HELENA, Mont. – The Bismarck State College women's volleyball team is officially on the big stage. Tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 12, the Mystics will take the court for their first-ever appearance in the Frontier Conference Women's Volleyball Postseason Tournament, facing off against the No. 2 seed Montana Tech Orediggers at 6 p.m. CT (5 p.m. MT). 

Hosted at the Carroll College P.E. Center in Helena, Mont., this single-elimination tournament marks a major milestone for the Bismarck State program. After the Frontier Conference expanded ahead of the 2025–26 academic year, the Mystics battled through a competitive 2026 regular season to finish at an even 11-11 in conference play (13-14 overall), securing the tournament's No. 7 seed. 

Standing across the net in Thursday's quarterfinal match is a formidable Montana Tech squad that posted a 17-5 Frontier Conference record and a 22-6 overall mark. While the Orediggers enter as the higher seed, Bismarck State already knows what it takes to beat them, having pulled off a thrilling five-set upset over Montana Tech back on Oct. 17 in Bismarck. 

Mystics to Watch

To replicate that regular-season magic and advance in Helena, Bismarck State will lean on a balanced core of proven playmakers: 

• Aislyn Hogan (Setter): The engine of the Mystics' offense, Hogan earned Frontier Conference Setter of the Week honors four different times during the 2026 season and averages over 8.6 assists per set while applying pressure from the service line. 

• Reese Duchsherer & McKenna Brendel (Outside Hitters): This dynamic duo provides the firepower on the pins. Duchsherer, a former Conference Attacker of the Week and regular double-double threat, pairs with Brendel who hammered home 16 kills in BSC's October win over Montana Tech to keep opposing defenses on their heels.  

• Ellie Baumstarck (Middle Blocker): A dominant presence at the net, Baumstarck was a difference-maker in the first meeting against the Orediggers, racking up 11 blocks to shut down Tech's hitters. 

• Piper Harris (Libero): Anchoring the back row, Harris consistently extends rallies for the Mystics, regularly posting 20-to-30-dig performances against top conference competition 

Scouting the Orediggers

Montana Tech brings a deep, award-winning roster into the postseason that Bismarck State will need to contain. 

• Talan Dodson (Outside Hitter): Coming off being named the final Frontier Conference Attacker of the Week on Nov. 9, Dodson leads the Orediggers' attack with 272 kills on the season and recorded 20 kills against BSC earlier this fall. 

• Rhys Layton (Setter): A multi-time Conference Setter of the Week, the 6-foot-2 senior orchestrates Montana Tech's efficient .231 team hitting percentage. 

• Halle Moomaw & Kennedy Oman (Middle Hitters): Tech boasts a towering front line that averages 2.4 blocks per set. Moomaw and Oman (a recent Conference Defender of the Week) pose a major challenge both offensively and defensively in the middle. 

• Brooklynn Hayes (Defensive Specialist/Libero): Hayes leads Tech's backcourt defense having recently surpassed 1,000 career digs and tallied a career-high 42 digs last week while also serving as a lethal threat from the service line with 55 aces.  

What's at Stake

With regular-season champion Bellevue (Neb.) already locking up the conference's first automatic bid to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship, the remaining seven teams in Helena are fighting for the league's second automatic national tournament spot.

Should Bismarck State pull off another upset tomorrow evening, they will advance to Friday night's semifinal round at 8:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. MT) to face the winner of No. 3 Dakota State (S.D.) and No. 6 Carroll (Mont.). The tournament championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. CT (7 p.m. MT). 

Fans back home in North Dakota can catch all the action live, as every match of the 2026 Frontier Conference Tournament will be broadcast on SWX Local Sports, and Mystics fans can listen in to the BSC-tailored audio broadcast with volleyball play-by-play voice of the team, Isaiah Johnson, on the Mystics YouTube page.
 

See the volleyball schedule for more information on how to watch, follow and attend the upcoming matches.

Be sure to visit BSCMystics.com and download the MysticNation app to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Mystic Athletics.

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