Saturday, October 10
Grand Forks, N.D.
11 a.m.
North Dakota State
at
North Dakota
Photo by: Zachary Lucy
NDSU Volleyball Ready for Saturday Matchup at North Dakota
10/8/2026 12:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State (10-4, 2-2 Summit) volleyball team travels to North Dakota (7-8, 1-3 Summit) on Saturday. First serve is set for 11:00 a.m., at Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
MATCH COVERAGE
GoBison.com: The match will broadcast on Midco Sports and will also be available on Summit League Network for subscribers. Links to live stats, live video and audio can be found at GoBison.com/coverage.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bison dropped a 3-2 decision at Kansas City last Saturday. Zoe John led the way for NDSU with a team-high 19 kills to go along with nine digs, while Rya Borer tied a career-best 24 digs. Lauren Jansen added 18 kills with 12 digs and Sarah Pfiffner contributed a match-high 31 assists with 10 digs.
THE SERIES VS. NORTH DAKOTA
This will be the 114th all-time meeting between NDSU and North Dakota dating back to 1966 with the Bison leading the series, 93-21. Over the last 17 meetings, NDSU has posted a 15-2 mark against North Dakota, including a 7-1 record in Grand Forks over that span. In the most recent matchup last season, the Bison cruised past the Fighting Hawks, 3-0, in Grand Forks. Lauren Jansen posted 16 digs with seven kills.
ROAD BISON
NDSU played all 10 of its non-conference matches on the road this season and notched an 8-2 record over that stretch. It marked the longest road stretch to begin a season since 2021 when the Bison played 12 straight non-conference matches on the road, which included a 3-1 win over Cal.
ANY PLACE, ANY TIME
NDSU opened the season with 10 straight matches away from home, including six at neutral sites. The Bison join Middle Tennessee State as the only teams in country to boast a 6-0 mark in neutral site matches. It's also tied for the second-most neutral site wins behind Idaho (7-1). Dating back to last season, the Bison have won each of their last seven neutral site matches, which is tied for the third-longest streak in the country.
EARLY SEASON ACCOLADES
Arianna Blohm is the only player to be named to an All-Tournament Team in each of the first four weeks of the season. She also garnered Summit League Defensive Peak Performer of the Week honors for the second time of her career on Sept. 22. Blohm leads the Bison with 52.0 kills and has surpassed the 100-kill mark for the fourth straight season with 138.
MOVING UP THE BLOCKS LIST
Arianna Blohm has totaled 360 total blocks over four seasons, which ranks 13th all-time in Bison history. She is currently 50 blocks away from moving into the top 10 list and passing Brenda Meyer (409, 1989-92).
SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Outside hitters Lauren Jansen and Zoe John were named to the Summit League Players to Watch list. Jansen has totaled a team-high 699 kills over three seasons, including a career-high 328 kills last season. John appeared in 23 matches in her first season with the Bison last year. The Queen Creek, Ariz., native reached double digits in kills in five matches and posted 146 kills.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
The Bison were picked fourth in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll with 29 points. South Dakota and St. Thomas were tied for second place with 41 points and one first place vote each. South Dakota State earned the top spot with 47 points and six first place votes.
RETURNING ALL-LEAGUE BISON
NDSU returns all three of its Summit League All-League selections from last season. Lauren Jansen was tabbed to the All-League First Team for the first time in her career, while Arianna Blohm was named to the All-League Second Team. Rya Borer was also selected to the All-Freshman Team.
EXPERIENCE IN THE LINEUP
NDSU returns seven starters from last season: Arianna Blohm, Maddy Dombeck, Cathy Porter, Emma Tallman, Lauren Jansen, Zoe John and Rya Borer. Blohm is the most experienced player on the roster having appeared in 97 matches over four seasons.
PORTAL ADDITIONS
Sarah Pfiffner was the only transfer portal addition over the offseason. She played one season at West Virginia in 2025 and appeared in 25 matches. The Frisco, Texas native ranked second on the team with 309 total assists. Pfiffner joins Cathy Porter (Hillsborough Community College), Abi Banitt (SIUE) and Zoe John (Pacific) as the only players added through the portal.
YOUNG BISON
The Bison have seven total newcomers on the roster this season, including six first-year players: Malayna Syverson, Kendall Worwa, Morgan Engel, Aryn Heeke, Allie Collins and Courtney Peters. The roster is constructed of 50 percent first or second-year players. Natasha Kidd, Sarah Pfiffner and Rya Borer each enter their second season.
FROM HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATES TO BISON
Malayna Syverson and Morgan Engel were high school teammates at Ada-Borup-West High School in Ada, Minn. Engel is also following in the footsteps of her mother, Janna Ruebke Engel, who played for NDSU volleyball from 1996-99 and was recently inducted into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025.
LOPEZ CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOK
Head coach Jennifer Lopez is entering her 10th season and has amassed 141 wins over that span. Her 141 wins are the most in the NDSU Division I era and rank third all-time in Bison history. Her 10 seasons are also the second-most in program history behind Jolyn Montgomery (11 seasons, 1989-92).
GOING THE DISTANCE
The Bison posted a 5-0 mark in five-set matches last season and have earned three five-set wins this season. Dating back to the 2024 season, NDSU is 10-2 in its last 12 five-set matches.
TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS IN THE CLASSROOM
NDSU earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 14th straight year in 2025-26. The award recognizes collegiate and high school programs across the country that maintained a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. The Bison also earned Academic Honor Roll recognition, which celebrates programs in the top 20 percent of their division. NDSU boasted a 3.74 cumulative GPA last season.
NEXT UP
NDSU will be back in action hosting South Dakota State on Thursday, Oct. 15. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m., at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
The North Dakota State (10-4, 2-2 Summit) volleyball team travels to North Dakota (7-8, 1-3 Summit) on Saturday. First serve is set for 11:00 a.m., at Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
MATCH COVERAGE
GoBison.com: The match will broadcast on Midco Sports and will also be available on Summit League Network for subscribers. Links to live stats, live video and audio can be found at GoBison.com/coverage.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bison dropped a 3-2 decision at Kansas City last Saturday. Zoe John led the way for NDSU with a team-high 19 kills to go along with nine digs, while Rya Borer tied a career-best 24 digs. Lauren Jansen added 18 kills with 12 digs and Sarah Pfiffner contributed a match-high 31 assists with 10 digs.
THE SERIES VS. NORTH DAKOTA
This will be the 114th all-time meeting between NDSU and North Dakota dating back to 1966 with the Bison leading the series, 93-21. Over the last 17 meetings, NDSU has posted a 15-2 mark against North Dakota, including a 7-1 record in Grand Forks over that span. In the most recent matchup last season, the Bison cruised past the Fighting Hawks, 3-0, in Grand Forks. Lauren Jansen posted 16 digs with seven kills.
ROAD BISON
NDSU played all 10 of its non-conference matches on the road this season and notched an 8-2 record over that stretch. It marked the longest road stretch to begin a season since 2021 when the Bison played 12 straight non-conference matches on the road, which included a 3-1 win over Cal.
ANY PLACE, ANY TIME
NDSU opened the season with 10 straight matches away from home, including six at neutral sites. The Bison join Middle Tennessee State as the only teams in country to boast a 6-0 mark in neutral site matches. It's also tied for the second-most neutral site wins behind Idaho (7-1). Dating back to last season, the Bison have won each of their last seven neutral site matches, which is tied for the third-longest streak in the country.
EARLY SEASON ACCOLADES
Arianna Blohm is the only player to be named to an All-Tournament Team in each of the first four weeks of the season. She also garnered Summit League Defensive Peak Performer of the Week honors for the second time of her career on Sept. 22. Blohm leads the Bison with 52.0 kills and has surpassed the 100-kill mark for the fourth straight season with 138.
MOVING UP THE BLOCKS LIST
Arianna Blohm has totaled 360 total blocks over four seasons, which ranks 13th all-time in Bison history. She is currently 50 blocks away from moving into the top 10 list and passing Brenda Meyer (409, 1989-92).
SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Outside hitters Lauren Jansen and Zoe John were named to the Summit League Players to Watch list. Jansen has totaled a team-high 699 kills over three seasons, including a career-high 328 kills last season. John appeared in 23 matches in her first season with the Bison last year. The Queen Creek, Ariz., native reached double digits in kills in five matches and posted 146 kills.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
The Bison were picked fourth in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll with 29 points. South Dakota and St. Thomas were tied for second place with 41 points and one first place vote each. South Dakota State earned the top spot with 47 points and six first place votes.
RETURNING ALL-LEAGUE BISON
NDSU returns all three of its Summit League All-League selections from last season. Lauren Jansen was tabbed to the All-League First Team for the first time in her career, while Arianna Blohm was named to the All-League Second Team. Rya Borer was also selected to the All-Freshman Team.
EXPERIENCE IN THE LINEUP
NDSU returns seven starters from last season: Arianna Blohm, Maddy Dombeck, Cathy Porter, Emma Tallman, Lauren Jansen, Zoe John and Rya Borer. Blohm is the most experienced player on the roster having appeared in 97 matches over four seasons.
PORTAL ADDITIONS
Sarah Pfiffner was the only transfer portal addition over the offseason. She played one season at West Virginia in 2025 and appeared in 25 matches. The Frisco, Texas native ranked second on the team with 309 total assists. Pfiffner joins Cathy Porter (Hillsborough Community College), Abi Banitt (SIUE) and Zoe John (Pacific) as the only players added through the portal.
YOUNG BISON
The Bison have seven total newcomers on the roster this season, including six first-year players: Malayna Syverson, Kendall Worwa, Morgan Engel, Aryn Heeke, Allie Collins and Courtney Peters. The roster is constructed of 50 percent first or second-year players. Natasha Kidd, Sarah Pfiffner and Rya Borer each enter their second season.
FROM HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATES TO BISON
Malayna Syverson and Morgan Engel were high school teammates at Ada-Borup-West High School in Ada, Minn. Engel is also following in the footsteps of her mother, Janna Ruebke Engel, who played for NDSU volleyball from 1996-99 and was recently inducted into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025.
LOPEZ CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOK
Head coach Jennifer Lopez is entering her 10th season and has amassed 141 wins over that span. Her 141 wins are the most in the NDSU Division I era and rank third all-time in Bison history. Her 10 seasons are also the second-most in program history behind Jolyn Montgomery (11 seasons, 1989-92).
GOING THE DISTANCE
The Bison posted a 5-0 mark in five-set matches last season and have earned three five-set wins this season. Dating back to the 2024 season, NDSU is 10-2 in its last 12 five-set matches.
TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS IN THE CLASSROOM
NDSU earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 14th straight year in 2025-26. The award recognizes collegiate and high school programs across the country that maintained a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. The Bison also earned Academic Honor Roll recognition, which celebrates programs in the top 20 percent of their division. NDSU boasted a 3.74 cumulative GPA last season.
NEXT UP
NDSU will be back in action hosting South Dakota State on Thursday, Oct. 15. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m., at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballFriday, September 11
Sunday, November 16
Sunday, November 16
Friday, November 14
