Friday, August 28
New Orleans, La.
6:30 p.m.
North Dakota State
at
Tulane
Photo by: Zachary Lucy
NDSU Volleyball Begins 2026 Season at the Green Wave Classic
8/27/2026 10:06:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State volleyball team is set to open the 2026 season at the Green Wave Classic in New Orleans, La. The Bison will face Tulane on Friday at 6:30 p.m., before taking on Tennessee Tech on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
MATCH COVERAGE
GoBison.com: Both matches at the Green Wave Classic will feature live statistics. The season opener at Tulane will also broadcast on ESPN+ for subscribers. Links to live stats, live video and audio can be found at GoBison.com/coverage.
THE SERIES VS. TULANE
This will be the third all-time meeting between NDSU and Tulane dating back to 2008 with the series tied, 1-1. In the most recent meeting in 2011, head coach Jennifer Lopez guided the Bison to a 3-0 win in Columbia, Mo., with a match-high 33 assists.
THE SERIES VS. TENNESSEE TECH
This will be the first all-time meeting between NDSU and Tennessee Tech.
IN SEASON OPENERS
For the fifth time in the last six seasons, NDSU will open the season on the road. Under 10th-year head coach Jennifer Lopez, the Bison are 5-4 in seasons openers after sweeping Bowling Green, 3-0, last season in Fargo.
ROAD BISON
NDSU will play all 10 of its non-conference matches on the road this season. It marks 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.
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.
RUNNING THE OFFENSE
The Bison return 87.3 percent of their assist production from last season after Maddy Dombeck and Cathy Porter combined for 872 assists. Dombeck led NDSU with 457 assists and Porter distributed 415 of her own.
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 83 matches over three 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 131 wins over that span. Her 131 wins are the most in the NDSU Division I era and rank fourth all-time. Lopez is three wins away from passing Jolyn Montgomery (1989-92, 133 wins) for third place. Her 10 seasons are also the second-most in program history behind Montgomery (11 seasons).
THE BBF ADVANTAGE
The Bison posted an 11-2 record at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse last season, which marked the most home wins in the NDSU Division I era and most since 2003. The Bison have called Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse home since 1978 and have notched a 428-114 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.
GOING THE DISTANCE
The Bison posted a 5-0 mark in five-set matches last season. Dating back to the 2024 season, NDSU has won each of its last seven five-set matches.
LOOKING BACK AT THE 2025 SEASON
The Bison notched a 17-11 (10-6 Summit) overall record last season. NDSU made its fourth straight appearance in the Summit League Championship before falling short against South Dakota State in the semifinal round. It marked the third time in the last four seasons that NDSU has advanced to the semifinal round.
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 continues its road swing against Boise State at the Boise State Classic on Thursday, Sept. 3. First serve is set for 5:00 p.m. CT
The North Dakota State volleyball team is set to open the 2026 season at the Green Wave Classic in New Orleans, La. The Bison will face Tulane on Friday at 6:30 p.m., before taking on Tennessee Tech on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
MATCH COVERAGE
GoBison.com: Both matches at the Green Wave Classic will feature live statistics. The season opener at Tulane will also broadcast on ESPN+ for subscribers. Links to live stats, live video and audio can be found at GoBison.com/coverage.
THE SERIES VS. TULANE
This will be the third all-time meeting between NDSU and Tulane dating back to 2008 with the series tied, 1-1. In the most recent meeting in 2011, head coach Jennifer Lopez guided the Bison to a 3-0 win in Columbia, Mo., with a match-high 33 assists.
THE SERIES VS. TENNESSEE TECH
This will be the first all-time meeting between NDSU and Tennessee Tech.
IN SEASON OPENERS
For the fifth time in the last six seasons, NDSU will open the season on the road. Under 10th-year head coach Jennifer Lopez, the Bison are 5-4 in seasons openers after sweeping Bowling Green, 3-0, last season in Fargo.
ROAD BISON
NDSU will play all 10 of its non-conference matches on the road this season. It marks 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.
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.
RUNNING THE OFFENSE
The Bison return 87.3 percent of their assist production from last season after Maddy Dombeck and Cathy Porter combined for 872 assists. Dombeck led NDSU with 457 assists and Porter distributed 415 of her own.
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 83 matches over three 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 131 wins over that span. Her 131 wins are the most in the NDSU Division I era and rank fourth all-time. Lopez is three wins away from passing Jolyn Montgomery (1989-92, 133 wins) for third place. Her 10 seasons are also the second-most in program history behind Montgomery (11 seasons).
THE BBF ADVANTAGE
The Bison posted an 11-2 record at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse last season, which marked the most home wins in the NDSU Division I era and most since 2003. The Bison have called Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse home since 1978 and have notched a 428-114 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.
GOING THE DISTANCE
The Bison posted a 5-0 mark in five-set matches last season. Dating back to the 2024 season, NDSU has won each of its last seven five-set matches.
LOOKING BACK AT THE 2025 SEASON
The Bison notched a 17-11 (10-6 Summit) overall record last season. NDSU made its fourth straight appearance in the Summit League Championship before falling short against South Dakota State in the semifinal round. It marked the third time in the last four seasons that NDSU has advanced to the semifinal round.
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 continues its road swing against Boise State at the Boise State Classic on Thursday, Sept. 3. First serve is set for 5:00 p.m. CT
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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