For Immediate Release
Monday, October 7, 2024
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#8 Kenzie Foley (OH, 6-1, 5th, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa / Sergeant Bluff-Luton HS) - St. Cloud State
- Led the NSIC in kills/set (5.20), kills (52), points/set (5.90) and points (59.0)
- Averaged 2.90 digs/set and 0.80 blocks/set
- Posted a 25-kill, 13-dig double-double (10th of 2024 / 69th of her career) against USF
- Tied her career-high with six block assists in Saturday’s win over USF
- Recorded a match-high 18 kills to go along with eight digs in a nonconference sweep of UMD
- Named NSIC Player of the Week for the third time this season (9/9/24 & 9/16/24)

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#9 Ella Thompson (MB, 6-1, R-Jr., Lakeville, Minn. / North HS) - St. Cloud State
- Led the NSIC in total blocks (16), tied for the lead in block assists (14) and was fifth in blocks/set (1.60)
- Tallied 17 kills (.483 hitting) and a season-high six block assists in Friday’s win over USF
- Totaled a match-high 20 kills (.486 hitting) and six block assists in a sweep of No. 4 SMSU
- Ranked second in the NSIC in kills (42), points/set (5.10) and points (51.0) 
- Ranked third in kills/set (4.20) and 10th in hitting % (.413)

NSIC Setter of the Week
#5 Teagan Starkey (S, 5-8, Sr., Lakeville, Minn. / South HS) - Concordia-St. Paul
- Led the NSIC with 14.67 assists per set (88 total) in a 2-0 week for the Golden Bears
- Led the NSIC with 0.83 aces per set
- Had 48 assists and five digs in a sweep of Minot State on Friday
- Logged a double-double with 40 assists, 11 digs, five service aces, and two kills against UMary
- Leads the NSIC and ranks second in all of NCAA Division II at 12.34 assists per set this season
- Named NSIC Setter of the Week for the second time this season (9/16/24)

Others Under Consideration
OFFENSE
Jolie Stecher (AUGIE)
- Racked in 27 total kills and 28 total digs over two weekend matches
- Collected a double-double with 14 kills and 15 digs in five sets against Bemidji State
- Also added a solo block and service ace in Friday contest
- Added another double-double with a 13-kill, 13-dig performance vs Minnesota Crookston
- Chipped in four total blocks, including two solo, and an ace 
Sophia Anderson (CSP)
- Led the Golden Bear offense in a 2-0 week 
- Averaged of 4.17 kills per set (25 total) while hitting .422
- Had a team-high 14 kills on .357 hitting while adding four digs in a sweep of Minot State
- Finished with 11 kills on .529 hitting in a sweep of UMary
Victoria Persha (NSU)
- Led Northern State in their sweep of Minnesota State with ten kills and a .500 attack percentage
- Added five blocks and four digs
- Recorded her second match of the year with double figure kills, averaging 3.33 per set
 Channatee Robles (WSC)
- Averaged team-high 3.67 kills per set with .327 hitting percentage in sweeps at UMC, BSU
- Had 13 kills and six digs with .367 hitting percentage in Friday's 3-0 sweep at UMC
- Did not make reception error in 32 total attempts (1.000)
Kenna Kornely  (WSU)
- Earned all 19 kills in a win against the University of Mary
- Averaged 3.80 kills/set
- Also had 5 digs in the Warriors match against the Marauders

DEFENSE
Maya Wente (AUGIE)
- Tied for second in the NSIC on the weekend with an average of 1.67 blocks per set
- Led conference with five solo blocks and 10 assisted for a total of 15
- Collected a career-high nine total blocks against Minnesota Crookston, including two solo
- Also totaled 13 kills against the Golden Eagles
- Added six total blocks in five-set contest against BSU with six kills and two digs
Abby Meister (NSU) 
- Led Northern State with 24 digs in their win over Minnesota State
- Averaged 8.0 digs per set against the Mavericks
- Added one assist
Jordan Kuper (USF)
- Led the NSIC in blocks per set this weekend with 14 total, averaging 1.75 a set
- Recorded a season high eight blocks in a 3-1 win against No. 15 UMD 
- Landed 21 kills on the weekend while averaging a .265 attacking percentage
- Now holds the USF record for career solo blocks with 68
Kylie Welch (WSU)
- Collected 49 total digs in the Warriors two wins this weekend
- Averaging 6.13 digs/set
- Also gathered five service aces and 15 assists
- Earned 27 digs and 11 assists in the win against the University of Mary

SETTER
Keri Walker (NSU)
- Paced the NSU offense to a sweep of Minnesota State with 34 assists, averaging 11.33 per set
- Tallied 14 digs, two aces, and one block
Emma Berran (SCSU)
- Ranked first in the NSIC in total assists (125) and second in assists/set (12.50)
- Also averaged 2.10 digs/set, 1.45 point/set, 0.80 kills/set and 0.60 blocks/set
- Became just the fifth player in program history to reach 3,000 career assists 
- Recorded a 48-assist, 10-dig double-double (4th of 2024) in Friday’s win over USF
- Guided the SCSU offense to the second most kills/set (15.33) and the fourth-best hitting percentage (.281) and in the NSIC
Molly Romano (WSC)
- Averaged 10.83 set assists and 3.00 digs per set in road sweeps at UMC, BSU
- Had 33 assists with five digs and one block at Minnesota Crookston
- Credited with 32 assists, two service aces and seven digs in Saturday's 3-0 win at Bemidji State
 
NSIC Volleyball Players of the Week
9/9/24
O: #8 Kenzie Foley - St. Cloud State
D: #3 Abby Meister - Northern State 
S: #21 Keri Walker - Northern State
9/16/24
O: #8 Kenzie Foley - St. Cloud State (2)
D: #12 Emily Kern - Minnesota State
S: #5 Teagan Starkey - Concordia-St. Paul
9/23/24
O: #12 Natalia Szybinska  - Northern State
D: #14 Claudia Stahlke - Concordia-St. Paul
S: #4 Sydney Thein - SMSU
9/30/24
O:#10 Leah Jones  - SMSU
D: #7 Cassie Sieling - Concordia-St. Paul
S: #4 Sydney Thein - SMSU (2)
10/7/24
O: #8 Kenzie Foley - St. Cloud State (3)
D: #9 Ella Thompson - St. Cloud State
S: #5 Teagan Starkey - Concordia-St. Paul (2)

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 27 team national championships and crowned 116 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.