The NAIA unveiled the 2024 Volleyball All-American Teams this week, a collection which features five athletes that call the state of Nebraska home and compete collegiately for schools in the state.  

She’s not one of the honored players, but Bellevue head coach Trish Siedlik is the headline story. In her 19th season as head coach of the Bruins, she steered her team on an impressive, resilient run all the way to the NAIA championship match earlier this month – Bellevue's first appearance in the championship match in program history.  

The Bruins were ultimately topped there by Indiana Wesleyan, which defended its NAIA title from last year with an exciting five-set win over Bellevue earlier this month in Sioux City. Perenially one of the better programs in the NAIA under Siedlik’s direction, the Bruins finished the 2024 season with a final record of 32-5.  

Unsurprisingly, two of Siedlik’s core players on Bellevue’s national runner-up squad were named to First Team NAIA All-Americans this week. Rightside Kealy Kiviniemi, a Bellevue native and Bellevue West alum, was the Player of the Year in the North Star Athletic Association, and the AVCA North Central Region Player of the Year.  

Also on the NAIA’s First Team was junior outside hitter Eve Fountain. The Omaha native and Millard North alum was a First Team All-NSAA honoree and turned in a star performance in the NAIA tournament, especially in the championship match, helping anchor her team’s offense in the postseason.  

Joining those two Bruins on the NAIA First Team was one of the best hitters from the GPAC, Concordia’s Ashley Keck. The junior outside from Kearney and formerly of Kearney Catholic was the GPAC Attacker of the Year and First Team All-Conference. She’s Concordia’s second ever First Team NAIA All-American, the first of which came just last year. 

And fellow Bulldog Gabi Nordaker concludes her standout career at Concordia with Second Team All-America honors. A graduate middle from Omaha and a Millard West alum, Nordaker is a three-time NAIA All-American, and earned her fourth First Team All-GPAC honor this season.  

Finally, Midland senior Abbey Ringler was named to the NAIA’s Third Team. A Seward native and Seward High alum, Ringler made the move to Fremont, where she’s been a First Team All-GPAC selection the last two years. 

Along with Siedlik, this season’s individual awards winners were Indiana Wesleyan’s Eva Joldersma (Player of the Year and Attacker of the Year); Indiana Wesleyan’s Abbigail Porter (Setter of the Year); and Jamestown’s Ellie Holen (Defender of the Year). To see the full list of honorees on the 2024 NAIA Volleyball All-America teams, head to this link.