SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- A pair of North Dakota volleyball players were honored by the Summit League on Wednesday, as Elizabeth Norris and Paige Barber were selected to All-Summit League teams by the league's coaches. Norris was named to the All-Summit League Honorable Mention Team while Barber earned All-Summit League Freshman Team honors, both being selected for the first time in their careers.
Norris was a dynamic player for the Fighting Hawks throughout the season, ranking at, or near, the top in many statistical categories. The junior finished second on the team in points scored (265.5), points per set (2.50), kills (233), kills per set (2.20) and was tied for fourth on the team in hitting percentage (.179). Norris paced the squad in assists (521) and assists per set (4.92) while ranking third in digs (253) and digs per set (2.39), with her kills and digs numbers placing her inside the top-25 for both categories in the Summit League.
The Corunna, Mich., native finished with six triple-doubles on the season, sitting as the only player in the conference to record at least one and ranking tied for second in the nation. Five of her six triple-doubles came in conference matches, with UND going 3-2 in those matches. In addition, Norris compiled 11 other double-doubles to finish with at least 10-plus kills, digs, assists or blocks in two statistical categories in 17 of her 28 matches in which she appeared.
Barber put together a strong rookie campaign for NoDak this season, appearing in 22 matches. She was especially strong in league play, rising to fifth on the team in points (115.5), kills (107) and kills per set (1.70). All three of her double-digit kill efforts came against conference foes, including 11 in a road win over North Dakota State and a season-best 12 at home against St. Thomas. In the victory over the Tommies, Barber hit a whopping .391 clip to help the Fighting Hawks finish with a 9-9 mark in league play.
North Dakota is set to open the Summit League Volleyball Championships on Thursday against No. 3 seed North Dakota State at 7 p.m. from Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb. This will be the second appearance in the postseason for UND since joining the league, with the last coming in 2018.
Individual Awards
Player of the Year
Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota
Defensive Player of the Year
Lolo Weideman, South Dakota
Setter of the Year
Kelley Johnson, North Dakota State
Freshman of the Year
Kali Jurgensmeier, Omaha
Coach of the Year
Leanne Williamson, South Dakota
2022 All-Summit League Volleyball Team
First Team
Michelle Artis, North Dakota State, MB
Crystal Burk, South Dakota State, OH
Brianna Green, Denver, MB
Madison Harms, South Dakota, MB
Ali Hinze, North Dakota State, OH
Kelley Johnson, North Dakota State, S
Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota, OH
Shayla McCormick, Omaha, OH
Lorrin Poulter, Denver, S
McKenna Ruch, Omaha, MB
Syra Tanchin, North Dakota State, OH
Lolo Weideman, South Dakota, DS
Honorable Mention
Marriah Buss, Omaha, OH
Sami Clarkson, Omaha, S
Kaia Dunford, Oral Roberts, OH
Elizabeth Norris, North Dakota, S
Kalena Vaivai, Oral Roberts, S
Odyssey Warren, Kansas City, OH
Freshman Team
Ally Barth, North Dakota State, MB
Paige Barber, North Dakota, OH
Emma Goerger, St. Thomas, MB
Kali Jurgensmeier, Omaha, OH
Tezra Ruduzitis, St. Thomas, OH
Masa Scheierman, South Dakota State, OH
Kimora Whetstone, Kansas City, MB
