UMC Soccer Honored with NSCAA College Team Academic Award

 CROOKSTON, Minn. –  The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s soccer team was one of 585 collegiate women’s teams to earn the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) College Team Academic Award for posting above a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or higher for the 2013-14 academic year. The Golden Eagles finished last season with a 3.31 GPA.

The Golden Eagles have continued to show improvement in the classroom under UMC head coach Joe Alianiello. UMC was honored last season with the award with a 3.17 GPA, but has continued to go above and beyond on-and-off the field. The Golden Eagles also had their best season under Alianiello, thus far, on the pitch, posting the team’s first-ever .500 record with a 6-6-6 (5-5-5 NSIC) mark, picking up a major win over a ranked Augustana College (S.D.) team and big draws against Winona State University, University of Minnesota Duluth and Upper Iowa University.

NDSU’s Emanuel Voted MVFC Defensive Player of the Year

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Buck Buchanan Award finalist Kyle Emanuel of North Dakota State was voted Defensive Player of the Year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Emanuel, a 6-foot-3, 251-pound senior defensive end from Schuyler, Neb., ranks No. 2 nationally in sacks (16.5) and tackles for loss (27.0) and has eight QB hurries, three forced fumbles and three passes defended.  In six games against FCS Top 25 opponents, he had 9.5 sacks, 15.0 TFLs and eight quarterback hurries.

Emanuel made a team-high nine tackles including 4.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks in NDSU's win at Iowa State.  He had a career-high 10 tackles, 4.0 sacks and 4.5 TFLs against South Dakota State and another 10-tackle game with 2.0 sacks, 3.5 TFLs and a 27-yard interception return at Missouri State.

He is a two-time Sports Network FCS Defensive Player of the Week, three-time MVFC Defensive Player of the Week, and was voted to the Capital One Academic All-District team with a 3.66 GPA in construction management.

It is the third straight year an NDSU player has taken one of the conference's top honors.  Cornerback Marcus Williams was the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 and quarterback Brock Jensen was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2013.

No. 2-seeded North Dakota State (11-1) is scheduled to host an FCS second round playoff game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, against the winner of the first round game featuring South Dakota State at Montana State.  The Bison won their fourth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship and are making their fifth straight playoff appearance.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference will release its full all-conference team Monday, Dec. 1.

2014 Missouri Valley Football Conference Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: RB Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State
Defensive Player of the Year: DE Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State
Newcomer of the Year: QB Tre Roberson, Illinois State
Freshman of the Year: WR Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State
Coach of the Year: Brock Spack, Illinois State

NDSU’s Kelly Named MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - North Dakota State right guard Jeremy Kelly was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week by the league office Monday, Nov. 24.  It was his first award of the year.

Kelly, a redshirt junior from Somerset, Wis., helped NDSU rush for a season-high 353 yards and 7.2 yards per carry in No. 3-ranked North Dakota State’s 38-14 home victory over 20th-ranked Youngstown State.

NDSU converted 6 of 10 third downs and had a season-high 25 first downs including 17 on the ground.  The Bison had dual 100-yard rushers for the third time led by running back John Crockett’s 168 yards.  Quarterback Carson Wentz rushed for a career-high 120 yards and passed for 126 yards and two TDs.

No. 2 seed North Dakota State (11-1) hosts an FCS second round playoff game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, against the winner of the first round game featuring South Dakota State at Montana State.

NDSU’s Dudzik Named Valley Football Defensive Player of the Week

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - North Dakota State free safety Christian Dudzik was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week by the conference office Sunday, Nov. 23.

Dudzik, a senior from Omaha, Neb., accounted for three turnovers that led to touchdowns and finished with a team- and season-high eight tackles in third-ranked North Dakota State's 38-14 home win over 20th-ranked Youngstown State.

Dudzik forced a fumble on the first possession of the game, and had a 31-yard interception return to the YSU 20 that set up another Bison score for a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.  His second interception in the fourth quarter halted an eight-play YSU drive in Bison territory.  He ranks third in NDSU history with 13 career interceptions.

No. 2-seeded North Dakota State (11-1) is scheduled to host an FCS second round playoff game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, against the winner of the first round game featuring South Dakota State at Montana State.

North Dakota grabs second spot in both national hockey polls

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota will enter a two-week homestand ranked No. 2 nationally in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls that were released on Monday.

UND was able to maintain its No. 2 spot in the USCHO poll while improving one spot in the USA Today rankings after earning a conference split at St. Cloud State last weekend. UND won 3-2 on Saturday after a 3-1 setback on Friday.

Boston University moved into the top spot in both polls, while previously top-ranked Michigan Tech fell to No. 6 in the USCHO poll and No. 5 in the USA Today poll. Minnesota and Massachusetts-Lowell were ranked third and fourth, respectively, in both polls.

UND returns to Grand Forks for two straight home series, hosting conference rival and No. 11/13 Omaha this week and non-conference foe Lake Superior State next week.

USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll

Rk.      School (First place votes)       Record           Pts.         PR

1.         Boston University (42)                     8-1-1            988            3

2.         North Dakota (3)                         9-3-1           889            2

3.         Minnesota (1)                                    7-3-0            825            4

4.         Massachusetts-Lowell                      8-2-3            806            5

5.         Miami                                               10-4-0            764            7

6.         Michigan Tech                                  10-2-0            748            1

7.         Minnesota State (3)                          9-3-0            746            9

8.         Minnesota Duluth (1)                        9-5-0            615            8

9.         Colgate                                              6-4-1            575            6

10.       Denver                                               8-3-0            572          10

11.       Omaha                                                7-2-1            435          13

12.       Boston College                                 7-5-0            425          12

13.       Vermont                                             8-3-1            423          11

14.       Quinnipiac                                          8-3-1            319          14

15.       Bowling Green                                 10-3-1            292          18

16.       St. Cloud State                                  5-6-1            249          16

17.       Union                                                 6-5-1            214          15

18.       Harvard                                              5-1-2            147         NR

19.       Northern Michigan                            7-2-1            141          17

20.       Providence                                         5-5-1            115          19

Others receiving votes: Robert Morris 96, St. Lawrence 48, Merrimack 30, Yale 17, Penn State 15, Ferris State 4, Notre Dame 2.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll

Rk.      School (1^st place)                      Record           Pts.         PR

1.         Boston University (27)                     8-1-1            497            2

2.         North Dakota (4)                         9-3-1           447            3

3.         Minnesota                                          7-3-0            409            4

4.         Massachusetts-Lowell                      8-2-3            367            5

5.         Michigan Tech (1)                            10-2-0            358            1

6.         Miami                                               10-4-0            337            9

7.         Minnesota State (2)                          9-3-0            321            9

8.         Minnesota Duluth                              9-5-0            241            8

9.         Colgate                                              9-4-1            236            6

10.       Denver                                               8-3-0            226          11

11.       Boston College                                 7-5-0            166          12

12.       Vermont                                             8-3-1            140          10

13.       Omaha                                                7-2-1            128          13

14.       Quinnipiac                                          8-3-1              72          14

15.       Bowling Green                                 10-3-1              43         NR

Others receiving votes: St. Cloud State 31, Harvard 30, Union 13, Merrimack 5, Providence 5, Robert Morris 5, St. Lawrence 3.

NDSU's Miron, Fassbender and Rasmusson Honored

ELMHURST, Ill. – Three North Dakota State University volleyball players were honored by The Summit League on Thursday, Nov. 20, following the conclusion of the regular season. Sophomore middle blocker Emily Miron was named to the All-Summit League Team, junior outside hitter Jenni Fassbender earned honorable mention recognition, and freshman setter/right side Brianna Rasmusson claimed a spot on the league’s Freshmen Team.

Miron, who was also named to the Freshmen Team and earned honorable mention last season, ranked fourth in The Summit League this year with a hitting percentage of .303. She upped her hitting percentage to .322 in league play. Miron’s 67 total blocks in league matches were the second-most in the league, behind only Melissa Firtko of South Dakota who had 79.

Miron hit .375 or better in 13 matches this season, setting a new career-high with 19 kills against South Dakota State on Sept. 30 and again in a win over Fort Wayne on Nov. 14.

Fassbender was All-Summit League a year ago as a sophomore. She ranked fifth in the league this season with an average of 4.05 points per set and was sixth with 3.50 kills per set. Fassbender’s 34 service aces tied for the fourth-best total in the conference. She has five matches this season with 20 or more kills.

Rasmusson played in all 30 matches and started 28 times for the Bison, averaging 3.52 assists and 1.97 digs per set while also ranking third on the team in blocks.

The Fergus Falls, Minn., native had two close calls with triple-doubles in her first eight collegiate matches. She posted 21 assists, 15 kills and eight digs in a 3-2 win over Robert Morris on Aug. 30. Rasmusson finished one kill short vs. UMKC on Sept. 12 with 16 assists, 14 digs and nine kills.

NDSU opens Summit League Tournament play on Friday at 3:30 p.m. (CT) against Oral Roberts, with the winner advancing to take on top-seeded Denver in the semifinals on Saturday.

2014 All-Summit League Volleyball Teams

All-LeagueNola Basey, Denver, So., OH
Sydney Dimke, South Dakota, Jr., OH
Melissa Firtko, South Dakota, Sr. MH
Kaitlyn Hickey, IUPUI, Jr. OH
Beth Howard, IUPUI, Sr., DS/L
Brittany Jessen, South Dakota, Fr., S
Bailey Karst, Denver, Sr., S
Kendall Kritenbrink, South Dakota, Sr., OH
Laura Milos, Oral Roberts, Fr., OH
Emily Miron, North Dakota State, So., MH
Sarah Schmid, Denver, Jr., MH
Emily Spencer, Fort Wayne, Sr., OH

Honorable MentionKate Acker, Denver, Sr., DS
Jenni Fassbender, North Dakota State, Jr., OH
Somer Johnson, Fort Wayne, So., OH
Ann Miller, Western Illinois, Sr., OH
Sara Pope, Oral Roberts, Sr., OH
Kelly Wachtel, IUPUI, Jr., RS

Freshmen Team
Lucija Bojanjac, Oral Roberts, S
Gabrielle Fisher, IUPUI, OH
Mackenzie Horkey, Omaha, OH
Brittany Jessen, South Dakota, S
Laura Milos, Oral Roberts, OH
Sydney O'Shaughnessy, Omaha, S
Brianna Rasmusson, North Dakota State, S

Player of the Year
Emily Spencer, Fort Wayne

Defensive Player of the Year
Beth Howard, IUPUI

Setter of the Year
Bailey Karst, Denver

Freshman of the Year
Laura Milos, Oral Roberts

Coach of the YearSteve Payne, IUPUI