers will travel to Minnesota Crookston Tuesday before hosting SMSU and USF this weekend
Top Performer(s)
- Junior Maddie Filipiak led the team by tallying 14 kills (2.00/s) over two matches - Tied a career-high with eight kills and hit .412 against SCSU - Junior Jessica Reega led BSU by hitting at a .385 efficiency and tallied 13 kills - Emma Halllmann led the team with 26 digs (3.71/s) while Filipiak also led the team by tallying nine blocks (5s-4a)
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 19 at Minnesota Crookston – 6 pm Friday, Sept. 22 vs. SMSU – 6 pm Saturday, Sept. 23 vs. Sioux Falls – 4 pm

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-1 vs UIU W 3-1 at #11 WSU	9-1, 2-0 NSIC	W2	1st
Team Notes
- CSP improved to 14-1 in NSIC openers under Brady Starkey with a four-set win against UIU before grabbing another four-set win on the road at #11 WSU - Concordia’s win over Winona State was their fifth win against a ranked opponent through 10 matches this season as they improved to 5-1 against the AVCA Top 25 - CSP compiled an impressive .339 hitting percentage while allowing a mark of .230 in the two matches
Top Performer(s)
- Elizabeth Mohr was the guiding force for the Concordia offense as she put up a massive 117 assists (14.62 per set) as well as 20 digs (2.50 per set) for a pair of double-doubles in the two wins - Brooklyn Lewis paced the squad with 4.12 kills per set to go along with an efficient .362 hitting percentage while she also added 1.12 digs and 0.75 blocks per set
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 19 vs Minnesota State – 6 pm Friday, Sept. 22 vs Minot State – 6 pm Saturday, Sept. 23 vs U-Mary – 2 pm

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 vs. #24 NSU L 3-1 at MSUM	4-7, 0-2 NSIC	L3	14th
Team Notes
- UMary opened Northern Sun play at home against Northern State and are now in the process of playing four straight road games - After playing single games last Saturday at MSU Moorhead and heading to Minot State on Tuesday, the Marauders will play their first NSIC weekend doubleheader when UMary visits Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul on Sept. 22-23
Top Performer(s)
- After being held to single digits in kills and digs against Northern State and snapping a string of four straight double-doubles, senior Lauren Randall posted 14 kills and a season-high 15 digs at MSU Moorhead. She also had a season-best three aces. Randall leads the NSIC in kills/set (4.76) and points/set (5.18) - Freshman Natalia Cruz, playing in just her second collegiate game, posted a game-high 16 kills in the Marauders 3-1 loss at MSU Moorhead. She also had 12 digs - Amanda Lopes is 10th in the NSIC in assists, averaging 9.1/set. She had her sixth double double of the year with 42 digs and 11 digs.
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Minot State – 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 at Minnesota State  - 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at Concordia-St. Paul - 2 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 UMD L 3-0 SCSU	3-7, 0-2 NSIC	L4	12th
Team Notes
- UMC played a tough first set Saturday against St. Cloud State, losing just 25-21 and hitting .255 with 16 kills and four error - The Golden Eagles are hitting .171 on the season with 10.8 kills per set - Minnesota Crookston is averaging 1.48 blocks per set on the season
Top Performer(s)
- Kelci Green notched 12 kills and hit .545 on the match with no errors against St. Cloud State - Callie Schapekahm notched seven kills and hit .467 with no errors versus St. Cloud State - Becca Vandenheuvel tallied 12 digs versus St. Cloud State
Up Next
Tues., Sept. 19 – vs. Bemidji State, 6 p.m., Crookston, Minn. Fri., Sept. 22 – vs. Sioux Falls, 6 p.m., Crookston, Minn. Sat., Sept. 23 – vs. Southwest Minnesota State, 2 p.m., Crookston, Minn.

 

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs UMC W 3-0 at BSU	9-1, 2-0 NSIC	W6	3rd
Team Notes
- Captured their sixth-straight sweep, blanking both Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State - Offense averaged 15.5 kills per set and hit .371 combined in two games - Held the Golden Eagles and the Beavers to a combined .120 percentage with 35 attack errors - First in the conference in kills/set (15.84) and assists/set (14.87)
Top Performer(s)
- Sarah Kelly notched a team-high 15 kills versus Minnesota Crookston. She also hit above the .500 mark in botch matches - Makenzie Morgen racked up 23 kills (3.83 k/set) and 18 digs (3.00 d/set) as she nabbed her fourth double-double of the season. Also collected five aces - Allison Olley hit .444 on 27 swings with one error. Led the Bulldogs with six total blocks
Up Next - Keweenaw Classic
Tuesday, Sept. 19 vs St. Cloud State – 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 vs Wayne State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 vs Augustana – 2 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 vs. #11 WSU L 3-1 at UIU	6-4	L2	9th
Team Notes
- Went 0-2 last week - Dropped home opener to #11 Winona State, 3-0 - Fell on the road against Upper Iowa, 3-1 - Mavericks posted 10 aces as a team vs. Upper Iowa
Top Performer(s)
-Junior Sydney Powell recorded 22 kills over the weekend including a match-best 13 against #11 Winona State - She currently sets the pace for the Mavericks with 3.35 kills per set. Additionally, Powell contributed 19 digs last week -Freshman Micayla Porter posted a match-high 27 assists to go along with a team-best 17 digs against Upper Iowa - She also reached double-digits in assists against #11 Winona State with 14. Porter averages 5.21 assists per set which ranks second on the Mavericks - Freshman Mara Quam totaled a match-best 21 digs at Upper Iowa and team-best 16 digs against #11 Winona State. She sets the pace for the Mavericks with 4.26 digs per set
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept 19 at Concordia-St.Paul – 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 vs. U-Mary – 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 vs. Minot State – 12 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 at MINOT W 3-1 vs. UMary	7-3, 2-0 NSIC	W2	10th
Team Notes
- Dragons went 2-0 to open NSIC play - MSUM dominated Minot State on Thursday to open conference season - Dragons won home opener, a 3-1 win over Mary, on Saturday - Dragons had 34 block assists and 20 total blocks in win over Mary - MSUM hit .230 for the week compared to .129 for their opposition
Top Performer(s)
- Fr. Setter Ellie Hoyt had 83 set assists in two matches, averaging 10.71 assists per set - Jr. Libero Monica Vega had 36 digs in two matches, averaging 5.14 per set - Sr. RS Tyann Caspers (3.00 kills per set) and sophomore MB Kaylyn Jenkins (2.86) led a balanced hitting attack - Fr. MB Kylie Kanwischer had a big week at the net with 15 total blocks, averaging 2.14 per set
Up Next
Sept. 19 vs. Northern State - 6 p.m. Sept. 22 at Upper Iowa - 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at Winona State - 2 p.m.

 

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week – 0-2	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-0 vs. MSUM L 3-0 at NSU	3-7, 0-2 NSIC	L6	16th
Team Notes
- Shelby Spuller ranks third in NSIC with 4.08 kills per set - Freshman libero Karli Koza is fifth in NSIC with 5.11 digs per set
Top Performer(s)
- Shelby Spuller totaled 13 kills in both matches - Kelsey Dewulf recorded 64 assists on the week
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 19 vs. UMary – 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 at Concordia-St. Paul – 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at Minnesota State – 12 p.m.

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-0 vs. U-Mary W 3-0 vs. MINOT	9-1, 2-0 NSIC	W8	8th
Team Notes
- Northern State moved to No. 24 nationally in the AVCA Top-25 poll to start off the week, after a 4-0 weekend at home - NSU opened NSIC play with two wins over U-Mary and Minot State - The Wolves recorded 74 kills, 80 digs, 67 assists, 17.5 blocks, and ten aces in the two wins - Northern out-hit their opponents .367 to .051 on the week, while hitting a season high .516 against the Marauders - NSU has won their last six matches in three straight sets - Through the first ten games of the season the Wolves are hitting .308 with 435 kills, 401 assists, 462 digs, 60 service aces, and 71.5 blocks
Top Performer(s)
- Laura Snyder led the team on the week with 23 kills and a .645 attack percentage - Jenna Reiff was second on the team with 13 kills - Ashley Rozell racked up 61 assists, averaging 10.2 per set, as well as five kills and four aces - Jaiden Langlie led the defense with 18 digs and four aces
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 19 at MSU Moorhead – 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 at Winona State – 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at Upper Iowa – 2 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 2-3 at #17 Wayne State W 3-2 vs #9 Augustana	5-1, 1-1 NSIC	W1	7th
Team Notes
- Split their opening week of NSIC matches, dropping a five-set contest at No. 17 Wayne State before coming from behind to defeat rival No. 9 Augustana - Out-hit Wayne State .241 to .228 and had four hitters record nine or more kills, but lost in five sets - Against Augustana, the Cougars fought back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat AU for the third time in five years - USF’s defense held the Vikings to a .188 attack percentage while three Cougars posted 10-plus kills - The win over No. 9 Augustana was USF’s second victory over a top-10 team in the past two years and fourth overall against ranked competition in the same span
Top Performer(s)
- Makenna Rockeman posted a conference-leading 46 kills in two matches, setting a career high in USF’s victory over Augustana - Rockeman’s 27 kills against AU set a D2-era record for USF - Bria Barfnecht was efficient all week, posting a .484 attack percentage on 34 kills - Barfnecht posted two double-doubles with kills and digs, including a career-best 21 digs against Augustana - Megan Hamstad directed the USF offense to a .237 attack percentage while handing out 113 assists at an 11.30 per set rate
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 19 – vs Southwest Minnesota State - 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 – at Minnestoa Crookston -  6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 – at Bemidji State - 4 p.m.

 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 at Augustana W 3-0 vs. Wayne State	10-0, 0-0 NSIC	W10	2nd
Team Notes
- Southwest Minnesota State continued its best start to a season in school history last weekend with a close 3-2 win in five sets over Augustana on Thursday followed by a 3-0 sweep in the Mustangs home opener against Wayne State - SMSU held its two conference opponents to .179 hitting and had 14 total blocks in two matches - The Mustangs improved to 7-0 against ranked opponents with its last six wins all coming over top-25 teams in the nation - SMSU has averaged 15.1 kills per set as a team this season and 13.9 assists per set - The Mustangs have gone 10-0 this season in opening sets and are 8-2 in second sets alone
Top Performer(s)
- Taylor Reiss had 37 kills (4.62 k/s)  and 35 digs (4.38 digs/s) in the Mustangs’ two wins last week - Reiss finished with a .444 hitting percentage in SMSU’s sweep of Wayne State on Saturday - Kaylee Burmeister had 29 kills over the weekend including 21 in the Mustangs’ win over Augustana and averaged 3.38 digs/s - Brooke Borchardt had 19 kills and seven total blocks last week - Megan Larson averaged 12.12 assists/s in the Mustangs’ two wins
Up Next
Thursday, Sept. 19 at Sioux Falls– 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 at Bemidji State– 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at Minnesota Crookston- 2 p.m.

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week – 2-0	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-1 vs. BSU W 3-0 at UMC	9-2, 2-0 NSIC	W3	13th
Team Notes
- St. Cloud State won both its matches on the week to start the 2017 conference season with a 2-0 mark for the first time since the 2013 season - The program with nine wins already has topped last season’s win total - The nine wins this season are only the ninth time since 1999 that the program has won nine or more games in a season - The program hit .230 for the week with 103 kills (14.71 per set), 99 assists, 17 service aces plus 115 digs (16.43 per set)
Top Performer(s)
- Becca Gruber led the team on the week with her 23 kills (3.29 per set) while hitting .333 with only six errors in 51 attempts - Nicole Miller totaled 18 kills, three service aces and 25 digs on the week - Micah Nier recorded 16 kills, a .343 hitting percentage, six blocks and three service aces - Kayla Crane averaged seven assists per set with 49 total assists - Clara Krenz led the team in both digs (36) and service aces (5)
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 19 at Minnesota Duluth - 6 p.m. Friday, Sept 22 vs. Augustana - 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 vs. Wayne State 1 p.m.

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 3-1 at #2 CSP W 3-1 vs. MSU	10-1, 1-1 NSIC	W1	9th
Team Notes
- The Peacocks continue on their best start in program history with their 10-1 start after a split to open NSIC play - UIU lost a hard fought match at #2 Concordia-St. Paul on Thursday night and then returned to Fayette for their home opener against Minnesota State, who they defeated 3-1 - UIU hit .209 with 97 kills in their 8 sets; good for a 12.1/set average - The Peacock defense outblocked their opponents 12-10 for the week
Top Performer(s)
- Haley Weepie led the Peacocks with 26 digs and 30 kills including 21 at Concordia-St. Paul, while Anna Winter added 25 kills and Haley Poula recorded 20 - Malissa LeClaire handed out 68 assists in the two matches and added 28 digs - Ashley Larson led the defense with 32 digs, while Bethany Lovhaug tallied 8 blocks
Up Next
Tuesday, Sept. 19 - vs. #11 Winona State - 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 - vs. MSU Moorhead - 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 - vs. #24 Northern State - 2 p.m.

 

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week – 1-1	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 vs. USF L 3-0 at #1 SMSU	6-4, 0-0 NSIC	L1	6th
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore Tarrin Beller had double-double with 13 kills and 11 blocks in 3-2 win over USF - Sophomore Katie Stephens posted team-high 16 kills with .455 attack percentage in win over USF - Senior Erin Gross had 15 kills and six blocks vs. USF
Up Next
Tuesday, September 19th vs. Augustana - 6 p.m. Friday, September 22nd at Minnesota Duluth - 6 p.m. Saturday, September 23rd at St. Cloud State - 1 p.m.

Winona State University Warriors