VOLLEYBALL: BHS senior Falldorf makes verbal commitment to Minot State

BEMIDJI - Bemidji senior Emily Falldorf wasted little time making her decision on where to go next fall, as she verbally committed to Division II Minot State University to play volleyball.
The 6-foot tall middle blocker made her announcement this past weekend, one week before the start of the high school regular season.
“It’s so nice to know I have that security,” Falldorf said. “I have that family and even when I’ve played my last game here, I know I’ll have more to look forward to in college.”
Falldorf is interested in going into the school’s four-year nursing program, which played a large role in the senior’s decision.
“We looked at a lot of schools that had four-year nursing programs,” Falldorf said. “I went to a lot of camps this summer at those schools that were recruiting me and came to watch me play.”
Minot has been getting consistently better since joining the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in 2012. They most recently finished 11-18 overall in 2014 and were 10th overall in the 16-team conference (of which Bemidji State is also a member).
Falldorf originally got a scholarship offer from former Minot State head coach Travis Ward, but he left the program in April.
MSU then hired Ben Kaszeta as its new head coach, and Falldorf had to earn her scholarship all over again.
“When Ben came he took away my originally scholarship,” Falldorf said. “He told me to come to camp and that he wanted to see me play.”
The move worried Falldorf at first, but she still attended the Beavers’ camp. It was there she earned her second scholarship from Minot State.
“I was nervous because I wasn’t sure if I could get it back and if he’d like me,” she said.
“But I went to the camp and I loved him and all the players. I’m really excited to have him as a coach.”
Before she can play for Kaszeta, Falldorf has one more season with head coach Teresa Colligan and the two are looking to make a run at another section championship.
Falldorf is a captain and will be looked to lead Bemidji this fall.
“This is her third year as a middle,” Colligan said. “She’ll bring that experience and leadership to the court.”
Falldorf had a walk-on offer from South Dakota State University as well, but turned it down after receiving her scholarship from Minot.
Nothing is official until Falldorf sends in her National Letter of Intent on National Signing Day, which is April 13 for volleyball.
“I’m not really looking anywhere else,” Falldorf said. “I’ve pretty much decided on Minot and I’ve told all the other schools.”
The Lumberjacks have a few other players this fall who are being recruited to play volleyball in college as well.
Seniors Brylee Colligan and Katie Buckanaga were mentioned with Falldorf in Breakdown Sports USA’s Top 100 Super Seniors and could make their commitments later in the school year.
“Katie is looking at a couple (schools) and Brylee is looking at a few,” Colligan said. “This will be a big year for those two. I know they have a couple schools and they both went and looked at a few.”