For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 9, 2023
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Player of the Year
#8 Kenzie Foley (OH, 6-1, Sr., Sergeant Bluff, Iowa / Sergeant Bluff-Luton HS) - St. Cloud State University
- Leads the NSIC in kills per set (4.96) and points per set (5.56)
- Ranks 10th in service aces (0.41), 17th in digs per set (3.27) and 18th in hitting percentage (.284)
- Tallied double digit kills in every match and recorded 16 double-doubles on the season
- Named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week four times this season
- Named All-NSIC First Team for the third straight season
- In three seasons of play, has 1,364 career kills, 1018 digs, 89 aces and 174 total blocks
NSIC Libero of the Year
#2 Erika Bute (L, 5-5, Gr., Alden, Minn. / Alden-Conger HS) - Augustana University
- Named NSIC Libero of the Year for the second season in a row
- Currently leads the NSIC in digs per set (6.05) and total digs (381)
- A four-time All-NSIC performer, including the past two years on the first team
- Surpassed 2,000 career digs with 564 digs this season, sits at 2,242 for her career
- Had 30+ digs in six matches this season
NSIC Freshman of the Year
#10 Leah Jones (OH, 6-2, Fr., Marshall, Minn. / Marshall HS) - Southwest Minnesota State University
- Seven SMSU player to earn NSIC Freshman or Newcomer of the Year in program history and first since 2015
- Leads SMSU with 288 kills
- Ranks 13th in the NSIC (conference matches only) in kills per set (3.16)
- Has recorded double-figure kills in 17 matches and double-figure digs in 10 matches
- Has six double-doubles on the season
NSIC Coach of the Year
Scott Kneifl (19th Season) - Wayne State College
- Named NSIC Coach of the Year for the fourth time (2005, 2009, 2022)
- Coached Wildcats to 17th 20+ win season in 2023 and second straight NSIC regular season title
- Led four players to All-NSIC first team accolades
- Coached the Wildcats to a No. 1 ranking in the AVCA Coaches Poll for majority of season
NSIC All-Conference Teams
| NSIC First Team All-Conference |
| # |
Name |
School |
Pos |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| 2 |
Erika Bute |
AUGIE |
L |
Gr. |
Alden, Minn. |
| 14 |
Mikia Kriener |
AUGIE |
OH |
Gr. |
Spirit Lake, Iowa |
| 1 |
Sophia Andersen |
CSP |
OH |
Jr. |
New Prague, Minn. |
| 9 |
Katie Mattson |
CSP |
MH |
Sr. |
Luck, Wis. |
| 8 |
Jasmine Mulvihill |
CSP |
RS |
Sr. |
Lakeville, Minn. |
| 17 |
Emma Schmidt |
CSP |
OH |
Jr. |
Maple Grove, Minn. |
| 5 |
Teagan Starkey |
CSP |
S |
Jr. |
Lakeville, Minn. |
| 6 |
Cianna Selbitschka |
UMD |
OH |
Sr. |
North Branch, Minn. |
| 1 |
Sophie Tietz |
MSU |
RS |
Sr. |
Watertown, S.D. |
| 3 |
Abby Meister |
NSU |
L |
So. |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 21 |
Jordan Kuper |
USF |
MB |
R-Jr. |
Scotch Grove, Iowa |
| 10 |
Leah Jones |
SMSU |
OH |
Fr. |
Marshall, Minn. |
| 8 |
Kenzie Foley |
SCSU |
OH |
Sr. |
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa |
| 1 |
Sam Zimmerman |
SCSU |
MB |
R-So. |
Moorhead, Minn. |
| 13 |
Taya Beller |
WSC |
MH |
Jr. |
Lindsey, Neb. |
| 18 |
Maggie Brahmer |
WSC |
MH |
Jr. |
Pierce, Neb. |
| 11 |
Kelsie Cada |
WSC |
OH |
Sr. |
Wahoo, Neb. |
| 14 |
Rachel Walker |
WSC |
S |
Sr. |
Lincoln, Neb. |
| NSIC Second Team All-Conference |
| # |
Name |
School |
Pos |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| 2 |
Rylie Bjerklie |
BSU |
MB |
Sr. |
Roseau, Minn. |
| 20 |
Jamie Guptill |
CSP |
MH |
Sr. |
Rush City, Minn. |
| 12 |
Grace Daak |
UMD |
MB |
Sr. |
Hutchinson, Minn. |
| 7 |
Madison Gordon |
UMD |
S |
Gr. |
New Berlin, Wis. |
| 11 |
Sam Paulsen |
UMD |
RS |
Jr. |
Chisago Lakes, Minn. |
| 18 |
Kiya Durant |
MSU |
MB |
Jr. |
Plymouth, Minn. |
| 15 |
Bridget Witzmann |
MSUM |
OH |
Sr. |
Isanti, Minn. |
| 7 |
Abby Brooks |
NSU |
MB |
R-So. |
Madison, S.D. |
| 12 |
Natalia Szybinska |
NSU |
OH |
R-So. |
Poznan, Poland |
| 21 |
Keri Walker |
NSU |
S |
Gr. |
Grafton, Wis. |
| 3 |
Sadie Voss |
USF |
OH |
So. |
Lakefield, Minn. |
| 6 |
Alisa Bengen |
SMSU |
S |
Sr. |
Janesville, Iowa |
| 5 |
Saari Kuehl |
SMSU |
OH |
Jr. |
Reinbeck, Iowa |
| 11 |
McKenzie Tolk |
SMSU |
L |
So. |
Minneota, Minn. |
| 18 |
Emma Berran |
SCSU |
S |
So. |
Inver Grove Heights, Minn. |
| 21 |
Sidney Paulson |
WSU |
RS |
Sr. |
Jackson, Wis. |
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 15-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 25 team national championships and crowned 110 individual national champions. For additional information, visit
NorthernSun.org.
About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.
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