NCAA Central Region Volleyball Tournament Starts Today

Nov. 20, 2008 | Full NCAA Release | NCAA Bracket

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Committee has selected the 64 teams that will be participating in the 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship. Eight teams were selected from each of the following eight regions: Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West. Eight eight-team regionals will be played at on-campus sites. Regional competition will be single-elimination, best three-of-five game matches and will not include a third-place match. The winners of each of the eight regionals will advance to the finals, December 4-6, on the campus of a participating institution. Competition at the finals site will be single-elimination, best three-of-five game matches. Concordia University will host the Central Regional Tournament on Thursday, November 20th with matches starting at noon. Regional Website | Watch Matches Live | Live Stats

2008 NCAA Central Region Volleyball Tournament Schedule/Results
Match	Teams	Time/Result	Box Score	Recap	Photos
Thursday, November 20 - Quarterfinals
1	#3 Minnesota Duluth vs. #6 Wayne State	12:00
2	#2 Southwest Minnesota State vs. #7 Metro State	2:30
3	#4 Nebraska-Kearney vs. #5 Augustana College	5:00
4	#1 Concordia University. vs. #8 Regis University	7:30
Friday, November 21 - Semifinals
5	Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2	5:30
6	Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4	8:00
Saturday, November 22 - Championship Match
7	Semifinal Winners	7:30

NCAA Cross Country Championships Set for Saturday

November 22, 2008 | Championship Website

NCAA Division II National Championships
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Cooper's Lake Campground, Slippery Rock, PA
12:00pm – Men’s 10k
1:15pm – Women’s 6k

NSIC Radio Spotlight - Week 7

November 18, 2008
Week 7 Northern Sun Spotlight Radio Show
Guests: UMC WBB Coach Mike Roysland and SMSU MBB Coach Greg Stemen
http://www.northernsun.org/radio/08_11_18_NSIC_Radio_Week_07.wma

NSIC Wrestling Weekly Release No. 2

November 18, 2008 | Full Release

NSIC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Derek Skala
So., 174,
Owatonna, Minn.
Owatonna HS
St. Cloud State

Derek Skala captured first place at 174-pounds at the Bison Open tournament on Nov. 15, 2008, in Fargo, N.D. Skala went 5-0 on the day, which included two major decisions along the way. To start the day, Skala posted a 13-4 major decision over Lance Piatz of NSIC rival Mary. In the second round, Skala gained a 9-2 win over Ross Dankers of Concordia Moorhead, and then defeated NDSU’s Trent Sovde in a 12-3 major decision win. In the semi’s, Skala collected a 3-2 win over unattached U of Minnesota wrestler Kaleb Young. In the title bout, Skala posted a 5-4 win over unattached U of Minnesota wrestler Cody Yohn. Skala is now 5-0 on the season for the Huskies. Full Release

Northern State’s Meyer returns to basketball sideline

November 18, 2008 | NCAA News by Greg Johnson - NCAA News

If you believe in the adage that you find out who your real friends are during tough times, then Don Meyer has an abundance of pals.

Meyer, the men’s basketball coach at Northern State and among the all-time leaders in wins, was involved in a horrific traffic accident September 5, which eventually resulted in his left leg being amputated below the knee. Doctors also found a slow-developing cancer in his liver and small intestine during his eight-week stay in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital.

Right now, his doctors are trying to control the swelling in his left leg and keep the wound closed so he can be fitted for a prosthetic limb. He is meeting with an oncologist later this week to determine the best route to fight the cancer. (Read More)

NSIC MBB Weekly Release No. 2

November 18, 2008 | Full Release

NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
#50 Matt Schneck
C, 6-7, 235, Jr.,
Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Whitefish Bay HS
St. Cloud State

Matt Schneck averaged 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, and shot 65% from the field as the Huskies went 2-0 at the Hoopster Classic. Against Metro State Schneck scored 11 points on 5-6 shooting and pulled down five boards. A day later against Wayne State, Schneck broke out for 24 points and 10 rebounds and his eighth career double-double. He scored 14 first half points as the Huskies built up a five-point first half advantage, and then pulled down six defensive rebounds in the second half as the Huskies pulled away and held Wayne State to just four second chance points. To round out his day against WSC, Schneck also added a block and three steals on the defensive end, and a pair of assists on offense. Full Release

NSIC WBB Weekly Release No. 3

November 17, 2008 | Full Release

NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
#33 Sonny Schultz
G, 5-7, Jr.,
Watford City, N.D.
Watford City HS
University of Mary

Schulz earned Notre Dame de Namur All-Tournament honors after scoring 29 points to lead the Marauders to a 65-64 victory over Humboldt State University of Sunday. She hit a game-tying three-pointer with 11 second left in the contest, one of five three pointers in the game, and grabbed nine rebounds. At one time in the first half, she scored 10 straight points. Schulz scored 16 in a 95-87 2-OT loss to CSU-Monteray Bay on Saturday, dishing seven assists with five rebounds. In the two games, Schulz averaged 22.5 points, 7.0 rebounds. 4.0 assists and made 13-of-14 free throws. Full Release

NSIC Weekly Soccer Release No. 13

Nov. 17, 2008 | Full Release | NCAA Bracket

St. Paul, Minn. - The NSIC went 1-3 last week in the NCAA Central Region Tournament. Augustana College lost to Regis University 3-0. Regis went on to defeat Winona State 3-1 in second round. Minnesota State knocked off Colorado School of Mines 3-1before falling to Metro State 1-0 ending all NSIC team's seasons.

NSIC Football Weekly Release No. 13

November 17, 2008 | Full NSIC Release | NCAA Bracket

St. Paul, Minn. - The NSIC went 0-2 this past weekend in NCAA Playoff action as #22 Wayne State fell to #12 Chadron State 23-17 and #25 Minnesota State lost to #17 Ashland (OH) 27-16. Chadron State will now take on #6 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, November 22nd at 12:00 p.m. in Duluth, Minn. Augustana College's season is still going as well as they will take on Missouri Western on December 6th at 1:00 p.m. in the 43rd Annual Mineral Water Bowl.

NSIC Has Five Teams Enter NCAA Central Region Tournament

Nov. 16, 2008 | Full NCAA Release | NCAA Bracket

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Committee has selected the 64 teams that will be participating in the 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship. Eight teams were selected from each of the following eight regions: Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West. Eight eight-team regionals will be played at on-campus sites. Regional competition will be single-elimination, best three-of-five game matches and will not include a third-place match. The winners of each of the eight regionals will advance to the finals, December 4-6, on the campus of a participating institution. Competition at the finals site will be single-elimination, best three-of-five game matches. Concordia University will host the Central Regional Tournament on Thursday, November 20th with matches starting at noon. Regional Website | Watch Matches Live | Live Stats

2008 NCAA Central Region Volleyball Tournament Schedule/Results
Match	Teams	Time/Result	Box Score	Recap	Photos
Thursday, November 20 - Quarterfinals
1	#3 Minnesota Duluth vs. #6 Wayne State	12:00
2	#2 Southwest Minnesota State vs. #7 Metro State	2:30
3	#4 Nebraska-Kearney vs. #5 Augustana College	5:00
4	#1 Concordia University. vs. #8 Regis University	7:30
Friday, November 21 - Semifinals
5	Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2	5:30
6	Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4	8:00
Saturday, November 22 - Championship Match
7	Semifinal Winners	7:30

NSIC Weekly Volleyball Release No. 12

November 17, 2008 | Full Release

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#13 Whitney Meierotto
OH, 5-8, Sr.,
Washburn, Wis.
Washburn HS
Concordia University

Whitney Meierotto marked her 14th double double of the season on Saturday evening, leading the Golden Bears to an undefeated NSIC season with a win over St. Cloud State. Meierotto averaged 5.00 kills per game, totaling 15 in the match, and came up with 14 digs. Her 15 kills came in 23 attempts, with just two errors on the night. She also had four block assists. Meierotto led the league in hitting percentage, kills per set and points per set.

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#18 Alli Rice
OH, 5-9, Fr.
Owatonna, Minn.
Owatonna HS
Minnesota State

Alli Rice led the NSIC in digs with 5.90 digs per set (59), including a career-high 22 against Northern State. She also posted a receptin percentage of .917 as she registered only four errors in 48 attempts as the Mavericks ended their season with seven straight wins.

NSIC Setter of the Week
#4 Maggie McNamara
S, 5-9, Jr.,
Zumbrota, Minn.
Zumbrota-Mazeppa HS
Concordia University

Maggie McNamara averaged an NSIC best 15.33 assists per set in a 3-0 win over St. Cloud State on Saturday evening. She assisted on 46 of the team’s 49 kills in the win, which was the 31st overall on the season and 20th NSIC win. The Golden Bears hit a league best .370 in the match. This marks the sixth time this season McNamara has been named NSIC Setter of the Week.

Season Enders

Nov. 16, 2008 | Box Scores

Denver, Colo. / Winona, Minn. - #16 Minnesota State fell 1-0 to #7 Metro State while Regis University (17-6) rebounded from a 1-0 deficit to knock off #11 Winona State (19-3-1) 3-1. Both games were semifinal matches of the NCAA Central Region Championship.

Regis University’s leading scorer Carter Cornett found the ball around the Winona State goal at the 35:16 mark of the opening period and put in her 26th goal of the season in what proved to be the winning goal of the match. Lexi Tagen and Heather Thomas each were credited with assists on the play. Regis then added the icing to the cake with its third goal of the game. This time Tagen got the ball from Thomas and scored at 55:17.

Thomas got her first two of four points she scored in the match, when she scored her sixth goal of the season at 29:55. Cornett got an assist on the play that tied the match at one-all. WSU took the early lead, scoring just 3:02 into the match when Amelia Kasten notched her 15th goal of the season off a pass from Cori Beard. Regis goalkeeper Rosie Campbell earned her second win in the tournament, stopping three shots on goal after giving up the early WSU goal.

The No. 7 Metro State women's soccer team (18-1-3) avenged their lone loss of the season with a 1-0 victory over Minnesota State, Sunday afternoon in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Junior Becca Mays scored the lone goal of the day in the 21st minute. She had a clear shot from 18 feet away that went over the MSU's goalkeppers head and just made it into the net. It was her team leading 20th goal of the season.

MSU applied a lot of pressure in the second half, with 13 shots, including 4 shots on goal. Becca Maloney was solid in the goal for Metro, making seven saves and recording her 14th shutout of the season.

The Roadrunners now advance to the third round were they will face Regis, who defeated No. 11 Winona State, 3-1 on Sunday in Winona, Minn. The game will be held on the campus of Grand Valley State next Friday.

Turnovers hurt Wildcats in 23-17 NCAA DII playoff loss at Chadron State

Nov. 15, 2008 | Box Score

Chadron State defeated Wayne State by the score of 23-17 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs on Saturday afternoon in Chadron, Nebraska.  Chadron State moved to 11-1 with the win and advances to take on Minnesota Duluth next Saturday while Wayne State ends the year at 9-3.  The nine wins ties a school record for most wins in a season and it was just the third post-season appearance in 93 years of WSC football and the first-ever in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The Eagles jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after taking the opening drive of the game 82 yards in just four plays.  Chadron State quarterback Joe McLain connected with Joel Schommer on a 73 yard touchdown pass for the Eagles.  Wayne State responded quickly with a 12 play drive capped by a Nick Hope 40 yard field goal to make the score 7-3 in favor of Chadron State.  The teams then traded turnovers.  Chadron State’s John Ritzen fumbled and Wayne State safety Matt Greenway fell on the loose ball.  WSC was unable to take advantage of the turnover as Chadron State defensive back Terrance Newman picked off a Silas Fluellen pass to give the ball right back to the Eagles.  However, Wayne State took advantage of another Chadron State turnover to take the lead as Matt Greenway intercepted a Joe McLain pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown to give the ‘Cats a 10-7 lead. (Read More)

Ashland Downs Minnesota State In Opening Game of the NCAA Playoffs

Nov. 15, 2008 | Box Score

Ashfield, Ohio –  Ashland University scored the games final 14 points to turn a 16-13 deficit into a 27-16 victory Saturday afternoon in front of 2,100 fans in a wet, windy Community Stadium in Ashland, Ohio. The game marked MSU’s first in the NCAA playoffs since the 1993 season and just the sixth game played by the Mavericks in the postseason.“I am very proud of the way our players performed today,” said Minnesota State head coach Todd Hoffner.  “It was a very hard fought game.  Our hats are off to Ashland.”

Minnesota State cracked the scoreboard first as junior running back Ernest Walker finished off an 11-play drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The score was set up by a 15-yard pass from junior quarterback Ryan Fick to sophomore wideout Omaar Balton.  Redshirt-freshman Grady Derheim’s extra point was wide left and MSU took a 6-0 lead six minutes and 42 seconds into the contest.

After trading possessions, Ashland took a 7-6 lead when quarterback Billy Cundiff found D’Marris McCoy in the front of the endzone for a three-yard touchdown strike.   The drive used 10 plays and covered 64 yards, chewing up 4:31 off the clock.

Ashland took the lead at the 3:33 mark of the second quarter when Cundiff ran around the left side for a five-yard scoring run.  The extra point was no good and Ashland took a 13-6 lead. The touchdown was set up on a 44-yard fake punt, which saw Tom Brenner run 44-yards to the Maverick 16-yard line.  Ashland then scored four plays later to cap the 11-play, 85-yard drive which used 5:51 off the clock.

The Mavericks scored on the ensuing possession as the Mavericks relied on Walker to rush six-plays for all 66 yards of the drive.  Derheim’s kick was good and the game was tied at 13 heading into the half.  Walker tied his season-long rush on the drive has he had a 32-yard run around the left side behind the blocks of junior linemen Adrian Battles and Matt Gray.

Minnesota State opened with great field position in the third quarter however came up empty on its first two possessions of the half.  Derheim attempted a 42-yard field goal that missed wide left, and then on the ensuing possession, Derheim’s 35-yard field goal was blocked. The Mavericks scored the second half’s first points 2:43 into the fourth quarter when Derheim booted a 28-yard field goal into a stiff wind, giving MSU a 16-13 advantage.

Ashland responded on the ensuing possession as Cundiff found wideout Joe Horn for a 66-yard touchdown strike.   On the play prior to the touchdown, Ashland was flagged for a clip and were faced with a third-down and 20-yard situation.  The extra point was good and the Eagles opened a 20-16 advantage.
McCoy added a touchdown with a little over two minutes left in the game to seal the Eagle victory.

The Maverick offense was led by Walker who finished the game with 28 carries for 143 yards, establishing a new career-high.  Walker also scored both of MSU’s touchdowns.

Shackelford added 19 carries for 95 yards.
Cundiff finished the game completing 8-of-16 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.  Horn led all receivers with four catches for 113 yards and one touchdowns.

Minnesota State outgained Ashland, 334-314.  The Mavericks had 256 yards on the ground compared to  172.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Matt McQuiston led all Mavericks tacklers with 11 tackles.  Junior linebacker Tony Hunter added 10 stops for the Mavericks.
Minnesota State’s season ends with a 9-3 record.  Ashland advances to the round of 16 next week and will play top-ranked (nationally and in the region), Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich.

NOTES: Captains for Saturday’s game were junior quarterback Ryan Fick, senior linebacker Blake Freese, senior defensive lineman Chris Brunkhorst and senior offensive lineman Jake Droessler… Ashland lost the toss to open the game, MSU took the ball…The Mavericks had two players nearly rush for 100-yards in the first half as junior running back Ernest Walker had 14 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns while senior Donte Shackelford had 12 carries for 82 yards

Watch Web Stream of NSIC TV Showcase #1

Click Here for October 31 ,2008 NSIC Showcase

The first NSIC Showcase of 2008-09 contains features on Upper Iowa's women's golf, Concordia-St. Paul's women's volleyball team as well as highlights from football and Men's & Women's Cross Country Championships.

NSIC To Webcast Live FB, VB & BB Games Free in 2008-09

Oct. 3, 2008 | Full Release

St. Paul, Minn. - The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference will again join forces with Penn Atlantic, Inc. to bring fans live webcasts of all NSIC football, volleyball, men’s and women’ basketball games in the 2008-09 season. This year’s games will be brought to the fans FREE* of charge. Fans simply go to www.NorthernSun.tv and select the game they would like to view. After a quick one time online registration fans are ready to view all NSIC conference games and all home non-conference games at television like quality. Penn Atlantic broadcasts, delivered at 539 kbps or higher, are of the highest quality available in collegiate athletics. (For system requirements and FAQs go to: http://pennatlantic.com/index.php?content=faq). The first available games are Thursday, August 28th when three NSIC football teams kickoff their 2008 season at home. Schools are also welcome to air other home sporting events throughout the season. Check www.NorthernSun.tv for full listing of events.

Penn Atlantic is a Charleston, S.C. based communications and media company focused on creating, aggregating and delivering information and entertainment to a broad range of audiences across the world. Their content is delivered over various platforms which represent the cutting edge of new media technology. Penn Atlantic, Inc. was formed in April 2004 to acquire media rights as well as offer cost effective and cutting edge products and services to collegiate athletic conferences, professional sports teams and individual institutions. The primary focus of Penn Atlantic’s product line is to facilitate live internet video streaming of athletic events to broadband pay-per-view viewers, which are comprised of sports fans, alumni, students and other individuals who have access to broadband connections. Penn Atlantic also sells video based advertising in and around those events.

*St. Cloud State home games will air on the B2 Network on a pay-per-view basis.
For more details on SCSU games go to: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/athletics/media/video.asp

QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMISH

Got a question for NSIC Commissioner Butch Raymond or a question about the league. Send us an email asking your question then listen to the Northern Sun Radio Spotlight (check your local listings for air date and times) each week starting Oct. 6th to see if we select your question to be answered on the air. Send emails to Kornder@northernsun.org with the subject "Questions for the Commish". Emails must include your first name and where you are from in order to be considered. Thank you and GO NSIC!

Archived Stories