UMC Volleyball Picked 13th in NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball program was selected 13^th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Tues., Aug. 7 by the conference office. The Golden Eagles received 50 votes in the poll.

Concordia University-St. Paul was picked to finish first in the NSIC with 15 first-place votes and 225 overall points. The Golden Bears have won nine NCAA Division II National Championships in the last 11 seasons. Southwest Minnesota State University was selected second in the preseason poll with 210 points and one first-place vote. Taylor Reiss, the 2017 AVCA Division II Player of the Year, was picked as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.

Minnesota Crookston enters their second season under Head Coach Sarah Rauen as they open the 2018 campaign. The Golden Eagles are looking to improve on a 7-21 (4-15 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles must replace seven graduating seniors, including All-NSIC Second Team pick Kassi Green. Minnesota Crookston returns two starters in Callie Schapekahm (Sr., MH, Eagan, Minn.) and Kaitlin Sikkink (R-Jr., MH, St. Charles, Minn.). Ali Schueler (R-Jr., DS/Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) is also experienced having started 11 games in the back row for the Golden Eagles in 2017. Minnesota Crookston will have to rely on several young players in 2018, but they are excited about the group they have after a strong spring season. The Golden Eagles also added five newcomers to the squad, who will look to compete for jobs for the 2018 season.

 Schapekahm was picked as the Player to Watch for Minnesota Crookston. Schapekahm returns as a starter at middle hitter. She started all 28 matches for the Golden Eagles. Schapekahm averaged 1.28 kills per set in 2017, along with 0.54 blocks per set for Minnesota Crookston. Schapekahm is also a two-time NSIC All-Academic pick, and a Butch Raymond Scholarship Recipient. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA for her entire time in the Maroon and Gold.

The Golden Eagles are set to open up the season Aug. 24 at the Parkside Hampton Inn Tournament, hosted by University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, Wis.  

                                                         Points

1.   Concordia-St. Paul (15)............... 225   

2.   Southwest Minnesota State (1).... 210   

3.   Minnesota Duluth........................ 194   

4.   Northern State ............................. 176   

5.   Wayne State................................. 164   

6.   Augustana ................................... 145   

7.   Winona State .............................. 138   

8.   Upper Iowa ................................. 130   

9.   Sioux Falls................................... 123   

10. Minnesota State........................... 102   

11. St. Cloud State ............................. 89    

12. MSU Moorhead............................ 75    

13. Minnesota Crookston................... 50    

14. University of Mary....................... 40

15. Bemidji State ............................... 31    

16. Minot State .................................. 28

      first place votes in ( )       

NDSU Football Preseason Information

NDSU Leads FCS With Seven on STATS Preseason All-America Team

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State led all teams in the Football Championship Subdivision with a school-record seven players named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America team announced Tuesday, July 31.

Running back Bruce Anderson and safety Robbie Grimsley were named to the first team. Quarterback Easton Stick, center Tanner Volson and defensive end Greg Menard earned second-team honors. Offensive tackle Zack Johnson and linebacker Jabril Cox were on the third team.

There were 16 total picks from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which was also a national high among the 13 FCS conferences.

North Dakota State is scheduled to host Cal Poly in the season opener Sept. 1 and the Bison will host North Alabama and Delaware before opening conference play at home Sept. 29 against South Dakota State.

2018 STATS FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford
RB - Bruce Anderson, senior, 5-11, 216, North Dakota State
RB - Dom Bragalone, senior, 5-11, 230, Lehigh
FB - Cal Daniels, senior, 6-2, 255, Stony Brook
WR - Keelan Doss, senior, 6-3, 210, UC Davis
WR - Neil O'Connor, senior, 5-11, 190, New Hampshire
WR - Nathan Stewart, junior, 5-11, 175, Sam Houston State
TE - Charlie Taumoepeau, junior, 6-3, 240, Portland State
OL - Larry Allen III, senior, 6-4, 285, Harvard
OL - B.J. Autry, senior, 6-5, 340, Jacksonville State
OL - Ethan Greenidge, senior, 6-4, 335, Villanova
OL - Zach Larsen, junior, 6-1, 300, Southern Utah
OL - Iosua Opeta, senior, 6-4, 295, Weber State

DEFENSE
DL - Miles Brown, senior, 6-2, 320, Wofford
DL - Ahmad Gooden, senior, 6-1, 240, Samford
DL - Khalen Saunders, senior, 6-2, 310, Western Illinois
DL - Chris Terrell, junior, 6-3, 266, Central Arkansas
LB - Bryson Armstrong, sophomore, 5-11, 205, Kennesaw State
LB - Josh Buss, senior, 6-2, 220, Montana
LB - Warren Messer, senior, 5-11, 230, Elon
LB - Christian Rozeboom, junior, 6-2, 230, South Dakota State
DB - Nasir Adderley, senior, 6-0, 190, Delaware
DB - Marlon Bridges, junior, 6-0, 200, Jacksonville State
DB - Robbie Grimsley, senior, 6-0, 191, North Dakota State
DB - Rashad Robinson, senior, 5-11, 182, James Madison

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Lorran Fonseca, senior, 5-11, 185, Nicholls
P - Alex Pechin, senior, 6-0, 185, Bucknell
LS - Chris Wilkerson, grad, 6-2, 245, Stephen F. Austin
KR - Juwan Petit-Frere, junior, 5-7, 170, Southeastern Louisiana
PR - Justice Shelton-Mosley, senior, 5-10, 195, Harvard
AP - Davion Davis, senior, 5-11, 180, Sam Houston State

SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221, North Dakota State
RB - Zane Dudek, sophomore, 5-9, 190, Yale
RB - Tevin McCaster, senior, 5-10, 195, Youngstown State
FB - Joe Protheroe, senior, 6-0, 230, Cal Poly
WR - Jesper Horsted, senior, 6-4, 215, Princeton
WR - Kamron Lewis, senior, 6-4, 195, Saint Francis
WR - Kelvin McKnight, senior, 5-9, 188, Samford
TE - Lawayne Ross, junior, 6-0, 264, McNeese
OL - Daniel Cooney, senior, 6-8, 315, San Diego
OL - Tyler Davis, senior, 6-1, 279, The Citadel
OL - Noah Johnson, junior, 6-4, 300, Idaho
OL - Tanner Volson, senior, 6-4, 301, North Dakota State
OL - Mitchell Watanabe, senior, 6-4, 330, Sam Houston State

DEFENSE
DL - Andrew Clyde, senior, 6-3, 275, Richmond
DL - Darin Greenfield, junior, 6-3, 235, South Dakota
DL - Greg Menard, senior, 6-2, 238, North Dakota State
DL - Jaison Williams, junior, 6-1, 225, Austin Peay
LB - De'Arius Christmas, senior, 5-10, 220, Grambling State
LB - Thomas Costigan, senior, 6-3, 230, Bryant
LB - Nick Miller, senior, 5-11, 215, Penn
LB - Troy Reeder, senior, 6-2, 245, Delaware
DB - Deion Harris, senior, 6-3, 200, North Dakota
DB - Davanta Reynolds, senior, 5-10, 200, North Carolina Central
DB - Rob Rolle, senior, 6-0, 185, Villanova
DB - Marvin Tillman, senior, 6-1, 190, Western Carolina

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Trey Tuttle, sophomore, 5-9, 190, Weber State
P - Ian Berryman, senior, 6-0, 205, Western Carolina
LS - Daniel Caracciolo, sophomore, 5-11, 215, James Madison
KR - Jean Constant, junior, 5-9, 168, Bryant
PR - D'Angelo Amos, junior, 6-1, 182, James Madison
AP - Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 187, Kennesaw State
AP - John Santiago, senior, 5-9, 180, North Dakota

THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
QB - Gage Gubrud, senior, 6-2, 205, Eastern Washington
RB - A.J. Hines, junior, 5-11, 225, Duquesne
RB - Marquis Terry, senior, 5-6, 179, Southeast Missouri State
FB - Andre Stoddard, senior, 5-10, 230, Wofford
WR - Dejon Brissett, senior, 6-2, 190, Richmond
WR - Emmanuel Butler, senior, 6-4, 220, Northern Arizona
WR - Nehari Crawford, senior, 5-11, 170, Duquesne
WR - Reggie White Jr., senior, 6-3, 210, Monmouth
TE - Wes Preece, junior, 6-5, 240, UC Davis
OL - Chandler Arceneaux, senior, 6-5, 295, Nicholls
OL - C.J. Collins, senior, 6-3, 256, Kennesaw State
OL - Jahee Jackson, junior, 6-3, 295, James Madison
OL - Zack Johnson, junior, 6-6, 312, North Dakota State
OL - Zach Weeks, senior, 6-3, 285, Western Carolina
OL - Gavin Wiggins, senior, 6-4, 300, Youngstown State

DEFENSE
DL - Darryl Johnson Jr., junior, 6-5, 226, North Carolina A&T
DL - Ricky Neal, senior, 6-1, 241, Northern Iowa
DL - Aaron Patrick, junior, 6-4, 236, Eastern Kentucky
DL - Chris Stewart, senior, 6-2, 270, Sam Houston State
DL - Nick Wheeler, junior, 6-2, 245, Colgate
LB - Jabril Cox, sophomore, 6-3, 227, North Dakota State
LB - Armand Dellovade, senior, 6-0, 215, Youngstown State
LB - Kaden Elliss, senior, 6-3, 222, Idaho
LB - Gunnar Scholato, senior, 6-3, 234, Austin Peay
LB - LeGrand Toia, senior, 6-2, 215, Weber State
DB - Jordan Brown, senior, 6-1, 195, South Dakota State
DB - Mister Harriel, senior, 6-1, 200, Sacramento State
DB - Franklin McCain, sophomore, 5-11, 175, North Carolina A&T
DB - Jimmy Moreland, senior, 5-11, 172, James Madison

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Marc Orozco, senior, 5-9, 170, Grambling State
P - Jamie Gillan, senior, 6-2, 195, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
LS - Steven Wethli, senior, 6-0, 230, Youngstown State
KR - Rashid Shaheed, sophomore, 6-0, 170, Weber State
PR - Jaquan Brooks, junior, 5-10, 175, Campbell
AP - John Lovett, senior, 6-3, 225, Princeton

* * * * * * * * * * * 

NDSU Lands Six on Preseason All-MVFC Offense

ST. LOUIS - North Dakota State had six players named to the preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive team Tuesday, July 31, by a vote of the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media.

NDSU had four first-team picks: senior running back Bruce Anderson, junior fullback Brock Robbins and junior offensive tackle Zack Johnson, and senior center Tanner Volson.

Anderson, NDSU's leading rusher with 1,216 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, was a second team HERO Sports All-American. He was all-conference second team last year along with Volson, who started all 15 games at center for the Bison.

Bison senior quarterback Easton Stick, MVP of last year's national championship game, was named to the preseason second team along with senior wide receiver Darrius Shepherd, who led the Bison with 41 receptions last year.

North Dakota State is scheduled to host Cal Poly in the season opener Sept. 1 and the Bison will host North Alabama and Delaware before opening conference play at home Sept. 29 against South Dakota State.

2018 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Offense
First Team
QB - Taryn Christion, South Dakota State
RB - Bruce Anderson, North Dakota State
RB - Tevin McCaster, Youngstown State
RB - James Robinson, Illinois State
FB - Brock Robbins, North Dakota State
WR - Shamar Jackson, South Dakota
WR - Darrell James, Southern Illinois
WR - Spencer Schnell, Illinois State
TE - Briley Moore, Northern Iowa
OL - Drew Himmelman, Illinois State
OL - Vitas Hrynkiewicz, Youngstown State
OL - Zack Johnson, North Dakota State
OL - Tanner Volson, North Dakota State
OL - Gavin Wiggins, Youngstown State
LS - Steven Wethli, Youngstown State
K - Chase Vinatieri, South Dakota State

Second Team
QB - Easton Stick, North Dakota State
QB - Sean McGuire, Western Illinois
RB - Steve McShane, Western Illinois
RB - Marcus Weymiller, Northern Iowa
FB - Luke Sellers, South Dakota State
WR - Cade Johnson, South Dakota State
WR - Darrius Shepherd, North Dakota State
WR - Isaiah Weston, Northern Iowa
TE - Tylor Petkovich, Illinois State
OL - Tyler Ciurej, South Dakota
OL - Nick Jensen, South Dakota
OL - Marquis Prophete, Missouri State
OL - Mason Scheidegger, South Dakota
OL - Cal Twait, Northern Iowa
LS - Bradey Sorenson, South Dakota State
K - Jerry Nunez, Indiana State

 

NDSU Unanimous Pick to Win Valley Football Title

ST. LOUIS - Defending national champion North Dakota State is the preseason pick to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference after capturing all 39 first-place votes in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media released Monday, July 30.

North Dakota State, which has won seven straight conference titles, won its third outright crown last year with a 7-1 league record. The Bison finished 14-1 overall and won their sixth NCAA national championship in seven years.

This is just the second time in league history that a team has received all of the first-place votes in the preseason poll. NDSU was the unanimous pick in 2013 and went on to a 15-0 record winning its third of five consecutive national championships.

South Dakota State earned the second spot in the poll, finishing with 340 total points, followed by Northern Iowa (270), Youngstown State (258), Illinois State (248) and South Dakota (206). Western Illinois, Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Indiana State rounded out the final four spots in order.

A preseason favorite has claimed the league crown 20 times (in 32 previous polls).

North Dakota State is scheduled to host Cal Poly in the season opener Sept. 1 and the Bison will host North Alabama and Delaware before opening conference play at home Sept. 29 against South Dakota State.

2018 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes)	Pts
1. North Dakota State (39)	390
2. South Dakota State	340
3. Northern Iowa	270
4. Youngstown State	258
5. Illinois State	248
6. South Dakota	206
7. Western Illinois	163
8. Southern Illinois	139
9. Missouri State	90
10. Indiana State	41

UMC Football Selected 16th in NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn.– The University of Minnesota Crookston football team was selected 16^thin the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Golden Eagles received 15 points in the poll.

Minnesota Crookston is going into their second season under Head Coach Mark Dufner. The Golden Eagles will have new coordinators this season with Jared Hottle as offensive coordinator and Tom Miller as defensive coordinator. The Golden Eagles return Kevin Evans (Sr., RB, Groveland, Fla.) in the backfield and Rod Stewart (Sr., WR, Fort Worth, Texas) at wide receiver. Jeremy Neuman (R-So., QB, Andover, Minn.) appeared in six games as a redshirt freshman at quarterback and will compete for the starting job. On the offensive line, experienced starters Noah Lee (R-Sr., OL, Vadnais Heights, Minn.), Logan Moreau (R-Jr., OL, Lake Nebagoman, Wis.) and Josh Lanasa (So., OL, Soo Hill, Mich.) return to the fray. The Golden Eagles return three All-NSIC picks with Stewart, defensive back Will Cole (Sr., DB, Compton, Calif.), and punter Stephen Day (R-Sr., K/P, Eveleth, Minn.). In addition to Cole, Minnesota Crookston returns Will Cross (R-Jr., LB, Turtle Lake, Wis.) and Ali Alkhatib (R-Sr., LB, Rosemount, Minn.) at linebacker. At defensive back Anfernee Cooper (R-So., Fort Worth, Texas) and Trevor Long, Jr. (R-Jr., DB, Brooklyn Park, Minn.), join Cole, while the Golden Eagles return several experienced players up front led by Brent Reed, Jr. (R-So., DL, Arlington, Texas), who notched 48 tackles last season.

Rod Stewart (Sr., WR, Fort Worth, Texas) and Will Cross (R-Jr., LB, Turtle Lake, Wis.) were selected as Minnesota Crookston’s Players to Watch. Stewart returns after earning All-NSIC First Team honors as a kick returner and All-NSIC Second Team accolades as a wide receiver. Stewart was second in the league in kickoff returns at the conclusion of the season averaged 28.3 yards per game. Stewart finished the season ranked 18^th in the nation in kickoff returns. He also earned Don Hansen NCAA Division II Honorable Mention honors as a junior. Stewart had a strong season as a receiver for the Golden Eagles in 2017 with 47 receptions for 633 yards and five touchdowns. Cross has been a lynchpin for Minnesota Crookston at middle linebacker position. He finished third on the team with 79 tackles in 2017. He notched three tackles and a half sack for the Golden Eagles last season. Cross was an All-NSIC Honorable Mention pick in 2016.

Minnesota State University was selected first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Mavericks received 225 points and 15 first-place votes after going 13-1 in 2017 and advancing to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals. Winona State University was slotted second with 197 points and one first-place vote.

Minnesota State wide receiver Shane Zylstra was selected as the NSIC South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Minnesota State defensive tackle Zach Dodge was named NSIC South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. University of Minnesota Duluth wide receiver Jason Balts was selected as NSIC North Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Bemidji State University defensive back Gunner Olszewski garnered NSIC North Preseason Defensive Player of the Year accolades.

Minnesota Crookston opens up the season Thurs., Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. against Minnesota State University Moorhead at Alex Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minn.

Overall                                             Points

1. Minnesota State (15)..................... 225   

2. Winona State (1)............................ 197   

3. Sioux Falls..................................... 195   

4. Minnesota Duluth.......................... 194   

5. Bemidji State ................................ 165   

6. Augustana...................................... 148   

7. St. Cloud State............................... 133   

8. Northern State................................ 114   

9. Wayne State................................... 111   

10. MSU Moorhead............................ 99    

11. Upper Iowa................................... 96    

12. Southwest Minnesota State.......... 69    

13. Minot State................................... 63    

14. Concordia-St. Paul....................... 62    

15. University of Mary....................... 34    

16. Minnesota Crookston................... 15

                                              first place votes in ( ) 

North Division                                Points

1. Minnesota Duluth (7)..................... 49    

2. Bemidji State ................................. 42    

3. St. Cloud State (1).......................... 33    

4. Northern State................................. 32    

5. MSU Moorhead.............................. 26    

6. Minot State..................................... 20    

7. University of Mary......................... 15    

8. Minnesota Crookston...................... 7

first place votes in ( )

South Division          ��                      Points

1. Minnesota State (7)........................ 49     

2. Winona State (1)............................ 43     

3. Sioux Falls...................................... 37     

4. Augustana....................................... 28     

5. Wayne State................................... 25     

6. Upper Iowa..................................... 18     

7. Concordia- St. Paul........................ 14     

8. Southwest Minnesota State............ 10

first place votes in ( )

UMC Women's BB Picked 13th in NSIC Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball team was tabbed 13^th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll released on the morning of Wed., Oct. 25.

The Golden Eagles earned 51 points in the preseason poll, seven points behind Southwest Minnesota State University in 12^th and eight points ahead of Bemidji State University in 14^th. Minnesota Crookston was selected seventh in the NSIC North.

The Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will look to build on their tradition of success recently as they have made three-consecutive NSIC/Sanford Health quarterfinals at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Golden Eagles return a veteran squad that returns four starters from last season. Minnesota Crookston will look to their upperclassmen to lead the way in the form of returning starters Micaela Noga and Caitlin Michaelis at guard, and Emily Gruber and Isieoma Odor in the post. Odor leads all returnees after averaging 13.3 points per game, while Michela Noga notched 10.1 points per game and shot 34.8 percent from beyond the arc. Gruber and Michaelis were also impact players averaging 8.2 points and 5.1 points respectively. Noga was selected as the NSIC Player to Watch for Minnesota Crookston.

Off the bench, the Golden Eagles return sometimes starter Stephanie McWilliams at guard, while Paige Weakley, Lindsey Weber and Amber Schoenicke all saw time last year and will compete for playing time during the 2017-18 season. In addition, Minnesota Crookston added newcomers Kasey Harper, Ashley Freund, Abby Guidinger and Maria Delgado to the fray. All four players are competing to see time on the floor this season.

Minnesota Crookston enters their 12^th season under Mike Roysland, who moved past 100 wins in his college coaching career last season. Roysland led the Golden Eagles to a program-record 18 wins during the 2015-16 season. Minnesota Crookston hosted home playoff games during that season and the 2014-15 campaign.

Minnesota State University Moorhead was picked to win the league with 10 first-place votes and 213 points. The Dragons were NSIC North champions last season and made it to the first round of the NCAA Central Regional. The Dragons were slotted ahead of Northern State University, who earned four first-place votes and 209 overall points. Augustana University was picked third with two first-place votes and 200 overall points. MSU Moorhead was selected as NSIC North favorite, two points ahead of Northern State. Augustana was picked as the NSIC South favorite, three points ahead of Wayne State.

Drew Sannes of MSU Moorhead was selected as the NSIC North Preseason Player of the Year after being named 2016-17 NSIC Player of the Year. Wayne State College’s Paige Ballinger was named NSIC South Preseason Player of the Year after earning All-NSIC First Team honors last season.

Minnesota Crookston opens exhibition play Nov. 2 against Concordia College Moorhead at Lysaker Gymnasium. They will open the regular-season Nov. 17 versus Michigan Tech University at 6 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium.

Summit League Men’s Basketball Poll

ELMHURST, Ill. – The North Dakota State men’s basketball team has been picked to finish third in The Summit League this season, according to the annual preseason poll of league head coaches, sports information directors and media.

NDSU senior guard Paul Miller was voted to the preseason All-Summit League first team for the second straight year. He led the Bison in scoring for the second consecutive season in 2016-17, averaging 16.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

South Dakota State topped the preseason poll with 339 points and 13 first-place votes. South Dakota came in second with 327 points and the remaining 12 first-place votes. The Bison were third with 246 points.

NDSU has 112 wins over the past five seasons – an average of nearly 23 per year. NDSU’s 43 conference victories over the past four seasons are the most in The Summit League.

NDSU will host Concordia Moorhead in an exhibition game on Nov. 1. The Bison open the regular season on the road at UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 11 and USC on Nov. 13.

Summit League Men’s Basketball 2017-18 Preseason Poll
Place	Team	Points (1st)
1.	South Dakota State	339 (13)
2.	South Dakota	327 (12)
3.	North Dakota State	246
4.	Fort Wayne	234
5.	Denver	230
6.	Omaha	124
7.	Oral Roberts	104
8.	Western Illinois	60

Preseason Player of the Year: Mike Daum, South Dakota State
First Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Daniel Amigo	Denver	C	Sr.
Mike Daum	South Dakota State	F	Jr.
John Konchar	Fort Wayne	G	Jr.
Paul Miller	North Dakota State	G	Sr.
Matt Mooney	South Dakota	G	Sr.
Albert Owens	Oral Roberts	C	Sr.
Second Team
Name	School	Pos.	Year
Trey Burch-Manning	South Dakota	F	Jr.
Emmanuel Nzekwesi	Oral Roberts	F	So.
Joe Rosga	Denver	G	Jr.
Bryson Scott	Fort Wayne	G	Sr.
Reed Tellinghuisen	South Dakota State	G/F	Sr.