(Friday, November 24; Sioux Center, Iowa) Dottie Byars, a senior at Lake Mills Community School (Iowa), has announced her intention to attend Dordt and join the women's volleyball program.  

"Dottie is an extremely hard worker. She's selfless, humble and kind. I am very excited to have Dottie join our program. She is a talented volleyball player with a high ceiling and I'm excited to see her In black and yellow next fall," said Dordt volleyball coach Jacki Smith. 

Byars had over 575 career kills and averaged 3.9 kills per set as a senior while getting to a total of 222 digs and she had 391 senior season kills.  She led the TIC Conference in kills, kill efficiency and ace serves as a 5-10 outside hitter. She earned first-team all-conference and all-area honors as well as being selected as an academic all-stater.  

"I chose Dordt because of the spirit I felt when on campus. While I was walking across campus, talking to the professors and coaches and interacting with the students I could feel the spirit and the lover there is for the Lord at Dordt. The individualized relationships I can make with my professors and coaches is another huge plus, and when meeting the team it truly felt like a great fit," said Byars.  

Dottie is the daughter of Brook Christianson and Justin and Rachel Byars. She plans to study education at Dordt. 

Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive Christian college rooted in the Reformed tradition. The Defender athletic program is a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA).    

U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review all list Dordt on their best colleges lists. Dordt is home to approximately 1,500 students.