VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- The Valley City State University basketball teams resume conference play this weekend with a pair of road doubleheaders.

The Vikings hit the pavement for trips to Bellevue University on Friday and Dakota State University on Saturday. Friday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s games at Dakota State will be played at 3 and 5 p.m.

Valley City State’s men will face a unique challenge this weekend as they play without head coach Ryan Montgomery, who is taking a leave of absence to focus on family health issues. Assistant coach Karl Sorby will lead the Vikings, while women’s assistant coach Jordan Skaar will help with the men’s program as well.

“Coach Karl Sorby has been given control of the VCSU Men’s Basketball program and I have the utmost confidence in his abilities to guide the program,” Montgomery said in a statement announcing his leave of absence. “As for my players, I trust them fully and believe they will represent VCSU with great integrity.”

Valley City State’s women are ranked No. 19 in the country and coming off a 1-1 weekend at the Tabor Classic. The Vikings are 12-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play. VCSU’s two losses have come by a combined five points and are against the No. 6 and No. 17 teams in the country.

The Vikings are in second place in the NSAA standings, trailing only University of Jamestown (16-2, 5-0 NSAA). Bellevue University enters Friday’s games with a 8-9 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the NSAA. The Bellevue women’s basketball program is in just its second season of existence.

The Valley City State men enter the conference weekend with a 7-10 overall record and a 1-4 mark in conference play. VCSU is tied for eighth in the conference standings. Mayville State, Dickinson State and Waldorf University are tied atop the league at 4-1 in conference play.

The Vikings have won their last three games which is their longest winning streak of the season. VCSU went 2-0 last weekend at the Tabor Classic in Hillsboro, Kan.

Bellevue University enters Friday’s game with a 9-7 overall record and a 2-2 mark in conference play. The Bruins are 4-1 on their home court this season.

Friday’s games can be heard on Q101 bdyfn|var|u0026u|referrer|ffyfd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
with Saturday’s games on KOVC, games are also on NewsDakota.com