A native of Moorhead, Minn., Mindy (Sutter) Nielsen entered UND in the fall of 1985.
While at UND, Nielsen lettered for four years (1985-88) as a volleyball middle hitter. She also lettered in softball in 1986, playing first base.
In volleyball, Nielsen was a team captain for two years (1987 and '88) and co-team MVP in 1988. She was a two-time All-North Central Conference pick (1987, '88) and a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region selection (1986 and 1988). Nielsen also earned Collegiate Volleyball Coaches All-Region in 1986 and was a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American.
Nielsen led UND in kills in 1987 with 474 and in 1988 with 411. She led the team in attack percentage in 1985, blocks in 1985 and 1988, digs in 1985 and 1987, and services aces in 1985, 1987 and 1988.
In school career record categories, Nielsen is UND's all-time leader in games played (534), service aces (256) and digs (1,594). She ranks second all-time in kills (1,450), third in attack attempts (3,583), second in total blocks (463), second in solo blocks (129) and second in block assists (334).
In school single-season record categories, Nielsen served up a school-record 95 service aces in 1987. She holds the second- and third-highest single-season dig totals in school history (541 in 1988 and 512 in 1985).
Also an outstanding student, Nielsen earned academic all-conference honors three times and was a GTE-CoSIDA Academic All-District selection in 1988.
She earned UND's 1987 Grace Rhonemus Award as the school's female athlete of the year.
Nielsen graduated from UND in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in education and is currently an elementary school teacher. She has taught fourth, fifth, sixth and was a physical education teacher for three years.
She is married to Rob Nielsen, a former UND football player, and the couple has four children: Ally, McKensie, Shay Marie and Jay. The Nielsens reside in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
