MADISON, S.D. (playnorthstar.com) – Valley City State University seniors Joelle Aiello and Emily Smith were honored by the North Star Athletic Association on Monday after helping lead the Viking softball team to a 3-1 record this past week.
Emily Smith was selected as the NSAA Pitcher of the Week, while Joelle Aiello was chosen as the Player of the Week.
Aiello batted .357 with a .929 slugging percentage over four games this weekend. She collected a double, two triples and her first career home run. She also scored four runs and drove in four – playing a key role in eight of VCSU’s 13 runs on the weekend. Defensively, Aiello was perfect in 13 chances in the middle-infield positions.
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – An Emma Nielsen three-pointer had the Vikings within a point of Dakota State with under two minutes to play, but Valley City State couldn’t take down the No. 17 Trojans in a hard-fought game Saturday.
Dakota State finished with four free throws to seal the 87-80 victory over the Vikings and remain undefeated in conference play. The Trojans improve to 21-3 overall. Valley City State drops to 7-12 overall and 5-8 in the NSAA.
Maara Nelson and Adriana Torres posted career-highs Saturday with 24 points each. Senior Macey Kvilvang added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Torres and Allie Critchley each dished out five assists for the Vikings.
JAMESTOWN, ND. (NewsDakota.com) – The University of Jamestown athletics had a busy weekend, with four teams in action.
HOCKEY: Jamestown split the two-game series with Midland over the weekend, losing in the first game 8-4 before prevailing 7-3 in game two. In game one, UJ received goals from Reid Wilson, Jordon Kromm, Logan Berggren, and Michael Heitkamp. The goal for Heitkamp was the first of his Jimmies career.
In the weekend finale, Kromm and Wilson each tallied another goal in the 7-3 victory. Jamestown also got production from Vladislav Zamzhytski, Aidan Potas, Greg Susinski, and Jake Huculak (2). The Jimmies are now 12-8-4 on the year and host Minot State on February 19th. Kromm leads the team with 22 points this season, and Huculak is in second with 20.
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – VCSU’s Jalen Addison hit back-to-back 3’s to lead by as much as 14 points late in the second half en route to the men’s basketball 74-63 victory over Dakota State Saturday.
Valley City State improves to 17-6 overall and 8-5 in the NSAA. Dakota State drops to 9-13 overall and 7-6 in the conference.
Head coach Ryan Montgomery was proud of the way the Viking men bounced back after a tough loss to Bellevue Friday night.
“Our guys responded. Life isn’t about sitting and dwelling when things that happen to you, it’s how you respond.” he said. “We challenged them to see what our response would be. I was proud they continued on and didn’t quit.”
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Valley City State pitchers gave up just three hits and only one run Saturday as the Viking softball team swept a pair of games at the Presentation College Dome Classic.
Joelle Lamontagne and Emily Smith combined on a one-hit shutout, and Joelle Aiello hit her first career home run in game one – a 2-0 win against Briar Cliff University. Amber Stewart and Smith combined on a two-hitter in game two, leading the Vikings to a 5-1 victory over Dakota Wesleyan.
Valley City State is now 3-1 overall, capping the season-opening weekend in Aberdeen with Saturday’s sweep. The Vikings will return to Aberdeen on Feb. 19-20 for four more games at the Presentation College Dome.