Saturday, October 14
St. Paul, Minn.
12 p.m.
North Dakota State
at
St. Thomas
Photo by: Zachary Lucy
NDSU Volleyball Set for Saturday Encounter at St. Thomas
10/12/2023 12:57:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State (11-6, 3-3 Summit) volleyball team is back on the road this week at St. Thomas (4-12, 0-5 Summit) on Saturday. First serve is set for 12:00 p.m., at Schoenecker Arena.
MATCH COVERAGE
The match will feature live statistics and be available on the Summit League Network for subscribers.
LAST TIME OUT
NDSU dropped a 3-2 decision against South Dakota at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse last Saturday. Lauren Jansen led the way for the Bison with a season-high 20 kills to go along with a .474 hitting percentage. Ali Hinze recorded her fourth straight double-double with a match-high 18 digs and 16 kills. Kelley Johnson narrowly missed a double-double of her own with a match-best 49 assists and eight digs.
BISON AND TOMMIES MEET AGAIN
For the second time in three weeks, NDSU will face St. Thomas after the Bison rolled past the Tommies in Fargo, 3-0, on Sept. 28. Ali Hinze paced NDSU with a match-high 17 kills and match-best 14 digs. Alexis Boling added 12 kills with a .400 hitting percentage, while Kelley Johnson handed out a match-best 42 assists.
THE SERIES VS. ST. THOMAS
This will be the eighth all-time meeting between NDSU and St. Thomas dating back to 1983 with the Bison leading the series, 7-0.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Entering the week, the Bison lead the Summit League in hitting percentage (.261), kills per set (13.57) and assists per set (12.46). NDSU also ranks second in team assists (812), team kills (882) and team digs (927).
SHE CAN DO IT ALL
Ali Hinze has surpassed the 1,000 kills mark with 1,272 over her first four seasons. She's one of nine players to reach the mark in the NDSU Division I era and ranks 17th in Bison history.
Hinze has also reached the 1,000 career digs mark and has tallied 1,047 over four seasons. She's only the second player in the NDSU Division I era to record at least 1,000 career digs and 1,000 career kills, joining Brynn Joki (2009-12).
FIVE SEASONS OF WORK
Kelley Johnson handed out a career-high 1,342 assists last season and currently ranks eighth all-time in Bison history with 3,525 career assists. She's one of four players to reach the 3,000 career assists mark in the NDSU Division I era. Among active players in NCAA Division I, her 3,525 assists rank 14th in the nation. Savannah Vach (Miami FL) leads all active players with 4,698 assists.
With three digs this week, Johnson would also reach the 1,000 career digs plateau and has totaled 997 over five seasons. She would become only the third player in the NDSU Division I era to record at least 3,000 assists and 1,000 digs in her career, joining current head coach Jennifer Lopez (2008-11) and Brianna Rasmusson (2014-17).
QUAN MILESTONE WATCH
Taylor Quan enters the week two digs shy of the 1,000 career digs mark. She has totaled 998 over four seasons at NDSU.
EFFICIENT HITTING IN THE MIDDLE
Ally Barth ranks third in the Summit League with a .338 hitting percentage this season. The Verona, Wis., native has totaled a career-high 112 kills on 231 attempts with only 34 errors.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
NDSU earned its highest Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll ranking since 2016 after being picked second. The Bison garnered 54 total points and two first place votes to secure the second spot. South Dakota was selected first with 61 points and six first place votes, while Omaha closed out the top three with 53 points and one first place vote.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Senior outside hitter Ali Hinze and senior setter Kelley Johnson were selected to the Summit League Players to Watch list. Johnson, who was named the Summit League Setter of the Year last season, paced the conference and ranked eighth in the nation with a career-best 1,342 assists. Hinze picked up All-Summit League First Team honors last season after powering the Bison with a career-best 446 kills. The Maple Grove, Minn., native averaged a team-high 3.63 kills per set, which ranked fifth in the Summit League.
LOOKING BACK AT THE 2022 SEASON
The Bison finished last season reaching the 20-win mark for only the fifth time in the Division I era with a 21-12 (13-5 Summit) overall record and advanced to the Summit League Championship semifinal round for the first time since 2018. NDSU closed the season making its first appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).
The Bison featured one of the most high-powered offenses in the country after totaling 1,759 kills, which paced the Summit League and ranked seventh in the nation. NDSU also led the conference and ranked 10th in the nation in total assists with 1,615.
PLENTY OF DEPTH IN THE LINEUP
NDSU returns nine starters this season, including five seniors: Ava Schmoll, Taylor Quan, Ali Hinze, Alex Lyle and Kelley Johnson. Schmoll and Johnson provide the most experience on the roster and are both entering their fifth seasons at NDSU. Schmoll has appeared in a team-high 96 career matches, while Johnson has also reached the 90-match plateau with 95.
YOUNG BISON
The Bison added three newcomers roster after Arianna Blohm, Emma Tallman and Lauren Jansen signed last November. Ally Barth, who was named to the All-Summit League Freshman Team last season, and Baily Randall are the only other underclassman on the roster and will each be entering their sophomore seasons.
THIS IS OUR HOUSE
The Bison have called Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse home since 1978 and have notched a 404-106 overall record at home during that span. NDSU picked up its 400th win at the BBF after sweeping Kansas City, 3-0, on Oct. 1, 2022.
TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS IN THE CLASSROOM
NDSU earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 11th straight year in 2022-23. The Bison also earned a spot on the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll with a team GPA in the top 20 percent of NCAA Division I. NDSU boasted a 3.74 cumulative GPA last season.
LOOKING AHEAD
NDSU will be back in action hosting North Dakota on Tuesday night. First serve is set for 7 p.m., at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
The North Dakota State (11-6, 3-3 Summit) volleyball team is back on the road this week at St. Thomas (4-12, 0-5 Summit) on Saturday. First serve is set for 12:00 p.m., at Schoenecker Arena.
MATCH COVERAGE
The match will feature live statistics and be available on the Summit League Network for subscribers.
LAST TIME OUT
NDSU dropped a 3-2 decision against South Dakota at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse last Saturday. Lauren Jansen led the way for the Bison with a season-high 20 kills to go along with a .474 hitting percentage. Ali Hinze recorded her fourth straight double-double with a match-high 18 digs and 16 kills. Kelley Johnson narrowly missed a double-double of her own with a match-best 49 assists and eight digs.
BISON AND TOMMIES MEET AGAIN
For the second time in three weeks, NDSU will face St. Thomas after the Bison rolled past the Tommies in Fargo, 3-0, on Sept. 28. Ali Hinze paced NDSU with a match-high 17 kills and match-best 14 digs. Alexis Boling added 12 kills with a .400 hitting percentage, while Kelley Johnson handed out a match-best 42 assists.
THE SERIES VS. ST. THOMAS
This will be the eighth all-time meeting between NDSU and St. Thomas dating back to 1983 with the Bison leading the series, 7-0.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Entering the week, the Bison lead the Summit League in hitting percentage (.261), kills per set (13.57) and assists per set (12.46). NDSU also ranks second in team assists (812), team kills (882) and team digs (927).
SHE CAN DO IT ALL
Ali Hinze has surpassed the 1,000 kills mark with 1,272 over her first four seasons. She's one of nine players to reach the mark in the NDSU Division I era and ranks 17th in Bison history.
Hinze has also reached the 1,000 career digs mark and has tallied 1,047 over four seasons. She's only the second player in the NDSU Division I era to record at least 1,000 career digs and 1,000 career kills, joining Brynn Joki (2009-12).
FIVE SEASONS OF WORK
Kelley Johnson handed out a career-high 1,342 assists last season and currently ranks eighth all-time in Bison history with 3,525 career assists. She's one of four players to reach the 3,000 career assists mark in the NDSU Division I era. Among active players in NCAA Division I, her 3,525 assists rank 14th in the nation. Savannah Vach (Miami FL) leads all active players with 4,698 assists.
With three digs this week, Johnson would also reach the 1,000 career digs plateau and has totaled 997 over five seasons. She would become only the third player in the NDSU Division I era to record at least 3,000 assists and 1,000 digs in her career, joining current head coach Jennifer Lopez (2008-11) and Brianna Rasmusson (2014-17).
QUAN MILESTONE WATCH
Taylor Quan enters the week two digs shy of the 1,000 career digs mark. She has totaled 998 over four seasons at NDSU.
EFFICIENT HITTING IN THE MIDDLE
Ally Barth ranks third in the Summit League with a .338 hitting percentage this season. The Verona, Wis., native has totaled a career-high 112 kills on 231 attempts with only 34 errors.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
NDSU earned its highest Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll ranking since 2016 after being picked second. The Bison garnered 54 total points and two first place votes to secure the second spot. South Dakota was selected first with 61 points and six first place votes, while Omaha closed out the top three with 53 points and one first place vote.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Senior outside hitter Ali Hinze and senior setter Kelley Johnson were selected to the Summit League Players to Watch list. Johnson, who was named the Summit League Setter of the Year last season, paced the conference and ranked eighth in the nation with a career-best 1,342 assists. Hinze picked up All-Summit League First Team honors last season after powering the Bison with a career-best 446 kills. The Maple Grove, Minn., native averaged a team-high 3.63 kills per set, which ranked fifth in the Summit League.
LOOKING BACK AT THE 2022 SEASON
The Bison finished last season reaching the 20-win mark for only the fifth time in the Division I era with a 21-12 (13-5 Summit) overall record and advanced to the Summit League Championship semifinal round for the first time since 2018. NDSU closed the season making its first appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).
The Bison featured one of the most high-powered offenses in the country after totaling 1,759 kills, which paced the Summit League and ranked seventh in the nation. NDSU also led the conference and ranked 10th in the nation in total assists with 1,615.
PLENTY OF DEPTH IN THE LINEUP
NDSU returns nine starters this season, including five seniors: Ava Schmoll, Taylor Quan, Ali Hinze, Alex Lyle and Kelley Johnson. Schmoll and Johnson provide the most experience on the roster and are both entering their fifth seasons at NDSU. Schmoll has appeared in a team-high 96 career matches, while Johnson has also reached the 90-match plateau with 95.
YOUNG BISON
The Bison added three newcomers roster after Arianna Blohm, Emma Tallman and Lauren Jansen signed last November. Ally Barth, who was named to the All-Summit League Freshman Team last season, and Baily Randall are the only other underclassman on the roster and will each be entering their sophomore seasons.
THIS IS OUR HOUSE
The Bison have called Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse home since 1978 and have notched a 404-106 overall record at home during that span. NDSU picked up its 400th win at the BBF after sweeping Kansas City, 3-0, on Oct. 1, 2022.
TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS IN THE CLASSROOM
NDSU earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 11th straight year in 2022-23. The Bison also earned a spot on the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll with a team GPA in the top 20 percent of NCAA Division I. NDSU boasted a 3.74 cumulative GPA last season.
LOOKING AHEAD
NDSU will be back in action hosting North Dakota on Tuesday night. First serve is set for 7 p.m., at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
Players Mentioned
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