The North Dakota State Bison volleyball team is the NCAA Division I women's volleyball team at North Dakota State University located in Fargo, North Dakota. The program began its first season in 1965 under head coach Collette Folstad. The current Bison head coach is Jennifer Lopez in her 8th season. Lopez took over after former coach Kari Thompson resigned after the 2016 season.

History The Bison made the AIAW tournament every time from 1970 to 1981, except for two seasons in 1972 and 1980. Then in Division II, NDSU played in a regional every year from 1982 to 2003, except for 1985 and 1994. While in Division II, the Bison finished in the Elite Eight five times, the Final Four three times, and a national runner-up twice. Since North Dakota State entered Division I in 2008, the Bison have made the NCAA tournament three times. The team also made the NIVC tournament in 2022 after falling short in the semifinal round of the Summit League tournament.

The Bison have been a part of multiple conferences. While in the AIAW, NDSU played in the Minn-Kota Conference from 1970-78. It was a conference mainly centered around AIAW programs in Minnesota and both North and South Dakota. Then in 1979, the team joined the North Central Conference and followed along as the league moved up to Division II starting in the 1982 season. The Bison would remain there until the end of the 2003 season when NDSU's athletic programs moved up to Division I. While moving up, NDSU was an independent. Starting in the 2007 season, the Bison played in the Summit League and have remained there ever since.

Season-by-season history Season Coach Record Conf. Tournament Postseason Overall Conference (Conf. Standing) 1965 Collette Folstad 0–1 – – 1966 Collette Folstad 0–3 – – 1967 Collette Folstad 5–5 – – 1968 Judy Ray 2–6 – – 1969 Judy Ray 3–5 – – 1970 Judy Ray 12–2 – – AIAW Regionals 1971 Judy Ray 10–5 – – AIAW Regionals 1972 Sharon Anderson 10–7 – 2nd 1973 Judy Ray 9–11 3–4 (5th) 1st AIAW Regionals 1974 Judy Ray 15–7 6–1 (T-1st) – AIAW Regionals 1975 Judy Ray 25–10 6–1 (2nd) 1st AIAW Nationals 1976 Judy Ray 23–18 4–3 (3rd) 4th AIAW Regionals 1977 Donnie Lauf 15–21 5–2 (3rd) 5th AIAW Regionals 1978 Donna Palivec 24–19 5–2 (2nd) 3rd AIAW Regionals 1979 Donna Palivec 29–21 – 4th AIAW Regionals 1980 Donna Palivec 26–14 – 2nd 1981 Donna Palivec 41–11 – 1st AIAW Nationals 1982 Donna Palivec 43–10 – 1st NCAA Regional 1983 Donna Palivec 43–20 – 2nd NCAA Regional 1984 Donna Palivec 55–13 – 2nd NCAA Regional 1985 Donna Palivec 20–16 5–2 (3rd) 2nd 1986 Donna Palivec 43–13 6–1 (2nd) 2nd Final Four 1987 Cathy Olson 44–8 6–1 (2nd) 2nd NCAA Regional 1988 Cathy Olson 43–3 7–0 (1st) 1st NCAA Final Four 1989 Jolyn Koppinger 30–6 8–1 (1st) 1st NCAA Final Four 1990 Jolyn Koppinger 33–6 9–0 (1st) 1st NCAA Runner-up 1991 Jolyn Koppinger 35–5 9–0 (1st) 1st NCAA Final Four 1992 Jolyn Montgomery 35–5 8–1 (1st) 1st NCAA Elite Eight 1993 Carolyn Eide 19–10 8–1 (1st) – NCAA Regional 1994 Carolyn Eide 20–11 12–6 (3rd) 1995 Zaundra Bina 25–9 13–5 (3rd) NCAA Regional 1996 Zaundra Bina 28–6 15–3 (3rd) NCAA Regional 1997 Zaundra Bina 27–7 14–4 (3rd) NCAA Regional 1998 Zaundra Bina 33–4 16–2 (1st) NCAA Runner-up 1999 Zaundra Bina 29–4 16–2 (1st) NCAA Elite Eight 2000 Zaundra Bina 21–13 11–7 (5th) NCAA Regional 2001 Zaundra Bina 30–4 17–1 (1st) NCAA Regional 2002 Zaundra Bina 21–12 8–8 (T-4th) NCAA Regional 2003 Zaundra Bina 25–9 11–3 (T-1st) NCAA Regional 2004 Zaundra Bina 13–20 Division I Independent Ineligible due totransition to Division I 2005 Zaundra Bina 5–31 2006 Erich Hinterstocker 17–13 2007 Erich Hinterstocker 20–8 12–4 (T-2nd) Semifinal 2008 Erich Hinterstocker 24–4 16–0 (1st) Champions NCAA First Round 2009 Erich Hinterstocker 23–4 18–0 (1st) Runner-up 2010 Erich HinterstockerKari Thompson 11–99–2 8–36–1 (T-1st) Champions NCAA First Round 2011 Kari Thompson 26–9 16–2 (1st) Champions NCAA First Round 2012 Kari Thompson 13–18 8–8 (6th) – 2013 Kari Thompson 6–22 6–8 (7th) – 2014 Kari Thompson 15–17 8–8 (5th) Semifinal 2015 Kari Thompson 19–12 10–6 (4th) – 2016 Kari Thompson 14–18 11–5 (3rd) Semifinal 2017 Jennifer Lopez 19–9 9–5 (4th) Semifinal 2018 Jennifer Lopez 9–20 6–10 (6th) Semifinal 2019 Jennifer Lopez 13–16 8–8 (5th) Quarterfinal 2020^ Jennifer Lopez 10–8 8–8 (5th) – 2021 Jennifer Lopez 12–18 6–12 (7th) – 2022 Jennifer Lopez 21–12 13–5 (3rd) Semifinal NIVC First Round 2023 Jennifer Lopez 18–11 9–7 (5th) Semifinal 2024 Jennifer Lopez 12–14 8–8 (4th) Quarterfinal 2025 Jennifer Lopez 17–11 10–6 (4th) Semifinal 2026 Jennifer Lopez 0–0 0–0

^ - Played in Spring 2021

AIAW/NCAA/NIVC Tournament History

NCAA Division I Tournament History The Bison have appeared in three NCAA Division I tournaments. Their combined record is 0–3.

2008 First round #6 Minnesota L 0–3 2010 First round #10 Minnesota L 0–3 2011 First round #13 Minnesota L 0–3

National Invitational Volleyball Championship History The Bison have appeared in 1 NIVC tournament. Their combined record is 0–1.

2022 First round Davidson L 1-3

NCAA Division II Tournament History The Bison have appeared in 20 NCAA Division II tournaments. Their combined record was 28–22. 1982 Regional Edinboro W 3–2 Cal State Northridge L 0–3 1983 Regional Portland State W 3–0 Sacramento State L 1–3 1984 Regional Omaha W 3–0 Cal State Northridge L 1–3 1986 Regional Portland State W 3–0 Sacramento State W 3–2 Final Four UC Riverside L 0–3 Omaha L 0–3 1987 Regional Purdue Fort Wayne W 3–2 Ferris State L 2–3 1988 Regional St. Cloud State W 3–1 Elite Eight Tampa W 3–2 Cal State Northridge L 1–3 Regis W 3–2 1989 Regional Omaha W 3–0 Central Missouri State W 3–0 Elite Eight UC Riverside W 3–2 Sacramento State L 1–3 Florida Southern W 3–1 1990 Regional Minnesota State Mankato W 3–1 Final Four Sacramento State W 3–1 Cal State Bakersfield W 3–1 West Texas State L 0–3 1991 Regional Minnesota-Duluth W 3–1 Elite Eight Cal State Bakersfield W 3–1 Portland State L 1–3 Florida Southern W 3–0 1992 Regional Augustana (SD) W 3–0 Elite Eight Cal State LA L 0–3 1993 Regional Omaha L 0–3 1995 Regional Northern Colorado L 1–3 1996 Regional Augustana (SD) W 3–2 Omaha L 1–3 1997 Regional Omaha L 1–3 1998 Regional Minnesota-Duluth W 3–0 Augustana (SD) W 3–0 Elite Eight Edinboro W 3–0 Regis W 3–2 Hawaii Pacific L 1–3 1999 Regional Augustana (SD) W 3–2 Northern Colorado W 3–2 Elite Eight BYU-Hawaii L 0–3 2000 Regional Northern Colorado L 1–3 2001 Regional Northern Colorado W 3–0 South Dakota State L 2–3 2002 Regional Minnesota State Mankato L 0–3 2003 Regional North Dakota W 3–0 Concordia-St. Paul L 2–3

References