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Kruggel and DiPaola earn A.I.I. volleyball postseason honors
November 13, 2011
MADISON, S.D. - Senior Stephanie Kruggel and junior Kristen DiPaola of Dakota State University volleyball team had earned volleyball postseason honors from the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.). They had been integral members of the DSU volleyball team that established the most wins since 2005 and helped DSU qualify for the A.I.I. Volleyball Postseason Tournament held in Phoenix, Ariz. last weekend.
Fourteen players were selected to the A.I.I. All-Conference volleyball team. Seven players made to the A.I.I. All-Tournament team.
Kruggel, a right side hitter for the Trojans, finished her stellar volleyball career at Dakota State. She earned A.I.I. All-Conference honor during the dinner banquet on Thursday night. After the tournament play was over late Saturday night, Kruggel was named to the A.I.I. All-Tournament team.
During the season, Kruggel smashed her 1000th career kill at DSU in a 3-1 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan on Oct. 22. She finished the 2011 season with 514 kills (3rd best in DSU's volleyball record book for most kills in a single season), 36 service aces, 412 digs and 88 blocks for the Trojans. According to DakStats-NAIA statistical website, Kruggel ranks 10th in the nation in total kills and 33rd in kills per set (3.7).
Kruggel played in all positions in her four-year career at Dakota State. She amassed 1123 kills (3rd best in DSU's volleyball record book for most career kills), 903 set assists, 128 service aces, 1308 digs and 250 total blocks during her era at DSU.
In two A.I.I. volleyball postseason tournament pool play matches, Kruggel recorded 36 kills (4.5 kills per set) with a killing efficiency of .329. She also had 36 digs in two matches, an average of 4.5 digs per set.
Kruggel is the daughter of Gary and Lori Kruggel of Winthrop, Minn. She is studying Elementary Education at Dakota State University.
DiPaola, an outside hitter for DSU, had been named to A.I.I. All-Conference team. She broke a DSU school record with the most kills in a match with 31 in a 3-2 comeback win at Mount Marty on Sept. 20.
For the season, DiPaola recorded 493 kills, 32 service aces, 315 digs and 41 total blocks for the Trojans. She ranks 14th in the nation in total kills and 41st in kills per set (3.5).
Kristen is the daughter of Michael and Mary Beth DiPaola of Trinidad, Colo. She is majoring in Business Management at Dakota State.
DSU concluded their 2011 season with an overall record of 16-22. The Trojans dropped two tough matches at the A.I.I. Volleyball Postseason Tournament on Nov. 11, losing to No. 1 seed La Sierra (Calif.) 3-1 (25-20, 15-25, 25-20 and 29-27) and No. 4 seed Mayville State 3-1 (10-25, 25-12, 25-21 and 25-22).
Below are complete lists of the A.I.I. Volleyball All-Conference and All-Tournament teams:
| 2011 A.I.I. All-Conference Volleyball Team | ||||
| Name | School | Year | Position | Hometown |
| Sarah Becker | Jamestown | SO | MB | Rochester, Minn. |
| Samantha Arriaran | La Sierra (Calif.) | SR | S | Norco, Calif. |
| Josette Glatt | Mayville State | FR | RS | Bismarck, N.D. |
| Taylor DeGraaf | Cal State-San Marcos | FR | OH | Arcadia, Calif. |
| Katie Lee | Jamestown | JR | L | Fargo, N.D. |
| Katie Zent | Jamestown | JR | MB | Richardton, N.D. |
| Stephanie Kruggel | Dakota State | SR | MB | Winthrop, Minn. |
| Alyssa Foster | Cal State-San Marcos | FR | S | Portland, Ore. |
| Kristen DiPaola | Dakota State | JR | OH | Trinidad, Colo. |
| Tabitha Newcomb | Indiana Northwest | SO | MB | Wheatfield, Ind. |
| Jill Noeske | Valley City State | JR | OH | Valley City, N.D. |
| Zoey Huizenga | Indiana Northwest | SO | MB | Crown Point, Ind. |
| Mahlet Lee | Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) | JR | OH | Downey, Calif. |
| Player of the Year: Sarah Becker (Jamestown) | ||||
| Honorable Mention | ||||
| Natalie Wilkening | Walla Walla (Wash.) | SR | OH | Troutdale, Ore. |
| Bethany Beckman | Arizona Christian | JR | OH | Glendale, Ariz. |
| Nichole May | Cal State-San Marcos | JR | L | Corona, Calif. |
| Nikki Roholt | Mayville State | JR | MB | Phoenix, Ariz. |
| 2011 A.I.I. Volleyball All-Tournament Team | ||||
| Name | School | Year | Position | Hometown |
| Katie Zent | Jamestown | JR | MB | Richardton, N.D. |
| Taylor DeGraaf | Cal State-San Marcos | FR | OH | Arcadia, Calif. |
| Nichole May | Cal State-San Marcos | JR | L | Corona, Calif. |
| Stephanie Kruggel | Dakota State | SR | MB | Winthrop, Minn. |
| Lindsey Mitchell | Cal State-San Marcos | JR | OH | Glendora, Calif. |
| Sarah Becker | Jamestown | SO | MB | Rochester, Minn. |
| Bethany Beckman | Arizona Christian | JR | OH | Glendale, Ariz. |
| 2011 Tournament Player of the Year: Samantha Arriaran, La Sierra (Calif.) | ||||
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
