MADISON, S.D. (playnorthstar.com) – Valley City State University seniors Joelle Aiello and Emily Smith were honored by the North Star Athletic Association on Monday after helping lead the Viking softball team to a 3-1 record this past week.

Emily Smith was selected as the NSAA Pitcher of the Week, while Joelle Aiello was chosen as the Player of the Week.

Aiello batted .357 with a .929 slugging percentage over four games this weekend. She collected a double, two triples and her first career home run. She also scored four runs and drove in four – playing a key role in eight of VCSU’s 13 runs on the weekend. Defensively, Aiello was perfect in 13 chances in the middle-infield positions.

Smith pitched in relief in all four of VCSU’s games, throwing a total of 11.2 innings and collecting two wins. She posted a 1.20 ERA, and struck out 20 batters with only two walks. Opponents batted just .111 off Smith. In a 2-0 win against Briar Cliff, Smith struck out nine of the 12 batters she faced while earning the victory.

Recap from last week’s games
Valley City State (N.D.) debuted their 2021 season in the PC Dome Classic, going 3-1 record.  The Vikings kicked off the tournament with a comeback victory over Dordt (Iowa) 6-5 before falling to No. 20-ranked Morningside (Iowa) 6-0 on Feb. 12.  VCSU earned a pair of victories on the second day of the tournament on Feb. 13, shutting down Briar Cliff (Iowa) 2-0 and defeating Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 5-1.

Bellevue (Neb.), receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Preseason Poll, started their 2021 season by going 3-3 record in San Antonio, Texas on the first weekend of February.  The Bruins fell to Houston-Victoria (Texas) 8-2 in the season opener on Feb. 5 and eared their first win over Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) by the score of 6-5 on the same day.  BU earned a 15-7 victory in six innings over Houston-Victoria, followed by a 4-1 victory over Our Lady of the Lake on Feb. 6.  Bellevue wrapped up the weekend with a pair of defeats on Feb. 7, falling to Ottawa (Ariz.) 6-5 and Our Lady of the Lake 8-1.

Dickinson State (N.D.), who received votes’ recognition in the national preseason poll, split a pair of season-opening games with Doane (Neb.) in PC Dome.  The Blue Hawks shut down the Tigers 2-0 on Feb. 13 and dropped a 9-0 contest on Feb. 14.  DiSU is 1-1 overall record.

Presentation (S.D.) went 1-5 to open their 2021 season at PC Dome.  The Saints split a doubleheader with Dordt (Iowa) on Feb. 11, falling 12-0 in the first game and rallying back for a 7-6 thriller in nine innings.  PC dropped a pair of games on Feb. 12 to Dakota Wesleyan 14-6 and Briar Cliff 8-2.  The Saints were shut out by the nationally ranked Mustangs 10-0 and closed the tournament with a 14-5 defeat to NCAA Division II Minot State (N.D.).

Viterbo (Wis.) dropped four games to NCAA Division II teams in the St. Cloud State (Minn.) Tournament last weekend.  The V-Hawks fell to Minnesota-Crookston 11-0 in five innings and Southwest Minnesota State 15-1 in five innings on Feb. 13.  VU was swept by the host team St. Cloud State 30-6 and 8-0 on Feb. 14.  VU also fell in their season debut on Feb. 6 to Northwestern (Iowa) by the scores of 4-2 and 14-2 in five innings.  Viterbo is 0-6 overall record on the season.

Looking Ahead
Presentation (S.D.) stays home on Thursday as they host Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference doubleheader at PC Dome.  The Saints also host the College of Saint Mary (Neb.) in a doubleheader on Sunday.

Dakota State (S.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) are scheduled to make their season debut in the PC Dome tournament this weekend.  Dickinson State (N.D.) and Valley City State (N.D.) are also scheduled to compete in the tournament.

Waldorf (Iowa) makes their 2021 season debut in the Packer Dome in Austin, Minn. against Northwestern (Iowa) on Saturday.

Thursday’s Games
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) @ Presentation (S.D.) – 5 p.m. – Doubleheader

Friday’s Games
PC Dome Classic – Aberdeen, S.D.
Valley City State (N.D.) vs. College of Saint Mary (Neb.) – 10 a.m.
Mayville State (N.D.) vs. Jamestown (N.D.) – 10 a.m.
Valley City State (N.D.) vs. Jamestown (N.D.) – 12 p.m.
Dakota State (S.D.) vs. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) – 12 p.m.
(RV) Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. (20) Morningside (Iowa) – 2 p.m.
Dakota State (S.D.) vs. College of Saint Mary (Neb.) – 2 p.m.
(RV) Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) – 4 p.m.
Mayville State (N.D.) vs. (20) Morningside (Iowa) – 4 p.m.

Saturday’s Games
Northwestern (Iowa) vs. Waldorf (Iowa) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader – Austin, Minn.
PC Dome Classic – Aberdeen S.D.
Mayville State (N.D.) vs. College of Saint Mary (Neb.) – 10 a.m.
Valley City State (N.D.) vs. (20) Morningside (Iowa) – 10 a.m.
(RV) Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. College of Saint Mary (Neb.) – 12 p.m.
Dakota State (S.D.) vs. (20) Morningside (Iowa) – 12 p.m.
(RV) Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. Jamestown (N.D.) – 2 p.m.
Mayville State (N.D.) vs. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) – 2 p.m.
Valley City State (N.D.) vs. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) – 4 p.m.
Dakota State (S.D.) vs. Jamestown (N.D.) – 4 p.m.

Sunday’s Games
College of Saint Mary (Neb.) @ Presentation (S.D.) – 10 a.m. – Doubleheader

2021 NSAA Softball Conference Standings