GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- For the second straight summer, UND will have an AAU All-America honoree join the team as Courtney Place led the Kairos 18 Alpha team to a national championship recently. She picked up All-America accolades just as sophomore-to-be Sydney Griffin did last summer in bringing her team to the semifinals in the national tournament.

Last season, Griffin helped her team advance to the final four and was named to the All-America team for her performance at the AAU National Volleyball Championships. This summer, Place was able to bring home the national championship for the Sioux Falls, S.D.-based club.

The Kairos 18 Alpha team won the 18 and under Club braket, going 12-0 thourgh the four-day tournament, including a convincing 25-15, 25-21 win in the championship over Mizuno Sports Performance club. Place's team lost just two sets the entire tournament in securing the national title.

Place will join a talented group of newcomers ready to make a difference immediately at UND. They will join a nucleus of returners-- including the reigning Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year Faith Dooley and the league's Libero of the Year McKenzie Hart -- looking to build on a school-record 26 wins and a Big Sky North Division title from a season ago.