Volleyball team takes on Mid-Continent foes
For the seventh consecutive weekend, the North Dakota State volleyball team will be on the road. This weekend, however, the Bison have an extra incentive to play well.
The Bison, (10-9), play at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, (5-13), Friday before traveling to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, (13-8), Saturday.
Both IUPUI and IPFW are members of the Mid-Continent Conference. The Bison will begin Mid-Con play next fall.
“ I think we just take one match at a time,” Head coach Erich Hinterstocker said. “The competition doesn’t change our mindset, but I think for our seniors it is an opportunity for them to view it as a conference match.”
The Bison are coming off a historic weekend, defeating Texas-Pan American 30-21, 30-19, 30-23.
The victory pushed the team’s record over .500 for the first time as a Division I program. The victory also was its fourth straight, an eighth of their last 10.
Over the first month of their season, the senior class has led the Bison. The victory over Texas-Pan American was no exception as senior Chloe Quirk paced the NDSU offense with 11 kills.
Senior Sheila Parrish leads NDSU in nearly every offensive statistical category and is leading the Division I Independent standings in kills per game with 4.29.
Hinterstocker said he believes the team is starting to come together, and he believes it is because they are spreading out their offensive output.
In addition to Quirk and Parrish, senior Lindsay Rogers and junior Christy Stuewe are all averaging more than two kills per game.
“ We are getting better and we are getting more balance to our offense,” Hinterstocker said. “Mattie Johnson is learning how to find our hitters and that is helping us get more kills throughout the match.”
Johnson, a freshman, has already garnered four Division I Independent Newcomer of the Week awards and Setter of the Week once this season.
After this road trip, the Bison will finally play at home next weekend when they host Utah Valley State and SDSU.
“ I know everyone is really excited to be able to play in front of our fans and the Fargo community,” Hinterstocker said. “I would be lying if I said people aren’t looking forward to it."
On to plan D. At the beginning of the year, Bohl mentioned that fullback Tyler Roehl would run the ball a few times.
Roehl was said to be able to add a powerful running dimension to the Bison offense.
This was spoken of less after Roehl sat out of many fall camps with a hamstring injury. Throughout the first four games, Roehl has carried the ball only once.
In addition to his own hindering injuries, Roehl has been too busy playing double-duty at fullback to mix into the running offense.
Against Ball State, NDSU’s backup fullback Tyler Jangula — who basically split time with Roehl — suffered a season ending knee injury.
No Jangula or Roehl ... is there anyone on defense who has ever carried a football?
With the shortage at running back, Bohl converted linebackers Mike Brower and Matt Kittleson to offense to add some depth. Kittleson played a bit at fullback against Stephen F. Austin, and Brower has yet to attempt a rush.
On to plan Z. The Bison threw true freshman Pete Blincoe in to the mix, and as of Thursday at 11:48 a.m., he is listed as Steffes’s backup.
There is no questioning that the NDSU rushing attack has been superb thus far.
Heck, Steffes is on pace to rush for over a 1,000 yards for the third straight season. But playing two I-A schools and three other top 25 I-AA can truly beat a team up.
The uneasy fact that Bison football fans have to sit with is that NDSU has only played one of those games and is already one more injury away from a debacle.
So Bison fans, join coach Bohl and cross your fingers and maybe even your toes anytime Steffes touches the football.