GREELEY, Colo.-- University of North Dakota junior co-captain Ronni Munkeby was named to the All-Big Sky Conference Second Team, announced Thursday at the site of the league's upcoming postseason tournament. Sophomore Lexi Robinson was also named an honorable mention selection.
Munkeby, a six-foot middle blocker from Lisbon, N.D., started all 31 matches and finished the season seventh in the Big Sky in hitting percentage (.285), which led UND this season. She led or tied for the team-lead in kills in 10 different matches this year and had 20 matches with double-digit kill totals. Munkeby totaled a career-high 19 kills on Sept. 13 in the midst of a stretch that saw her generate at least a dozen kills in seven straight matches. She also had a 13-kill, 10-block effort Nov. 15 for her first career double-double.
Robinson, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, also made every start leading North Dakota in kills on 14 different occasions, most on the squad. The Ramsey, Minn. native was fifth in the Big Sky in kills (3.29/set) and had at least nine kills in every conference match except one (19 of 20). Robinson recorded 18 double-doubles this season, a mark that ranked in the top three in the conference at season's end. Her 21 kills on Nov. 15 were a team season-best and was the second 20+ kill match of her young career (23 at NJIT last season).
Idaho State setter Lori Mendenhall was named the league's most valuable player, headlining a six-player first team. Mendenhall along with Montana State's Sarah Horton, Northern Arizona's Payton Bock, Northern Colorado's Kelley Arnold and Portland State's Garyn Schlatter and Jaklyn Wheeler composed the first team.
North Dakota has earned the fifth seed in the conference's six-team postseason tournament. Action begins with quarterfinals and semifinals Friday at Northern Colorado. UND will face the host and fourth-seeded Bears in a noon tilt Friday with the winner playing later that evening in the semifinals. The Big Sky championship match will be contested Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Central with the winner receiving the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
