Black Hills State University and the Yellow Jacket Foundation hosted the Second Annual Yellow Jacket 5K/10K Run on Sunday to conclude the Swarm Week festivities. The event raised about $1,000 for scholarships to Black Hills State student-athletes.

The overall winners for the 5K race were Jordan Houdek in the men's division and Alana Fatula in the women's division. The overall men's winner in the 10K was Phil Fatula, and Priscilla Romkema was the winner in the women's division.

Tigers earn Great Plains Conference honors

Before the 2009 season, only once had a Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer player earned Great Plains Athletic Conference/Hauff Mid-America Sports Player of the Week honors. The Tigers topped that number this week alone as they swept the weekly awards.

Kasha Roberts was named the GPAC offensive player of the week and Danielle Richardson received her second-straight GPAC defensive player of the week award.

Nevada native signs with Black Hills State

Victoria Lounsbery recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Black Hills State University beginning in 2010.

Lounsbery is a senior at Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas, Nev. The 5-foot-7 setter has been a standout athlete in volleyball and track and field.

Lounsbery was a 2008 first team all-Sunset League selection as a junior, totaling 881 assists. During her time at Palo Verde, she has been named 2008 Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year, 2008 Player of the Week, 2008 varsity co-captain and 2007 defensive player of the year.

In 2008, Lounsbery also placed fourth in the region in the shot put and discus for her track and field team. Along with being an outstanding athlete, she has excels in the classroom. She has a 3.8 GPA and has received the Scholar Athlete Award two times.

"We are extremely excited to sign a student/athlete of Victoria's caliber. She will be a perfect fit for our team and the direction we are headed for the future," BHSU head coach Jhett Albers said.

Dakotas teams eye NSIC expansion

The decision of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference board to consider adding two teams is good news for two schools in the Dakotas.

Both Minot State University in North Dakota and the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota are moving their athletic programs from NAIA to NCAA Division II, and both have expressed interest in the Northern Sun.

Sioux Falls athletic director Willie Sanchez said the goal now is to convince the conference that the school is a good fit.

Minot State Athletic Director Rick Hedberg said the two schools are looking at possible Northern Sun membership as a partnership rather than a competition, and are working together.

NSIC Commissioner Butch Raymond said he hasn't had formal talks with any schools about expansion. Schools interested in membership will be asked to submit a letter of interest to the league by next June 1.

The NSIC is a 14-team, 17-sport, NCAA Division II Conference with teams in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.