The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference released their annual All Conference team honors on Thursday afternoon. Five Bulldogs were named to All-NSIC teams, with four being selected to the first team and one to the second team.
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The University of Minnesota Duluth had five players bestow the honor of making All-NSIC teams.
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Senior setter
Emily Balts, who arrives from Loretto, Minn., was named to the first team. Balts leads the NSIC and sits second in DII and across all divisions in assists per set this year, averaging a total of 12.29, with UMD averaging a total of 14.19 per set, which also leads the NSIC, DII and sits second across all divisions . Balts has been named NSIC Setter of the Week a total of four times over the course of the season. She leads all active setters in assists per set (12.24) and assists (5,275) across all divisions. Balts currently sits sixth all time at UMD for total assists, just behind Rhaya Tomberlin (5,406). Balts serves as one of the teams captains.
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Junior outside hitter
Kate Berg, who hails from Medina, Minn., was named to the first team. Berg currently averages 4.27 kills per set, sitting third in the NSIC and eighth in DII. Berg has hammered 380 kills this season, bringing her career total to 1,084. Berg joined the 1,000 kill club this season, and looks to break into the UMD top 10. Mariah Scharf currently sits in the 10
th spot with 1,281. Berg averages 11.45 attacks per set, which sits 16
th in DII.
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Senior defensive specialist
Keena Seiffert, native of Chaska, Minn., was named to the first team. Seiffert currently averages 5.12 digs per set, sitting in third in the NSIC and 51
st in all DII. Seiffert has collected a total of 456 digs on the season, bringing her career total to 1,380, landing her in the eighth spot all time at UMD, behind Krista Naughton, who finished her career with 1,408. She's also added 69 assists to her career total of 173. Seiffert serves as a team captain.
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Senior middle blocker
Abby Thor, hailing from Woodbury, Minn., was named to the first team. She was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week once this year. Thor is currently swinging at a .363 clip, sitting in fourth in the NSIC and 30
th in DII. The average brings her career hitting percentage to .337, which is 18
th among all active DII players. She is averaging 2.78 kills per set, which is good for 19th in the NSIC. Thor has 80 blocks on the year, good for 0.9 per set, which is 10
th in the NSIC. Those 80 blocks bring her career total to 308.0, which is good for ninth all time at UMD, just behind Katie Timm, who finished with a total of 332. Thor serves as a team captain.
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Senior right side hitter
Hanna Meyer, product of Tomahawk, Wis., was named to the second team. Meyer has had an average 2.42 kills per set this season while swinging at a .247 clip. She's been able to collect a total of 41 blocks on the season, bringing her career total to 116.0. Meyer serves as a team captain.
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The Bulldogs will finish out their regular season schedule this weekend, taking on two AVCA top 25 opponents. They head to UIU to take on No. 21 Upper Iowa to open things up this weekend (Nov. 15), then travel to WSU to take on No. 16 Winona State (Nov. 16).
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