NDSU Volleyball Adds Jennifer Lopez as Assistant Coach

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University head volleyball coach Kari Thompson announced Thursday, April 30, that former Bison standout Jennifer Lopez will join the NDSU staff as an assistant coach.
 
Lopez most recently served as the head girls' volleyball coach at Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo for the 2013-14 season and as an assistant coach at West Fargo Sheyenne High School for 2014-15. She has also been highly involved in area instructional camps and club volleyball.
 
"I'm excited about the addition of Jen to our staff and eager to get her on the bench and back into the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse," said Thompson. "Jen is a competitor. She possesses a calling to teach and mentor and a passion for coaching volleyball. Her experience as a competitive student-athlete and her pride in Bison athletics make her a perfect fit for our program."
 
Lopez was the Summit League Setter of the Year, Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in 2011 as a senior for the Bison. She was a three-time All-Summit League selection, leading NDSU to four straight regular season league titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances from 2008-11.
 
"I am extremely excited and humbled to be back at NDSU and to work with the volleyball program," Lopez said. "I am grateful for Coach Thompson and the opportunity to pursue my passion for coaching volleyball and helping others further develop their skills on the court."
 
"Being able to give back to the university that did so much for me as a student-athlete is very rewarding," said Lopez. "The values and standards that NDSU upholds are a part of who I am, and I hope I can continue to instill the tradition of success and hard work in developing young women. The positive impact that NDSU has had on my life is one that I hope I am able to provide to our kids during their time spent at NDSU."
 
Lopez will serve as NDSU's offensive coordinator, overseeing the technical training and skill development combined with play calling and decision-making at the setter position.
 
"Jen knows what it takes to be successful here at NDSU, specifically in the setting position, and our student-athletes will benefit immensely from her as an assistant coach," Thompson said.
 
Lopez, a Glyndon, Minn., native, ranks among the NDSU all-time top 10 in total assists, assists per set and digs per set.
 
She graduated from NDSU in 2014 with a degree in mathematics education and a minor in coaching. 

NDSU Names Rauen Assistant Volleyball Coach

Sarah Rauen, an assistant the past three seasons at Green Bay, has been named an assistant volleyball coach at North Dakota State announced by NDSU's head volleyball coach Kari Thompson.

Rauen will assist in all areas of the NDSU program with an emphasis on defense and passing skills, recruiting in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and supervising academic progress.

NDSU's Lopez Named Top Performer by CVU.com

North Dakota State senior setter Jennifer Lopez was named one of the CVU.com Top Performers of the week after leading the Bison to their second-straight Summit League title and third and four years.  Lopez was the named the tournament MVP after posting back-to-back double-doubles with 46 assists and 18 digs against Oakland and 34 assists and 10 digs vs. Oral Roberts.   At the championship she tallied 80 assists (11.43 per set), 28 digs (4.00 per set), nine kills, three service aces and two blocks.  Lopez became the first player in league history to win both Player of the Year and Setter of the Year in the same season. 

Click here to view the CVU.com Player of the Week and Top Performers.

NDSU's Joki Named Top Performer by CVU.com

North Dakota State hitter Brynn Joki was named one of the CVU.com Top Performers of the week after helping the Bison go undefeated (2-0) on the week and win their fourth regular season league title.  For the week, the junior hit a .351 clip, tallied 39 kills, averaging 4.88 per set, 21 digs with an average of 2.62 per set and nine blocks, averaging 1.12 per set.

Click here to view the CVU.com Player of the Week and Top Performers.

NDSU's Paige Nash Shares Unique Bond With Younger Sister

North Dakota State senior volleyball player Paige Nash was recently featured on GoBison.com.  Nash and and younger sister Tracy are like normal siblings but their relationship shares a unique bond that they will share during their lifetime. 

Click here to watch the feature.

NDSU's Chrissy Knuth Featured in The Spectrum

Chrissy Knuth, senior middle-hitter for the Bison and two-time Summit League Player of the Year, has made quite the name for herself on the volleyball court in her four years in Fargo. Aside from the booming kills and records on the court, Chrissy has a normal life off the court; just the same as any other college student trying to figure out their path.

"I'm from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota," Knuth said of her general background. "I chose NDSU because of the people here. Everyone was so nice and I really liked the campus; they had everything I was looking for."

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