Hansen Signs to Play Volleyball at Williston State College

On Friday, May 26, the Williston State Teton Volleyball posted on their social page that newly graduated Malta High School senior Isabel Hansen has officially signed to play collegiate volleyball with the team.

The PCN caught up with Hansen, the daughter of Troy Hansen (Malta) and Sarah Emborg (Billings), as well as stepparents Michelle Hansen and Brian Emborg.

"I'm very excited," Hansen said. "I am a little nervous but I think that it will be a huge opportunity to play college ball, so I am very excited."

When Hansen was looking around at colleges, she reached out to a friend that played volleyball for Williston. She was advised by that friend to reach out to the coach, Chelsea Hinck.

"I did and they offered me a good scholarship, so I decided to go there," Hansen said.

Hansen, who was one of the first Malta wrestlers in school history, reached out to Coach Hinck shortly after wrestling season concluded.

"We talked for a few weeks and she asked if I wanted to come do a visit," Hansen said.

The visit included some time on the court with the current Teton volleyball team. Coach Hinck reached out that same week with an offer.

Hansen described Williston as a nice area due to the amount of money that the state of North Dakota puts into their colleges.

"They have a nice gym, a nice backup gym," she said. Right across the street they have a rec center, where they have an indoor pool, basketball court, volleyball court, tennis, racketball, golf. They have crazy stuff."

Last season, Hansen provided a spark for Malta's volleyball team playing in the back row and hitting from the outside.

"There, I will just play back row, because I am pretty short," Hansen said with a smile.

She received First Team All-Conference Honors as a reward for her efforts and a tribute to what she brought to the team. She had spent her first few years attending Billings Skyview and moved to Malta for her senior season.

She was asked what it has meant for her to be a Malta M-ettes.

"It has meant a lot," Hansen said. "At the beginning, I was kind of secluded. But once I got here and met everyone (at class and in sports, it was great. They are like my new family. It was very good to play volleyball and do wrestling with the students here because they are very accepting."