NSAA Communications
BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) announced its fourth edition of volleyball players-of-the-week honors Monday. Maya Roberts of Viterbo (Wis.) was selected as the Attacker-of-the-Week, while her teammate Abbey Johnson was chosen as the Setter-of-the-Week. Lauren Babcock of Presentation (S.D.) was selected as the Defender-of-the-Week.
NSAA Volleyball Attacker-of-the-Week
Maya Roberts – Viterbo (Wis.) – 6’1″, Senior, right side – Watertown, Wis. – Roberts recorded double-digit kills in all four matches as No. 9-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) went 4-0 record in their own home tournament, including a pair of victories against NAIA’s Top 25 teams (No. 5-ranked Dordt, Iowa and No. 25-ranked Rocky Mountain, Mont.). She tallied 52 kills in the tournament, averaging 4.3 kills per set and hit .379. Roberts also collected six blocks and seven digs in the tournament.
NSAA Volleyball Setter-of-the-Week
Abbey Johnson – Viterbo (Wis.) – 5’6″, Junior, setter – Brodhead, Wis. – Johnson tallied 91 set assists as No. 9-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) went 4-0 record in their own home tournament, winning all matches in a 3-0 sweep including No. 5-ranked Dordt (Iowa) and No. 25-ranked Rocky Mountain (Mont.). She posted a double-double of 27 assists (9.0 assists per set) and collected 11 digs (3.7 digs per set) in VU’s 3-0 sweep over Dordt. For the week, Johnson averaged 7.6 set assists and 2.0 digs per set and recorded three service aces.
NSAA Volleyball Defender-of-the-Week
Laura Babcock – Presentation (S.D.) – 5’6″, Junior, defensive specialist – Aberdeen, S.D. – Babcock averaged at least seven digs per set three times during the week as Presentation (S.D.) went 5-0 record, including a 4-0 record in the Peru State (Neb.) Bobcat Classic. She piled up a total of 109 digs and averaged 6.8 digs per set. Babcock also accumulated a total of 12 service aces (0.8 aces per set) for the week, including five service aces in 3-0 sweep over York (Neb.) in the tournament.
Recap from last week’s action
No. 9 ranked Viterbo (Wis.) extended their winning streak to nine matches after going 4-0 record in their own home tournament. The V-Hawks opened with a 3-0 sweep over William Penn (Iowa) on Sept. 9, followed by a 3-0 sweep over No. 5-ranked Dordt (Iowa) on Sept. 10. VU earned a pair of 3-0 victories on Sept. 11 over No. 25-ranked Rocky Mountain (Mont.) and (RV) Carroll (Mont.). Viterbo raised their overall record to 16-1.
Presentation (S.D.) went 5-0 record for the week to lift their overall record to 9-2. The Saints earned a 3-1 home victory over NCAA Division III Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) on Sept. 7, followed by a 4-0 record in the Peru State (Neb.) Bobcat Classic on Sept. 10-11. PC swept all four opponents – York (Neb.), Bethany (Kan.), Peru State, and Bethel (Kan.) – in three straight sets.
Dakota State (S.D.) also went 4-0 record in the Bobcat Classic tournament in Peru, Neb., sweeping all four opponents in three straight sets. The Trojans swept Mount Marty (S.D.), Bethel, York, and Peru State. The Trojans raised their overall record to 6-2.
Bellevue (Neb.), ranked No. 12 in the latest NAIA Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, earned a 3-2 hard-fought home victory over No. 8-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) on Sept. 7. The Bruins added a 3-0 sweep over No. 10-ranked Providence (Mont.) on Sept. 10 before falling to host-team Ottawa (Ariz.) in five sets in the Ottawa triangular. BU closed out the week with a 3-2 setback to Embry-Riddle (Ariz.). Bellevue is 7-2 overall record.
Mayville State (N.D.) went 3-1 record in the Bobcat Classic in Peru, Neb. last weekend. The Comets split their two matches on Sept. 10, sweeping Bethany in three straight sets before falling to Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in three straight sets. MSU earned 3-0 victories over York and Bethel on Sept. 11. Mayville State is 9-4 overall record on the season.
Waldorf (Iowa) split a pair of home matches during the week. The Warriors swept Faith Baptist (Iowa) on Sept. 7 and fell to Briar Cliff (Iowa) in five sets thriller on Sept. 10. Waldorf is 5-3 overall record.
Valley City State (N.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) could not come up with a victory in the cross-over with Montana Western and Montana State-Northern on Sept. 10 and 11 in Dickinson, N.D. VCSU is 2-9 overall record, while DiSU is 0-13 overall record.
Looking Ahead
The North Star Athletic Association volleyball season officially begins on Tuesday evening with Mayville State (N.D.) hosting Presentation (S.D.). Waldorf (Iowa) welcomes Iowa Wesleyan on the same night in a non-conference contest.
Valley City State (N.D.) begins their NSAA conference play on Wednesday evening at Dickinson State (N.D.), while Waldorf travels to No. 9-ranked Viterbo (Wis.). Dakota State (S.D.) visits No. 12-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in the other North Star conference action on the same night.
Mayville State remains home on Friday evening, hosting NCAA Division III Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) in a non-conference action. Valley City State travels to No. 2 Jamestown (N.D.) and Dakota State heads to Morningside (Iowa). Presentation returns home on Friday against Mount Marty (S.D.).
Viterbo continues their action at home Saturday in a triangular with Lincoln Christian (Ill.) and No.8-ranked Northwestern (Iowa). Waldorf returns home for a non-conference match with NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.). Bellevue hosts Avila (Mo.) on the same day.
Valley City State hosts Briar Cliff (Iowa) in a non-conference contest on Sunday afternoon.