BISMARCK, N.D. -- Bismarck State volleyball opens its second season at the NAIA four-year level Friday, entering the 2026 campaign with an improved preseason outlook and a roster built around three captains who thrived during last year's new challenge.
The Mystics were picked 10th in the 12-team Frontier Conference preseason poll released on Aug. 10, a promising improvement after being picked last in the 2025 preseason poll. BSC received 33 points in voting by conference coaches, moving up after finishing 5-22 overall and 3-19 in Frontier Conference play in its first season at the four-year level.
Junior outside hitter Reese Duchsherer was named BSC's representative on the Frontier Conference's 2026 Players to Watch list heading into the season.
Captains lead the way
Head coach Kyle Kuether's staff tabbed three players as team captains for 2026: setter Delaney Deschamp, libero Piper Harris and outside hitter Duchsherer; all three among the Mystics' statistical leaders a season ago.
Duchsherer paced BSC in kills (263) and points (294.5) while ranking second on the team in digs (254) a year ago. Harris, a redshirt junior, anchored the back row with a team-high 482 digs, 228 more than any other Mystic, and returns as the engine of BSC's defense. Deschamp, also a junior, was forced up last season as the primary setter after Kate Zimmer's injury, thrived in the role, piling up 486 assists to go with 161 digs and six total blocks.
Returning contributors
Beyond the three captains, Kuether expects a deep group of returners to carry the load in year two. Brooklyn Sand and Shayna Roach give BSC experience in the back row alongside Harris, Sand posted 147 digs a season ago, while Roach, a senior, added 104. Up front, senior Paige McAllister (66 kills) and sophomore McKenna Brendel (113 kills) return as proven attacking options, joined by junior Emerson Carufel (108 kills, 29 blocks) and Summer Thomas (83 kills, 39 blocks). Junior setter Aislyn Hogan, a transfer from Indiana University East who tallied an absurd 1,823 assists in two seasons with the Red Wolves, adds further depth at the position alongside Deschamp.
New faces
The 2026 roster also brings in a large freshman class, including outside hitters Lexi Bradley, Keira Paulson and Jordyn Rossow, middles Molly Adams, Jordyn Rood and Aven Kelly, setters, Bismarck natives Aspen Roaldson and Bentley Solem and defensive specialist Addison Baillie from Billings, Mont.
In addition to Hogan, BSC adds further experience through the transfer portal with three more key additions. Ashlee Stanger, junior outside hitter from the College of Southern Idaho, stands 6' and tallied 82 kills and 15 blocks for the Golden Eagles. Junior middle blocker Ellie Baumstarck comes from Northwest College (Wyo.) and adds further height, standing 6'2". She recorded 90 kills and was a defensive anchor for the Trappers last season, adding 83 total blocks for 155.5 total points. Finally, redshirt sophomore defensive specialist Aubrey Flynn, who joins after time at cross-town rival University of Mary, recorded 75 digs during her freshman campaign with the Marauders.
Kuether, entering his seventh season leading the program, holds a 124-55 career record and is joined by fellow seventh-year coach Valerie Lesu and returning second-year assistant coaches Maddie Cooper and Nehkyah Steinbeisser.
Siouxland Invitational
The Mystics open the season this weekend at the Siouxland Invitational in North Sioux City, S.D., a four-match, two-day test at the CNOS Fieldhouse.
BSC opens Friday against Haskell (Kan.) at 12 p.m. on Court 2, then faces Dordt (Iowa) at 4 p.m. on Court 1. The tournament continues Saturday with a 10 a.m. match against Clarke (Iowa) on Court 1, followed by a 2 p.m. matchup with Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Court 4.
Scouting Report:
- Haskell (Kan.)
- 2025 Record: 7-33 (2-6)
- Kills Per Set/Kills Allowed Per Set: 9.3/12.1
- Kill Efficiency/Kill Efficiency Allowed: .097/.189
- Aces/Aces Allowed: 237/286
- Digs/Digs By Opponents: 15.5/17.4
- Points From Blocks/Points From Blocks By Opponents: 1.3/1.4
- 2025 Individual Leaders
- Tressa Jim | 2.9 kps
- Mya Dalgai | 1.9 kps | .173 kill efficiency | 0.8 bps
- Jaspen Ellenwood | 3.7 aps
- Alaina Dugi | 5.13 dps
- Kayelani Maiava | 2.55 pts/s | 37 aces
- Dordt (Iowa)
- 2025 Record: 19-9 (10-6)
- Kills Per Set/Kills Allowed Per Set: 12.7/10.5
- Kill Efficiency/Kill Efficiency Allowed: .161/.145
- Aces/Aces Allowed: 220/162
- Digs/Digs By Opponents: 15.9/15.2
- Points From Blocks/Points From Blocks By Opponents: 1.9/2.1
- Individual Leaders
- Laney Wolfswinkel | 2.6 kps | 35 aces | 2.1 dps
- Haley Kuperus | 2.6 kps | .282 kill efficiency | 0.9 bps
- Carlee Jackson | 6.0 aps | 35 aces
- Chloe Huisman | 4.5 aps
- Kylie Beckering | 4.6 dps | 46 aces
- Clarke (Iowa)
- 2025 Record: 2-27 (0-18)
- Kills Per Set/Kills Allowed Per Set: 9.8/12.2
- Kill Efficiency/Kill Efficiency Allowed: .093/.213
- Aces/Aces Allowed: 172/241
- Digs/Digs By Opponents: 13.8/15.2
- Points From Blocks/Points From Blocks By Opponents: 1.4/1.7
- 2025 Individual Leaders
- Keely Colyer | 2.3 kps
- Kelsey NeCollins | 1 kps | .183 kill efficiency | 0.7 bps
- Jaxcyn Berntgen | 3.4 aps
- Kortney Harms | 36 aces | 3.4 aps
- Jayden Knox | 3.45 dps
- Briar Cliff (Iowa)
- 2026 Record: 1-1
- 2025 Record: 10-17 (4-12)
- Kills Per Set/Kills Allowed Per Set: 10.4/13.0
- Kill Efficiency/Kill Efficiency Allowed: .145/.164
- Aces/Aces Allowed: 120/162
- Digs/Digs By Opponents: 15.4/17.7
- Points From Blocks/Points From Blocks By Opponents: 3.0/1.3
- 2025 Individual Leaders
- Emma Brenelli | 2.3 kps
- Tamika Eastman | 2.1 kps | .120 kill efficiency | 184 kills
- Aubrey Hoeft | .8 kps | 1.5 bps
- Kylie Hart | 4.5 aps
- Iwalani Beltran | 4.3 aps | 22 aces
- Avery Beller | 5.3 dps
- Bismarck State
- 2025 Record: 5-22 (3-19)
- Kills Per Set/Kills Allowed Per Set: 10.8/13.4
- Kill Efficiency/Kill Efficiency Allowed: .124/.215
- Aces/Aces Allowed: 84/178
- Digs/Digs By Opponents: 16.4/17.4
- Points From Blocks/Points From Blocks By Opponents: 1.5/2.0
- 2025 Individual Leaders
The junior varsity team is also in action this weekend, playing three games of their own to gain all-around experience for the Mystics. They'll face fellow JV teams from Briar Cliff (Iowa), Concordia (Neb.) and Morningside (Iowa), at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, respectively. Visit BSCMystics.com/Live for live coverage links to each game.
The total seven-match slate gives Kuether an early look at how his blend of returning captains and new faces performs together before the Mystics return home for next week's home junior varsity 'Mystic Invite', and the first varsity volleyball game at the newly-constructed Bavendick Center on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. against Mount Marty (S.D.). Visit BSCMystics.com/Tickets to secure your tickets to the first game, and be one of the first 1,000 fans to get your Mystics rally towel to commemorate the inaugural match.
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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