Jessica Kielpinski's student-athlete career began on a sour note at the University of New Mexico.

The Mandan native and her mom, Nancy, were involved in a nasty car accident when Jessica moved to Albuquerque, N.M., in August. The Kielpinskis were struck broadside by an SUV in a parking lot. Jessica sustained a concussion. Her mom suffered a fractured skull, fractured pelvis, broken ribs and a collapsed lung. She was in intensive care for a short time.

Nancy is back home in Mandan and said she has been healing quickly.

Jessica, who was named North Dakota's Miss Basketball, led Mandan to its fifth straight Class A state championship last season. Now she is trying to move on and start her women's basketball career with the Lobos.

"I still get headaches after a cardio workout," said the 6-foot-1 center, who averaged nearly 20 points a game her senior year at Mandan. "It's mostly when I do a hard cardio workout, then they get kind of bad. I get dizzy."

Kielpinski sat out almost three weeks of preseason workouts. She's been spending time conditioning to make up for her missed court time. In order to bang in the paint at the NCAA Division I level, she's also focusing on developing her strength.

"It's a lot more physical," Kielpinski said. "I realized that in the summer when I came down for a month for summer school and worked out. I don't mind the contact inside."

Bitter-sweet milestone for Dickinson's Moody

Dickinson State volleyball coach Dave Moody didn't play up his milestone 450th career coaching victory Friday at Mayville State. For Moody, it just means he has built longevity in the coaching ranks.

In fact, the sweep of the Comets turned somber. In Game 2, first team All-American middle blocker Elizabeth Rodriguez sustained an ankle injury and did not finish the match. She didn't play in Saturday's sweep of Valley City State.

Rodriguez was injured when an opponent landed on her ankle. Rodriguez's x-ray showed a sprain. Moody said his team lifted its level of play after Rodriguez, the 2006 Dakota Athletic Conference player of the year, went out.

"Everybody did really focus a lot more," Moody said. "A week earlier I called our team lazy-good when we allowed Jamestown to take a game from us. I would never dream of using that title with this team now."

Rodriguez, a 6-foot senior from Cali, Colombia, has put down 143 kills this season and has an attacking percentage of .434. She also has 11 stuff blocks. Moody and the Blue Hawks (15-1 overall, 5-0 DAC) are hoping Rodriguez is able to return to the lineup.

Moody went with a makeshift lineup against Mayville and Valley City. Sarah San Nicolas, a defensive specialist, played in Rodriguez's spot. San Nicolas played middle blocker in high school and junior college. Without San Nicolas in the back row, middle blocker-outside hitter Judith Boel played a full rotation.

The Blue Hawks are on a four-match winning streak. Their only loss of the season was dealt by defending NAIA national champion National American University of Rapid City, S.D., on Sept. 8.

Short shots

3 The University of North Dakota women's cross country team placed five runners in the top eight last week at the Dickinson State Invitational. UND senior Kristy Keithley (Dickinson) finished fourth in a time of 19:20. She was followed by junior Mandy Gefroh (Bismarck) who was fifth in 19:52. Sophomores Tika Baker (New Town) and Jessica Messer (Richardton) were sixth and seventh, respectively, with times of 19:58 and 19:59.

3 Bismarck native Trent Johnson played a role in helping Minnesota State-Moorhead top Wayne State 42-18 in college football. Johnson had two tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, one tackle for a loss and a sack that resulted in a 9-yard loss.

3 Valley City State women's basketball coach Jill DeVries has been selected for induction into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame at North Dakota State. DeVries was an All-American guard for the Bison from 1987-91 and captained the 1990-91 team to the NCAA Division II national championship.

3 Former Mayville State basketball player Monty Rogers has signed a contract to play in Finland.