BISMARCK, N.D. -- Fresh off its dominating performances over the weekend, including a 3-0 sweep over previously undefeated and second-ranked University of Jamestown, the eighth-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team has swept the weekly North Star Athletic Association awards in an announcement made today by the league office.
Kealy Kiviniemi was named the NSAA Attacker of the Week. Mila Aiwohi was honored as the NSAA Setter of the Week, and Taylan Keefer garnered NSAA Defender of the Week accolades.
Kiviniemi, who earned the honor for the third time this season, led the Bruin offense in the two wins, with 3.67 kills per set on an impressive .465 hitting clip while adding seven blocks. She hit a sizzling .632 in the sweep over UJ with 12 kills on 19 errorless swings and added four blocks. Kiviniemi also had double-digit (10) kills in the 3-0 win over Dickinson State University, along with three blocks. She averaged 4.3 points per set in the two wins.
Kiviniemi currently leads the conference with 342 kills and a .378 hitting percentage.
Aiwohi garnered her third NSAA Setter of the Week nod and the fourth honor of her BU career. Despite playing in just three rotations as part of BU's 6-2 offense, Aiwohi averaged an impressive 9.33 assists per set in the two victories. She recorded 28 assists in both victories. Aiwohi added three services aces and six digs in the sweep over No. 2 UJ.
Aiwohi currently ranks third in the NSAA with 6.76 assists per set and 0.31 service aces per set.
Keefer earned her seventh NSAA Defender of the Week honor of her BU career. She led the BU defense in the two victories, averaging 5.17 digs per set while adding five assists and two service aces. Keefer registered 17 digs, three assists, and a service ace in the win over DSU. She followed that up with 14 digs, a pair of assists, and a service ace in the sweep over UJ. Keefer did not have a reception error in the two matches in 38 attempts.
In the latest conference statistics, Keefer ranks second with 414 total digs and fourth with 4.22 digs per set.
Bellevue will travel to Valley City, N.D., this Friday, Nov. 1, for a 7 p.m. match at Valley City State University. The Bruins conclude the regular season with a 2 p.m. match on Saturday at Mayville State University.
