August 16, 2026
HONOLULU, Hawaii — Dakota State (S.D.) volleyball setter
Emily Nelson and defensive specialist/libero
Kate VanRooyan were named to the 2026 Paradise Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team after helping the Trojans complete an undefeated opening weekend.
Nelson, a freshman, and VanRooyan, a senior, were two of six players selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Dakota State finished the Paradise Volleyball Classic with a 3-0 record, defeating Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) in four sets, No. 12 Oklahoma Wesleyan in three sets and Oregon Tech in four sets. The Trojans played 11 sets during the three-match tournament.
Nelson made an immediate impact in her first three collegiate matches. The freshman setter accumulated 69 assists, averaging 6.27 assists per set, while helping direct a Trojan offense that registered 145 kills and hit .213 for the tournament. She also contributed 12 kills on 24 attacks with just two errors for a .417 hitting percentage.
Nelson added five service aces, 15 digs and a block assist.
Offensively, Dakota State averaged 13.18 kills and 12.18 assists per set in the tournament.
VanRooyan anchored the Trojans' back row throughout the tournament. She collected a team-high 50 digs in 11 sets, averaging 4.55 digs per set. The senior also registered six service aces, tied for the second-most on the team during the opening weekend, and added 11 assists.
Behind VanRooyan's defensive play, Dakota State held its three opponents to a combined .064 hitting percentage. The Trojans totaled 147 digs and 24 blocks while limiting their opponents to 8.27 kills per set.
Providence's Cabry Badley was selected as the Paradise Volleyball Classic Most Valuable Player. Joining Nelson and VanRooyan on the All-Tournament Team were Maria Luisa Caycedo of Oklahoma Wesleyan, Brooklyn Hillman of Providence, Kaliko Schilling of Oregon Tech and Lauren Snyder of Indiana Tech.
Dakota State returns to South Dakota on Saturday afternoon for a pair of matches in the Siouxland Invitational at CNOS Fieldhouse in North Sioux City. DSU plays College of Saint Mary (Neb.) at 2 p.m., followed by a match versus Dordt (Iowa) at 4 p.m.
