Kiviniemi highlights BU selections on all-NSAA volleyball teams

BELLEVUE, Neb. --  Led by junior rightside hitter Kealy Kiviniemi, the Bellevue University volleyball squad placed six members on the 2024 all-North Star Athletic Association volleyball teams released today in conjunction with the NSAA Volleyball Tournament. In addition, Trish Siedlik was named the NSAA Coach of the Year for the second time in her career. It marked the 10th conference Coach of the Year accolade for Siedlik.  

Kiviniemi was named the NSAA Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year while garnering first-team honors for the second straight season. Other Bruins named to the first team included junior outside hitter Eve Fountain, junior middle blocker Savanna Berger, and senior middle blocker Haley Fleischman. Sophomore setter Mila Aiwohi and senior libero Taylan Keefer garnered second-team accolades. 

A four-time NSAA Attacker of the Week, Kiviniemi led the NSAA with 364 kills and was second with 3.47 kills per set and a .375 hitting percentage. She is currently second on the squad with 59 total blocks. Kiviniemi has produced 24 matches with double-figure kill totals, including the last 13 matches. In conference-only matches, Kiviniemi is averaging 3.89 kills per set and hitting .380 while scoring 4.2 points per set. 

Fountain, who earned her fourth first-team all-NSAA honor, is second on the team with 333 kills and 365 digs. A two-time NSAA Attacker of the Week, Fountain is third on the team with 20 service aces. She is the team leader with 12 double-doubles. Fountain has registered double-figure kill totals in 18 matches, including a season-high 21 kills on two occasions. 

Berger leads the Bruins with 83 blocks (1.02 bps). She is third with a .351 hitting percentage and fourth with 139 kills. In the NSAA statistics, her blocks total ranks third, and her hitting percentage is fourth in the league. Berger has hit above .300 in 14 matches this season and had a four-match streak of hitting .565 or above.  

Fleischman, who earned her third first-team all-NSAA honor of her career, ranks second on the team and third in the league with a .352 hitting percentage. She has amassed 117 kills on the season and a team third-best 57 total blocks. Fleischman has three matches this season where she has registered double-figure kill totals with no attacking errors.  

A four-time NSAA Setter of the Week, Aiwohi leads the Bruins and ranks third in the NSAA with 6.93 set assists per set. She also leads BU with 33 service aces while helping direct the BU offense to a league-best .257 team-hitting percentage. Aiwohi has recorded a team second-best seven double-doubles on the season.  

A two-time NSAA Defender of the Week, Keefer leads the Bruins and is second in the NSAA with 459 digs. She ranks third in the league with 4.41 digs per set. Keefer has totaled 2,180 career digs, ranking fourth in school history. She has 24 matches this season with double-digit dig totals.  

Bellevue (26-3, 9-1 NSAA) earned the No. 1 seed in the NSAA Volleyball Tournament and will be the tournament host on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 15-16, in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. The Bruins will meet fourth-seeded Valley City State University on Friday at 7 p.m. Second-seeded University of Jamestown will battle third-seeded Dakota State University at 5 p.m. in the tournament's first semifinal. 

The NSAA Championship match is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. 

2024 North Star Athletic Association Women's Volleyball All-Conference & Postseason Awards

First-Team All-Conference

Second-Team All-Conference

% - 2023 NSAA Women's Volleyball All-Conference First Team
# - 2023 NSAA Women's Volleyball All-Conference Second Team
& - 2022 NSAA Women's Volleyball All-Conference First Team
^ - 2022 NSAA Women's Volleyball All-Conference Second Team
+ - 2021 NSAA Women's Volleyball All-Conference First Team
= - 2021 NSAA Women's Volleyball All-Conference Second Team
@ - 2020 NSAA Women's Volleyball All-Conference First Team

2024 NSAA Women's Volleyball Postseason Awards:
Player-of-the-Year:  Kealy Kiviniemi – Bellevue (Neb.)
Setter-of-the-Year:  Sadie Hansen – Valley City State (N.D.)
Libero Player-of-the-Year:  Ellie Holen – Jamestown (N.D.)
Offensive Player-of-the-Year:  Kealy Kiviniemi – Bellevue (Neb.)
Coach-of-the-Year:  Trish Siedlik – Bellevue (Neb.)
Assistant Coach-of-the-Year:  Jayden Wilson – Valley City State (N.D.)

2024 NSAA Women's Volleyball Champions of Character
Bellevue (Neb.):  Audrey Sandfort
Dakota State (S.D.):  Madalyn Groft
Dickinson State (N.D.):  Haydin Henschel
Jamestown (N.D.):  Tymber Boldt
Mayville State (N.D.):  Samantha Passa
Valley City State (N.D.):  Lexi Thorsgard