IPFW isn't only concern for Bison volleyball team

Lauren McLaughlin has been at times playing the libero position for North Dakota's volleyball team.Forum file photo

By Jeff Kolpack

September 30, 2010 at 11:00 PM

True, Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne did unexpectedly end North Dakota State's volleyball season last year. To add insult to injury, it was The Summit League tournament title match on NDSU's home floor.

And, true, the Bison and Mastodons have developed a mini-rivalry of sorts, mainly because in recent years they've been two of the best teams in the conference. But NDSU has other things to worry about than who's on the other side of the net.

With the season-ending injury to setter Jennifer Lopez, the Bison are trying to find their own groove heading into tonight's tussle with IPFW at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

"I think it will take some time," said senior Lauren McLaughlin. "It took us awhile to develop a relationship with Jennifer. It's more of a thing where we need to come to play every day, not every other day."

The Bison had a so-so road trip last weekend. They defeated conference foes Oral Roberts and Centenary, but were swept at Central Arkansas.

NDSU still leads the Summit with a 5-0 mark. IPFW is one of four teams with two losses.

But with Lopez out after suffering a liver laceration, the Bison players are adjusting to new setter Jordan Kissman. They did fine last weekend - Kissman was named The Summit League's offensive player of the week averaging 11.1 assists per set.

"We're kind of starting over offensively from a few weeks ago," said head coach Erich Hinterstocker. "It took Jennifer almost two years to figure out things like tempo, so it's not going to happen overnight."

Hinterstocker said he would like to see his upperclassmen develop more consistency. It appears McLaughlin's move to libero may stay, at least for a while.

She did play some outside hitter at Centenary, but Hinterstocker said he's going to play his senior wherever the team needs a spark.

"When I was recruited to come here, I always knew it could be an option," McLaughlin said.

Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack can be heard on the Saturday Morning Sports Show, 9-11 a.m. on WDAY-AM (970). He can be reached at (701) 241-5546.

Kolpack's NDSU media blog can be found at www.areavoices.com/bisonmedia

By Jeff Kolpack

Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he's covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995.
Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU's Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: "Horns Up," "North Dakota Tough" and "Covid Kids." He is the radio host of "The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack" April through August.