2023 Bellevue Volleyball News

Season
BU announces second signee in 2024 class with transfer Berger
BU announces second signee in 2024 class with transfer Berger

Bellevue University head volleyball coach Trish Siedlik announced today the signing of 6-0 middle blocker/rightside hitter Savanna Berger (Plattsmouth, Neb./Midland/Plattsmouth HS) to a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic pursuits at BU beginning in the fall of 2024. 

(L to R): Father Bryan Runyan, Victoria Runyan, and mother Erika Runyan.
Siedlik announces first 2024 signee, Victoria Runyan

Bellevue University head volleyball coach Trish Siedlik announced today the signing of 5-9 setter Tori Runyan (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola HS) to a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic careers at BU beginning in the fall of 2024. 

Voting now open for OSC Female Coach of the Year
Voting now open for OSC Female Coach of the Year

Voting is now open for the Omaha Sports Commission's Female Coach of the Year award. Bellevue University head volleyball coach Trish Siedlik is one of four nominees for the 2024 Female Coach of the Year honor. The award will be announced at the 2024 Omaha Sports Commission Awards Show (OSCAS) on May 30. 

Siedlik among four nominated for Sports Commission Award
Siedlik among four nominated for Sports Commission Award

Bellevue University women’s volleyball coach Trish Siedlik has been nominated for the Omaha Sports Commission’s 2024 Female Coach of the Year.

Twenty-three fall athletes named NSAA Scholar-Athletes
Twenty-three fall athletes named NSAA Scholar-Athletes

Twenty-three Bellevue University student-athletes earned North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Fall Scholar-Athlete honors in an announcement made today by the conference office. 

Bruins in 24th place in LEARFIELD Director's Cup Standings
Bruins in 24th place in LEARFIELD Director's Cup Standings

Thanks to NAIA National Tournament appearances by the Bruin volleyball and men's soccer teams, Bellevue University is in 24th place after the fall season in the 2023-24 NAIA LEARFIELD Director's Cup Standings.

(L to R): Eve Fountain, Haley Fleischman, and Sidney Sledge earned CSC Academic All-District honors.
Trio of Bruins named to Academic All-District team

Representing Bellevue University on the CSC Women's Volleyball Academic All-District team were junior middle blocker Haley Fleischman (Overton, Neb.), redshirt sophomore outside hitter Eve Fountain (Omaha, Neb.), and junior rightside hitter Sidney Sledge (Omaha, Neb.).

Kealy Kiviniemi (left) earned third-team All-American honors, and Allie Kerns was named an honorable mention All-American.
Kiviniemi, Kerns earn All-American honors

In announcements made today by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), sophomore rightside hitter Kealy Kiviniemi earned third-team All-American honors by both organizations, and Allie Kerns received honorable mention accolades by the AVCA.

No. 1 Northwestern ends BU season with sweep
No. 1 Northwestern ends BU season with sweep

Top-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) College ended the Bellevue University volleyball squad's 2023 season with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 26-24) sweep Friday morning in the NAIA Volleyball National Championship at the Tyson Events Center. 

Fountain guides BU to five-set win over SAU in NAIA Pool Play Opener
Fountain guides BU to five-set win over SAU in NAIA Pool Play Opener

Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Eve Fountain recorded her seventh double-double of the season, finishing with 19 kills and 22 digs as the 18th-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team battled back for a 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 24-26, 25-16, 15-9) victory over (RV) Saint Ambrose University Thursday morning in Pool Play action at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship. 

Allie Kerns (left) and Kealy Kiviniemi earned first-team AVCA all-North Central Region honors.
Four Bruins earn AVCA All-Region honors

Senior outside hitter Allie Kerns and sophomore rightside hitter Kealy Kiviniemi earned American Volleyball Coaches Association all-North Central Region honors in an announcement made today by the AVCA. In addition, redshirt sophomore outside hitter Eve Fountain and junior middle blocker Haley Fleischman garnered Honorable Mention accolades. 

Six Bruins named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes
Six Bruins named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that 1,206 volleyball student-athletes, including Bellevue University's Taylan Keefer, Sidney Sledge, Haley Fleischman, Audrey Sandfort, Kenzie Polk, and Eve Fountain, have been named 2023 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Pool Play pairings announced for NAIA National Championships
Pool Play pairings announced for NAIA National Championships

The Bruins' opponents in Pool A include No. 1 Northwestern (Iowa) and No. 24 St. Ambrose. Bellevue advanced to the final site with a 3-1 victory over Indiana University-East on Saturday at Bellevue West High School. 

BU punches ticket to Sioux City with 4-set win over IU-East
BU punches ticket to Sioux City with 4-set win over IU-East

The 18th-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team used a balanced attack with five Bruins recording at least nine kills as BU defeated Indiana University-East, 3-1 (25-19, 24-26, 25-17, 29-27) in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round Saturday afternoon at Bellevue West High School. 

BU to host Indiana University-East in NAIA Opening Round
BU to host Indiana University-East in NAIA Opening Round

Bellevue (24-9), ranked No. 18 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll, earned an at-large bid and will host Indiana University-East (27-8) on Saturday, Nov. 18, for an opening-round matchup at 12:00 p.m. The match will be played at Bellevue West High School.

Haley Fleischman led the Bruins with a season-high 11 kills on .625 hitting.
Viterbo sweeps Bruins to earn NSAA Tournament title

Led by Kenzie Winker and Grace Rhode, the top-seeded Viterbo University volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22) sweep over Bellevue University in the championship match of the North Star Athletic Association Tournament played Saturday afternoon at the Watertown Civic Arena.