NDSU’s Mostaert MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week
North Dakota State defensive tackle Will Mostaert was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week by the league office Sunday, Oct. 9. It is his first conference player of the week honor.
Mostaert, a junior from Lakeville, Minn., blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt to preserve a four-point lead late in the third quarter of North Dakota State’s 31-26 road win over Indiana State. He made the block three plays after NDSU muffed a punt inside its own 20-yard line.
Mostaert also had a solo sack and quarterback hurry in the game. It was NDSU’s second blocked field goal of the season.
Summit League basketball polls out; Hamling and Nelson named to pre-season 1st Team
This week, the Summit League released its pre-season polls for both men’s and women’s basketball. The Bison men and women are picked to finish fourth and fifth, respectively, in their leagues. Guard Heaven Hamling and forward Grant Nelson were each honored with Summit pre-season first-team honors.
The men received 549 points in their poll finishing behind South Dakota (602), South Dakota State (668) and the pre-season favorite, the Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts University (731). ORU received 28 of the possible 40 first-place votes.
Meanwhile, the Bison women received 475 points behind North Dakota (522), Oral Roberts (602), South Dakota (676) and the pre-season favorite, the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State (746). SDSU also received 36 of the possible 40 first-place votes.
Hamling, the 5’ 8” senior from Grand Rapids, Minn., started all 29 games last season and averaged a team-high 34.4 minutes per contest. She ranked ninth in the Summit League with a team-best 14.3 points per game and reached double digits in scoring in 24 of 29 games. She also led the Summit League in three-point field goals per game with 2.31 and three-point field goal percentage shooting 39.0 percent.
Nelson, the 6’11” junior from Devils Lake, N.D., is the top returning scorer for the Bison at 11.6 points per game. Nelson shot 43 percent from three-point range in league play and was named to the All-Tournament Team in March.
The Bison men have played in four consecutive Summit League Tournament championship games from 2019-22, winning the title in 2019 and 2020.
The voting panel included the league’s ten head coaches, sports information directors and select media members.
Nodak Insurance Company Football Performance Complex opens Friday
After approximately 16 months and nearly $50 million, the Nodak Insurance Company Football Performance Complex is set to open Friday, Oct. 14th at 1:30 p.m. in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to be held on the outdoor field. The ceremony will be moved indoors if there is inclement weather.
The facility will be put to use almost immediately as the Bison football team will begin practice in there on Monday following the South Dakota State game. At his weekly Monday press conference, head coach Matt Entz discussed his feelings on the project. “Yep, anticipate practicing in there Monday,” Entz said enthusiastically. “…one of the great advantages we now have is we all know that in North Dakota when the wind starts whipping up, we’ll just move inside. It will be exciting, and I anticipate using it as soon as possible.” While “football” is on the building’s name, the facility is expected to be used by multiple NDSU sports and athletes. Men’s and women’s golf, baseball and softball, women’s soccer and men’s and women’s track and field programs are slated to use the facility. When phase two is complete, it will have locker rooms, meeting rooms, equipment rooms and athletic training facilities.