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Vedvei tabbed as All-American
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FarkSIOUX CITY, Iowa - South Dakota Mines junior Melanie Vedvei made the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball All-America first team, and Black Hills State's Brittney Klipfel landed on the second team Tuesday.
In addition, Mayville State's Laura Big Crow, who is from Pine Ridge, was an honorable mention All-American.
Vedvei, a 5-foot-7 junior guard from Lake Preston, was a second-team selection last season.
"It's pretty exciting," said Vedvei, who won her second consecutive Dakota Athletic Conference MVP award during the 2006-07 campaign. "It's quite an honor to get it.
"Obviously, I'd rather be at the national tournament. I'd much rather still be playing than sitting at home."
The Lady Hardrockers finished the season 20-11 and just missed the NAIA National Tournament, losing to Dakota State in the DAC Championship.
"She's worked for it," said Mines head coach Barb Felderman. "It doesn't matter who we play, the opponents, fans and opposing coaches are always reiterating how great she is."
Vedvei averaged 19.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and four steals per game this past season. She led the league in scoring and steals, and ranked second in the country in steals.
Klipfel, a 5-foot-11 senior forward from Forbes, N.D., averaged 15.9 points per game. The Lady Yellow Jackets (17-13) lost to Dakota State in the DAC semifinals.
Big Crow was second in the DAC in scoring at 18.9 points per game. She was also second in field-goal percentage at 54.3 percent and ninth in rebounds with a 6.7 average.
Big Crow, a 5-foot-11 junior post, helped the Comets to a 16-13 record.
Brittany Smart of Cedarville University, Ohio, was named the NAIA Player of the Year. Smart, along with Liz Howerth (Indiana Wesleyan) and Deb Remmerde (Northwestern, Iowa) were repeat first-team selections. Indiana Wesleyan wrapped up a 38-0 season with a 48-34 win over College of the Ozarks in the National Championship game Tuesday.
The Dakota Athletic Conference also landed four other players on the honorable mention list: Dakota State's Jessica VanLoy, Minot State's Kendra Meyer, and Valley City State's Mallory Undline and Loni Hall.
On the men's side, Mayville State's Monty Rogers was a first-team selection. The Comets were the national runner-ups with a 27-9 record.
On the honorable mention list from the DAC were Mayville's Ron Howard, Dakota's State Joe Backus, and Jamestown College's Lawrence Brooks and Kyle Iverson.
South Dakota Mines guard Melanie Vedvei, center, drives to the basket between Minot's Tayler McQuiliams, left, and Brittni Walker during play in the Dakota Athletic Conference playoffs Feb. 24 at Goodell Gymnasium. Vedvei became a first-team NAIA All-American on Tuesday. (Dick Kettlewell/Journal staff)
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