# North Dakota State Bison women's volleyball

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 | Record | Conf. Tournament | Postseason |
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference (Conf. Standing) | Conf. Tournament | Postseason |
| 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 to transition to Division I |
| 2005 | Zaundra Bina | 5–31 | Division I Independent | | Ineligible due to transition to Division I |
| 2006 | Erich Hinterstocker | 17–13 | Division I Independent | | Ineligible due to transition to Division I |
| 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 Hinterstocker Kari Thompson | 11–9 9–2 | 8–3 6–1 (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 | |
^ - 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.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 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.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 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.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1982 | Regional | Edinboro | W 3–2 |
| 1982 | Regional | Cal State Northridge | L 0–3 |
| 1983 | Regional | Portland State | W 3–0 |
| 1983 | Regional | Sacramento State | L 1–3 |
| 1984 | Regional | Omaha | W 3–0 |
| 1984 | Regional | Cal State Northridge | L 1–3 |
| 1986 | Regional | Portland State | W 3–0 |
| 1986 | Regional | Sacramento State | W 3–2 |
| 1986 | Final Four | UC Riverside | L 0–3 |
| 1986 | Final Four | Omaha | L 0–3 |
| 1987 | Regional | Purdue Fort Wayne | W 3–2 |
| 1987 | Regional | Ferris State | L 2–3 |
| 1988 | Regional | St. Cloud State | W 3–1 |
| 1988 | Elite Eight | Tampa | W 3–2 |
| 1988 | Elite Eight | Cal State Northridge | L 1–3 |
| 1988 | Elite Eight | Regis | W 3–2 |
| 1989 | Regional | Omaha | W 3–0 |
| 1989 | Regional | Central Missouri State | W 3–0 |
| 1989 | Elite Eight | UC Riverside | W 3–2 |
| 1989 | Elite Eight | Sacramento State | L 1–3 |
| 1989 | Elite Eight | Florida Southern | W 3–1 |
| 1990 | Regional | Minnesota State Mankato | W 3–1 |
| 1990 | Final Four | Sacramento State | W 3–1 |
| 1990 | Final Four | Cal State Bakersfield | W 3–1 |
| 1990 | Final Four | West Texas State | L 0–3 |
| 1991 | Regional | Minnesota-Duluth | W 3–1 |
| 1991 | Elite Eight | Cal State Bakersfield | W 3–1 |
| 1991 | Elite Eight | Portland State | L 1–3 |
| 1991 | Elite Eight | Florida Southern | W 3–0 |
| 1992 | Regional | Augustana (SD) | W 3–0 |
| 1992 | 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 |
| 1996 | Regional | Omaha | L 1–3 |
| 1997 | Regional | Omaha | L 1–3 |
| 1998 | Regional | Minnesota-Duluth | W 3–0 |
| 1998 | Regional | Augustana (SD) | W 3–0 |
| 1998 | Elite Eight | Edinboro | W 3–0 |
| 1998 | Elite Eight | Regis | W 3–2 |
| 1998 | Elite Eight | Hawaii Pacific | L 1–3 |
| 1999 | Regional | Augustana (SD) | W 3–2 |
| 1999 | Regional | Northern Colorado | W 3–2 |
| 1999 | Elite Eight | BYU-Hawaii | L 0–3 |
| 2000 | Regional | Northern Colorado | L 1–3 |
| 2001 | Regional | Northern Colorado | W 3–0 |
| 2001 | Regional | South Dakota State | L 2–3 |
| 2002 | Regional | Minnesota State Mankato | L 0–3 |
| 2003 | Regional | North Dakota | W 3–0 |
| 2003 | Regional | Concordia-St. Paul | L 2–3 |