Bison Volleyball Adds Five High School Players in Early Signing Period

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State University head women's volleyball coach Kari Thompson announced the addition of five high school players on Wednesday, Nov. 14, the first day of the one-week early signing period.

Five-foot-9 outside hitter Hadley Steffen (Grand Forks, N.D.); 6-2 middle blocker/outside hitter Emily Miron (Wadena, Minn.); 6-1 middle blocker Emily Minnick (Willmar, Minn.); and 5-5 libero/defensive specialist Emily Milligan (La Grange Park, Ill.) signed National Letters of Intent to continue their education and play volleyball at NDSU.

In addition, 5-3 defensive specialist Hannah Jessen (Canby, Minn.) has been accepted for admission at North Dakota State and will join the Bison volleyball team.

Steffen, a two-time all-state pick out of Red River High School, was the 2011 North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year and participated in the USA Girls' Youth Continental Team Program.  She also competes in track and field.

Miron, who quarterbacked football teams in fifth, sixth and seventh grade, was an all-conference and all-state pick last year for Wadena-Deer Creek High School.  She was part of three straight Class 2A state tourney appearances including a 33-0 championship team in 2010.  Miron is a two-time all-conference basketball player and 1,000-point scorer.

Minnick is a three-time all-conference player out of Willmar High School.  She was the conference leader in hitting percentage her junior and senior years, and finished second at Willmar in career kills and fourth in career blocks.  Her Southwest Minnesota Juniors 17-1 team placed fifth at AAU nationals, and she lettered in gymnastics and track and field.

Milligan played for Nazareth Academy teams that won regional titles in 2011 and 2012 and was named all-conference and Chicago Sun-Times all-area this year.  She was selected for SportsTownChicago.com's 2012 high school volleyball all-star game.

Jessen has been a five-year varsity player for Canby High School and was the libero alongside Minnick on the Southwest Minnesota Juniors 17-1 team that placed fifth at AAU nationals.  Jessen also participates in softball, basketball and track and field.

North Dakota State (12-16) tied for fifth place in The Summit League with an 8-8 record.  The Bison close out their season against Pepperdine next Tuesday in Malibu, Calif., and Northwestern State and Tulsa next Friday in Tulsa, Okla.