MSU notebook: Volleyball team picks up NSIC awards
Nov. 9—The Free Press
Minnesota State's Sophie Tietz and Kiya Durant have been named to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball team, which was announced Thursday.
The Mavericks haven't had an all-conference selection since 2019.
Tietz, a senior hitter, was named to the first team after making a team-high 222 kills, pushing her career total to 518 kills. She ranks fifth in the conference with 40 ace serves.
Durant, a junior middle blocker, ranked second in the Northern Sun with 93 blocks and has 305 blocks in her career. She was named to the second team.
The Mavericks (13-11, 8-8 in Northern Sun) finish the regular season Friday at Northern State and Saturday at Minnesota State Moorhead. The Mavericks are eighth in the conference, and the top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament, which begins Tuesday.
Volleyball signings
Minnesota State coach Corey Phelps went local and international in signing four players to letters of intent on Wednesday.
The Mavericks signed hitter Morgan Bjella from Marshall, hitter Avery Klein of New Prague, setter Jadyn Lester and middle blocker Manca Oštir from Vransko, Slovenia.
New Mavericks
Minnesota State coach Brian Bahl announced 13 student-athletes will be joining the program next season, including three that helped Andover finish third at the Class AAA tournament earlier this month.
Andover defender Addison Baumhauer, forward Brenna Hudson and forward Alicia Hoffman each signed letters of intent on Wednesday.
Other signings were defender Maclayne Menzel of Iowa City, Iowa; forward Amara Smith of Metro United Homeschool; centerback Savanna Stockness from Mahtomedi; forward/midfielder Taryn Johnson of Sequim, Washington; forward Marin Johnson of Delano; midfielder/forward Aftyn Murray of Tea, South Dakota; centerback Alexandra Singer of Lakeville North; midfielder Meghan Sullivan of Wayzata; midfielder/forward Reese Hilsenbeck of Eldridge, Iowa; and defender Elan Litt of West Des Moines, Iowa.
