NDSU’s Menard, Morlock, Stick, Grimsley Voted MVFC All-Academic

ST. LOUIS - North Dakota State had four student-athletes named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Team on Wednesday, Nov. 30, by a vote of the league's sports information directors.

Defensive end Greg Menard, running back Chase Morlock and quarterback Easton Stick were named to the first team, and safety Robbie Grimsley was named to the second team.

To qualify, nominees must be starters or key reserves with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average, have sophomore academic and athletic standing, and have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.

Menard, a junior from Lakeville, Minn., has a 3.82 GPA majoring in civil engineering.  Morlock, a senior from Moorhead, Minn., has a 3.81 in exercise science.  Stick, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb., has a 3.90 in sport management.  Grimsley, a sophomore from Hutchinson, Minn., has a 3.58 in exercise science.

Menard, Morlock and Grimsley earlier this month were voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

2016 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Team
First Team
Taryn Christion, QB, South Dakota State, 3.87, Exercise Science
Dylan Cole, LB, Missouri State, 3.67, Marketing Sales Management
Jacob Judd, OL, Western Illinois, 3.89/4.00 grad, Law Enforcement/Justice Administration
Nick Mears, DB, South Dakota State, 4.00, Economics
Greg Menard, DE, North Dakota State, 3.82, Civil Engineering
Chase Morlock, RB, North Dakota State, 3.81, Exercise Science
Robert Rathje, OL, Northern Iowa, 3.72, Movement & Exercise Science
Billy Reed, WR, Southern Illinois, 3.72, Finance
Karter Schult, DL, Northern Iowa, 3.87, Movement & Exercise Science
Easton Stick, QB, North Dakota State, 3.90, Sport Management
Brett Taylor, LB, Western Illinois, 3.69, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration
Jake Wieneke, WR, South Dakota State, 3.60, Physical Education/Teacher Education

Second Team
Miles Bergner, P/K, South Dakota, 3.53, Theatre Design/Technology
Jesse Bobbit, LB, South Dakota State, 3.80, Physical Education/Teacher Education
Shayne Gottlob, DL, South Dakota State, 3.92, Business Economics
Robbie Grimsley, SS, North Dakota State, 3.58, Exercise Science
Isaac Harker, QB, Indiana State, 3.70, Economics
Kane Louscher, FB, South Dakota State, 3.84, Psychology/Biology
Brady Mengarelli, RB, South Dakota State, 3.52, Exercise Science
Luke Otto, K, Western Illinois, 4.00, Economics
Mark Spelman, OL, Illinois State, 3.70, Accounting
Jameer Thurman, LB, Indiana State, 3.59, Civil Engineering Technology
James Torgerson, OL, Western Illinois, 3.91, Economics/Finance

Honorable Mention

Indiana State: LS Joshua Appel (3.50, Finance); WR Robert Tonyan Jr. (3.22, Physical Education)

Missouri State: LB Jared Beshore (3.86, Physical Education); TE Erik Furmanek (3.64, Logistics & Supply Chain Management)

Northern Iowa: LB Jared Farley (3.32, Business Administration); OL Cal Twait (3.78, Physical Education)

Western Illinois: LB Riggs Baxter (3.87, Engineering Technology); P/K Nathan Knuffman (3.63, Exercise Science)

Youngstown State: LB Armond Dellovade (3.49, Business Management); QB Hunter Wells (3.63, Business)

Gopher FootballPlayers Named All-Big Ten

Seven student-athletes from the Minnesota football program on defense and special teams were recognized by the coaches and media of the Big Ten Conference on Monday.

Sophomore Emmit Carpenter was named the Big Ten’s Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year and was an All-Big Ten First Team selection by the media and All-Big Ten Second Team by the coaches. Junior Steven Richardson was named All-Big Ten Third Team by both the coaches and media.

Jonathan Celestin (coaches and media), Scott Ekpe (coaches and media), Jalen Myrick (coaches and media), Jack Lynn (media) and Damarius Travis (media) were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Hendrick Ekpe was selected as Minnesota’s recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Carpenter made 21-of-23 field goals this season and 41 extra point attempts. His 21 field goals were tied for first in the Big Ten and tied for seventh in the nation. Carpenter has scored 104 points this season, which ranks second all-time for Minnesota kicker behind Dan Nystrom who tallied 109 points in 2000. His 104 points also ranks third all-time for any Gopher behind Gary Russell (114 points in 2005) and Nystrom.

Richardson made 30 tackles this season and led the Gophers with 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He also broke up one pass, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. He had four tackles for loss against Colorado State, which is tied with 14 other Gophers for third most in a game.

Celestin had a breakout year for the Gophers. He led Minnesota with 79 tackles, which included 52 solo stops. He also notched 7 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, broke up four passes and forced one fumble.

Ekpe notched 16 tackles this season, which included 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Ekpe also recovered two fumbles.

Myrick tallied 38 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss this year. The speedster also notched one interception and broke up nine passes.

Lynn finished third on the team with 72 tackles and added 6.5 tackles for loss and a sack this season.

Travis was second on the Gophers with 76 tackles this year. He also contributed 5.0 tackles for loss, broke up three passes, made two interceptions and recovered one fumble.

The Big Ten’s offensive honorees are set to be announced tomorrow.

Minnesota's Big Ten Honorees
All-Big Ten First TeamEmmit Carpenter (media)

All-Big Ten Second TeamEmmit Carpenter (coaches)

All-Big Ten Third TeamSteven Richardson (coaches and media)

All-Big Ten Honorable MentionJonathan Celestin (coaches and media)
Scott Ekpe (coaches media)
Jalen Myrick (coaches and media)
Jack Lynn (media)
Damarius Travis (media)

Big Ten Sportsmanship AwardHendrick Ekpe

NDSU’s Koonce Named to MVFC All-Newcomer Team

ST. LOUIS - North Dakota State punter Jackson Koonce was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team on Tuesday, Nov. 29, by a vote of the league's media, head coaches and sports information directors.

Koonce, a junior from Oceanside, Calif., transferred to NDSU after graduating early from Southern Methodist University.  He is averaging 36.9 yards on 52 punts with 31 fair catches with 12 inside the 20-yard line and a long of 54 yards.

NDSU ranks sixth in the conference in net punting, but Koonce's hang-time punts have helped NDSU allow only three opponent punt returns for an FCS-record 0.0 yards per return.  The Bison have a net punting average of 35.5 yards.

North Dakota State, 10-1 overall, earned a share of its sixth straight MVFC championship with a 7-1 league record.  The Bison are the No. 1 overall seed for the FCS playoffs and will host San Diego (10-1) in a second round game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

2016 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team
Offense
Trevor Allen, RB, Northern Iowa
Alonge Brooks, WR, South Dakota
Coleman Clanton, OL, Missouri State
D.J. Davis, RS, Southern Illinois
Jamie Gilmore, RB, Western Illinois
Vitas Hrynkiewicz, C, Youngstown State
Jerry Nunez, K, Indiana State
Jalen Rima, WR/RS, Northern Iowa
Spencer Schnell, WR, Illinois State
Josh Straughan, QB, Southern Illinois
Chris Streveler, QB, South Dakota
Miles Thompson, WR, Indiana State
Chase Vinatieri, K, South Dakota State

Defense
Hezekiah Applegate, DL, Northern Iowa
B.J. Bello, LB, Illinois State
Elijah Campbell, DB, Northern Iowa
Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois
Cedric Doxy, LB, Indiana State
McNeece Egbim, LB, Missouri State
Craig James, CB, Southern Illinois
Jackson Koonce, P, North Dakota State
Christian Rozeboom, LB, South Dakota State
Mark Schuler, P, Youngstown State
Anthony Washington, CB, South Dakota State
Malcolm Washington, DB, Northern Iowa
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Minnesota Lynx 2017 Season Schedule Announced

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team’s schedule for the upcoming 2017 season. The Lynx will kick off their 19th season in the WNBA at Xcel Energy Center vs. Chicago on Sunday, May 14 at 6:00 p.m. The 2017 campaign includes 34 regular-season games from May 14 through Sept. 3. Full-season memberships, which include tickets to all 17 home games and priority playoff seating, are still available by visiting www.lynxbasketball.com/membership or by calling 612-673-8400.

Last season the Lynx announced that Xcel Energy Center will be the team’s venue for home games during the 2017 season. The team’s relocation is due to the previously announced major renovation and complete shutdown of Target Center taking place during the summer and early fall of 2017.

The 2017 campaign includes three nationally broadcast games on ESPN2: May 18 at New York, July 6 vs. Los Angeles and Aug. 8 at Atlanta.
 

Minnesota’s 17-game home schedule includes 11 weekend games (4 Friday, 1 Saturday, 6 Sunday), three on Tuesday, one on Wednesday and two on Thursday. The team’s annual camp day is Wednesday, July 19 at 12 p.m. when the Lynx host Dallas. The Lynx have two three-game homestands (June 17-25; July 16-25) and two three-game road trips (June 3-11; Aug. 25-30).

The Lynx’ home half of the schedule is highlighted by a rematch of last year’s WNBA Finals when the Los Angeles Sparks visit the Xcel Energy Center on Thursday, July 6 and Friday, Aug. 11. Other notable home games include matchups against Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, July 16 and Tuesday, Aug. 22 and Breanna Stewart, Jewel Lloyd and the Seattle Storm on Sunday, July 30.

Minnesota’s preseason schedule and 2017 local television broadcast schedule will be released at a later date. Following are key facts regarding the Lynx 2017 regular-season schedule. The full Lynx regular season schedule is available for download in PDF here. 

Key Facts about the 2017 Lynx Regular Season Schedule

By month, the schedule breaks down as follows: May (3 home, 3 away = 6 total), June (3 home, 4 away = 7 total), July (5 home, 3 away = 8 total), August (4 home, 7 away = 11 total), September (2 home, 0 away = 2 total).

By day, the schedule breaks down as follows: Monday (0 total), Tuesday (3 home, 1 away = 4 total), Wednesday (1 home, 2 away = 3 total), Thursday (2 home, 1 away = 3 total), Friday (4 home, 6 away = 10 total), Saturday (1 home, 3 away = 4 total), Sunday (6 home, 4 away = 10 total).

Minnesota's home schedule will feature three different starting times: 10 games tip off at 7:00 p.m., six Sunday games will commence at 6:00 p.m. and one Wednesday game will start at 12:00 p.m. 

The Lynx will begin the regular season at home against Chicago on Sunday, May 14, the 12th time in franchise history they've started at home. Minnesota's road opener is in New York on Thursday, May 18. 

Minnesota has a pair of three-game homestands: June 17-25 (vs. Connecticut, Washington and San Antonio) and July 16-25 (vs. Phoenix, Dallas and New York). The most home-friendly portion of the Lynx schedule is a 13-game stretch from mid-June to early August, when they play nine of 13 games at Xcel Energy Center (June 17-Aug. 3).

The most consecutive road games this season for the Lynx is two strings of three: June 3-11 (at Seattle, Washington, Dallas) and Aug. 25-30 (at San Antonio, Los Angeles and Indiana). The Lynx also have three stretches of two consecutive road games: May 18-20 (at New York and Dallas), July 8-14 (at Chicago and Phoenix) and Aug. 6-8 (at Indiana and Atlanta). 

Minnesota will play zero games on back-to-back nights this season. 

Lynx 2017 Opponent Breakdown

Los Angeles (H: 7/6, 8/11; A: 8/27); Phoenix (H: 7/16, 8/22; A: 6/30, 7/14); San Antonio (H: 5/28, 6/25; A: 8/25); Seattle (H: 7/30; A: 6/3, 8/16); Dallas (H: 7/19; A: 5/20, 6/11).

Atlanta (H: 8/3; A: 7/28, 8/8); Chicago (H: 5/14, 9/1; A: 7/8); Connecticut (H: 5/23, 6/17; A: 5/26); Indiana (H: 8/18; A: 8/6, 8/30); New York (H: 7/25; A: 5/18, 8/20); Washington (H: 6/23, 9/3; A: 6/9).

NDSU Volleyball Announces Newcomers

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University head volleyball coach Kari Thompson announced Tuesday, Nov. 29, the addition of six newcomers – 6-foot-2 outside hitter Allie Mauch (Barney, N.D./Wyndmere H.S.), 6-2 middle hitter Bella Lien (Rogers, Minn./Heritage Christian H.S.), 6-3 middle hitter Emily Halverson (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City West H.S.), 5-9 outside hitter/setter Alexis Bachmeier (Fargo, N.D./North H.S.), 5-5 libero Emilee McGowan (Marion, Iowa/Linn Mar H.S.) and 6-foot outside hitter Hannah Gail (Wheaton, Minn./Wheaton-Herman-Norcross H.S.) – that will be joining the volleyball team in the fall of 2017.

Mauch, a 6-2 outside hitter, broke numerous records at Wyndmere High School, topping both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. She was a two-time all-region and all-Wild Rice Conference performer in both volleyball and basketball. Mauch was a member of the first place 16-under Junior Olympic team at the 2015 national tournament in Chicago, and the third place 17-under J.O. team at the 2016 national tourney in Orlando in 2016. She was a regular on the honor roll, a distinguished scholar nominee and member of the National Honor Society.

Lien, a 6-2 middle hitter, was a Class A state all-tournament pick in leading Heritage Christian High School to the state semifinals and 26-11 record. She was a two-time all-MCAA conference selection and Star Tribune Player of the Week during her career. On the basketball court, Lien has been a two-time all-conference first team pick and also honorable mention all-area. She also competed in track and field. Lien has been active in the CFR Mentoring Program and has taken mission trips to Idaho/Alaska (2014) and Haiti (2015). She is a member of the National Honor Society and been involved in the Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy

Halverson, a 6-3 middle hitter, was a four-year starter for Iowa City West High School, which qualified for the state tournament her sophomore, junior and senior years. An all-conference second team and honorable mention selection during her career, she holds the state’s block assist record. Halverson has been a member of the Iowa Rockets top club team since the age of 13. The Rockets qualified for the national tournament each year. She was a two-year starter for the basketball team, earning honorable mention all-conference honors. A member of the National Honor Society, Halverson has been active with the Coralville Methodist Church, and volunteers for the Coralville Community Food Pantry and Agape free breakfast program.

Bachmeier, a 5-9 outside hitter/setter, was a four-year starter for Fargo North and recorded her 1,000th career kill this season. She was a nine-time letterwinner in volleyball and track and field for the Spartans. Bachmeier was member of an Asics National Championship team in 2015 and third place finisher at the 2013 national tournament in Florida. A member of the National Honor Society, she has been involved in her church, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the mental health initiative Imagine Thriving.

McGowan, a 5-5 libero, was a first team all-conference and academic all-conference selection for Linn-Mar High School. She was a two-time second team all-conference selection in 2014 and 2015, also earning second team all-metro honors in 2015. McGowan is a four-time Iowa High Performance team selection and three-time Academic Award winner with honors. She is active with SODA (Students Opposed to Drugs and Alcohol) and TRY (Teens Reaching Youth).

Gail, a 6-foot outside hitter, was a two-time Pheasant Conference MVP and honorable mention all-state performer for Wheaton-Herman-Norcross High School. She was a three-time all-conference performer for the Wildcats and became the school’s all-time leader in kills this season. Gail was selected to the 2016 USA Volleyball National A2 Invitational Team Roster as a member of the Minnesota Select J.O. team. She also played on the basketball team that advanced Class A state tournament quarterfinals in 2016. A regular on the honor roll, Gail is a member of the National Honor Society and choir. 

North Dakota State finished the season with a 14-18 record overall including 11-5 in The Summit League. The Bison finished third during the regular season and reached the league tournament semifinals in Denver earlier this month.

College Hockey Polls

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – This week’s national men’s hockey polls have been released and, according to both, Saturday’s College Hockey Showdown at Madison Square Garden will be a battle of top-10 teams.

North Dakota, the host school for the New York City event, was ranked No. 9 in the latest USCHO.com poll and No. 10 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings, while its opponent, Boston College, was ranked third and fourth, respectively. The Fighting Hawks are looking to bounce back from a home loss and tie to Michigan State and the Eagles are coming off of a 4-2 loss at Minnesota.

Minnesota Duluth topped both polls for the second straight week while Denver remained No. 2 in both.

UND and BC will drop the puck at 7:30 p.m. Eastern/6:30 p.m. Central on Saturday at MSG. The game will be telecast live on CBS Sports Network.

USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll

Rk.      School (1st-place votes)         Record           Pts.         PR

1.         Minnesota Duluth (47)                    10-2-2            995            1

2.         Denver (3)                                          9-2-3            952            2

3.         Boston College                               11-4-1            838            4

4.         Massachusetts-Lowell                      8-4-2            790            6

5.         Quinnipiac                                          9-4-2            755            3

6.         Boston University                             7-4-1            752            7

7.         Penn State                                        11-1-1            689            8

8.         Harvard                                              6-2-1            604            9

9.         North Dakota                                7-5-3           590            5

10.       Ohio State                                          8-1-4            539          13

11.       Minnesota                                          6-4-2            508          11

12.       Notre Dame                                       7-5-2            406          12

13.       Bemidji State                                   11-4-1            345          10

14.       Vermont                                             9-3-2            322          20

15.       Minnesota State                                8-5-1            319          14

16.       Western Michigan                             7-3-2            253          18

17.       St. Cloud State                                  6-6-0            224          15

18.       Union                                                 8-3-2            199          17

19.       St. Lawrence                                      8-4-4            160          19

20.       Michigan                                            6-5-1            131          16

Others receiving votes: Providence 25, Omaha 15, Air Force 5, Clarkson 5, Wisconsin 4, Connecticut 2, Michigan Tech 2, Robert Morris 2, Lake Superior State 1.

  

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll

Rk.      School (1st-place votes)         Record           Pts.         PR

1.         Minnesota Duluth (34)                    10-2-2            510            1

2.         Denver                                               9-2-3            474            2

3.         Massachusetts-Lowell                      8-4-2            401            6

4.         Boston College                               11-4-1            387            3

5.         Boston University                             7-4-1            341            7

6.         Penn State                                        11-1-1            323          10

7.         Quinnipiac                                          9-4-2            321            4

8.         Harvard                                              6-2-1            262            9

9.         Minnesota                                          6-4-2            220            8

10.      North Dakota                                7-5-3           214            5

11.       Ohio State                                          8-1-4            181          13

12.       Notre Dame                                       7-5-2            116          11

13.       Western Michigan                             7-3-2              79         NR

14.       Vermont                                             9-3-2              74         NR

15.       Minnesota State                                8-5-1              46          14

Others receiving votes: Bemidji State 40, St. Lawrence 36, Union 27, St. Cloud State 19, Clarkson 4, Omaha 4, Michigan 1.