It is that time of fall again, the best time to be a Bison fan. If there is one thing that has been missing so far this year, it has been a lack of sporting events on campus.
So far this year, opportunities have been few and far between for Bison fans to get out and cheer on the teams. There have been a combined 11 total events held on campus at NDSU (plus a home cross country meet) this school year.
Three of those events were football games, volleyball has had five and another three for soccer.
As the leaves turn to yellow, the teams return home and start conference play.
Thankfully, as the Summit League play begins for the latter two teams, bringing them back to Fargo.
It all starts Friday when the volleyball team comes back to Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. The Herd will take on Fort Wayne for Alumni Night.
The Bison’s record so far does not do the team justice. Sitting at 5-12, the team already has a trio of wins in the Summit League. The conference schedule seems to suit the Bison better.
In the four conference games, the team is hitting .253, .052 higher than average.
The hub of the team is Brianna Rasmusson. The junior setter/outside hitter averages 11.17 assists per set in conference. Playing around her are Hadley Steffen, Emily Minnick and Emily Miron, who are all averaging over three kills per set in those games.
Soccer meanwhile returns to action at Dacotah Field on Sunday. This opens a three game home stretch for the Bison as they take on Western Illinois.
This Bison team has plenty talent. Reigning Summit League Players of the Week, Monica Polgar and Amy Yang, headline the team. The freshman goalkeeper Polgar has kept five clean sheets already this year, averaging just under four saves a game.
Yang is the midfield spark plug. She has five assists on the season, and is eighth in the nation in game-winning goals. Each of her four goals this year has won the game, including her penalty kick goal over Oral Roberts last weekend.
A great opportunity to will be coming up as the Bison will host the Summit League Championships at the beginning of November.
If there has been one sport that has spoiled Bison fans it is football. Three home games out of four is just making it too easy for Bison fans. Add on the free football that has been played in the Fargodome this year, and fans are getting plenty of bang for their buck.
Looking just around the corner, winter sports are coming soon. The Sanford Health Athletic Center and the Scheels Center are getting ready to open. The SHAC will get its proper opening next month.
Meanwhile, both basketball teams began practice this week, and there is already excitement in the air for those teams.
It is a great time to be a Bison fan, now it is time to really get out and push the Bison to more conference championships.