11/10/2009 - VOLLEYBALL Olson named NSIC All-Conference Honorable Selection

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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Bemidji State University junior middle blocker Nicole Olson (Baudette, Minn.) has been named to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference All-Conference Honorable Selection team, announced today by the league office. Olson was one of 30 student-athletes to be honored by the league between the all-conference (20) and all-conference honorable selection (10) teams.

Olson leads the team in kills, blocks and points in 2009. She has led the team in kills the past two seasons and is primed to three-peat with 307 kills (2.92 k/s). Olson posted 25 kills in a five-set loss to then-No. 10 Minnesota Duluth Oct. 6, a career-high that ranks third on BSU’s match bests list (since 2001). After leading the squad in blocks in 2007, Olson will again be the team leader with 104 blocks (79 block assists and 25 solo blocks, 0.99 b/s) this season. She has 10 matches with at least five blocks, including a season-high eight in a five-set win against Augustana Oct. 2 that ranks tied for seventh on BSU’s match bests chart (since 2001). With 371.5 (3.54 pts/s) points, Olson is the far-and-away leader on the squad in the category. She had a season-high 28.5 in the loss to UMD Oct. 6.

The last Beaver to make an appearance on an all-conference team was Brittney Burns in 2007 as an honorable mention team member.

The NSIC Player of the Year went to senior setter Maggie McNamara of Concordia University for the second straight season. Also representing CU was Mary Slinger, who was named NSIC Libero of the Yearfor the third consecutive year. M. Slinger is the older sister of BSU sophomore Laura Slinger (OH, Faribault, Minn.). The NSIC Freshman of the Year award went to Southwest Minnesota State’s Mary Groth. Wayne State head coach Scott Kneifl was named NSIC Coach of the Year.

The Beavers (10-19 overall, 7-11 NSIC) close out the 2009 season at home Nov. 13-14 against Winona State University and Upper Iowa University, respectively.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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