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2011 MIAC Volleyball Preview and Preseason Coaches' Poll
Click
here to watch the MIAC's 2011 Volleyball Preview Video
on YouTube.
ST. PAUL , Minn. -- In recent years, the Minnesota Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference has been one of the strongest - and deepest -
leagues in all of Division III. With the 2011 season set to begin,
it looks like that trend will continue with several teams
positioning themselves to make a run at the MIAC title, and several
more eyeing the six MIAC playoff spots.
A year ago, St. Olaf College (31-5, 10-1 MIAC) and the University
of St. Thomas(31-7, 10-1 MIAC) both went 10-1 in league play to
share the conference crown. The Oles added the MIAC Playoff title
to their remarkable season under Coach-of-the-Year Cindy
Book, while St. Thomas advanced all the way to the NCAA
Division III quarterfinals to represent the MIAC at the National
Championship site in St. Louis.
However, there could be a changing of the guard atop the MIAC
standings after looking at the lineup Concordia College (24-7, 9-2)
has coming back. The Cobbers went 9-2 in conference play and also
qualified for the NCAA playoffs in 2010, and bring back two of the
MIAC's top talents to lead their quest for a conference title.
Cobbers claim top spot
Heading into the season, the MIAC coaches agree that
Concordia is the team to beat, as the Cobbers' claimed the top spot
in the 2011 MIAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Head coach Tim
Mosser's team received eight of the 12 first-place votes and racked
up 117 total points to earn the role of preseason favorite. Last
year's co-champs, St. Thomas and St. Olaf, also both received
first-place votes, and were picked to be Concordia's toughest tests
in 2011. The Tommies received three first-place votes and 106
points, while the Oles were third with 94 points and one
first-place vote.
The coaches predict the final three spots in the 2011 MIAC Playoff
field will go to the College of Saint Benedict (18-12, 6-5 MIAC),
Saint Mary's University (21-10, 7-4 MIAC) and Bethel University
(13-16, 5-6 MIAC), in that order. The Blazers finished fourth, just
two points behind St. Olaf, with 92 points. The Cardinals received
81 points to finish in the top five, and Bethel had a total of 75
points to claim the sixth spot - the cutoff for the Playoffs - in
the preseason poll.
The next five spots, seven through 11, were decided by just 16
total points, proving the league's depth and parity, and proving
that almost every team in the league could factor into the race for
the final playoff spots again in 2011. St. Catherine University
(9-20, 6-5 MIAC) - a playoff team last year - came in seventh with
49 points. Augsburg College (16-14, 5-6 MIAC) was eighth with
45, Carleton (10-14, 2-9 MIAC) finished ninth with 42 points,
Gustavus Adolphus College (7-19, 1-10 MIAC) had 37 points at No. 10
and Hamline University (10-18, 2-9) was picked 11th with 33 points.
Macalester College (13-16, 3-8 MIAC) rounded out the coaches' poll
with 15 points.
Three in the Top 16
The MIAC's position in the national volleyball landscape was
validated once again earlier this month when the American
Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) released its 2011
Preseason Division III Top 25 Coaches' Poll. The MIAC landed
three teams in the top 16, and it was the same three that top the
MIAC Coaches' Poll.
The Tommies, fresh off their National Tournament run, enter the
season as the MIAC's highest ranked team at No. 10 in the nation.
Concordia checks in at No. 14 and St. Olaf is just two spots behind
the Cobbers at No. 16. Calvin received 23 of the 24 first-place
votes to start the season ranked No. 1 in Division III. The next
installment of the poll will be released on the AVCA's Web site on
Sept. 6.
Ready to serve
2011 MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own
team. Points were assigned for each vote (11 for first, 10 for
second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to
lowest with vote totals listed and first-place votes shown in
parentheses.
|
2011 MIAC Volleyball |
||
| Rank | Institution | Total |
| 1 | Concordia (8) | 117 |
| 2 | St. Thomas (3) | 106 |
| 3 | St. Olaf (1) | 94 |
| 4 | Saint Benedict | 92 |
| 5 | Saint Mary's | 81 |
| 6 | Bethel | 75 |
| 7 | St. Catherine | 49 |
| 8 | Augsburg | 45 |
| 9 | Carleton | 42 |
| 10 | Gustavus | 37 |
| 11 | Hamline | 33 |
| 12 | Macalester | 15 |
2011 MIAC Playoffs Dates
(Top Six Teams): Quarterfinals (Tuesday, Nov. 1), Semifinals
(Thursday, Nov. 3), Finals (Saturday, Nov. 5).
| 2011
MIAC Schedule | 2010
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Recordbook | MIAC
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Augsburg
Coach: Jane Becker
Career Record: 16-14 (1 season)
2010 Finish: Tied 7th (16-14, 5-6
MIAC)
| Augsburg Season Preview |
|
The Augsburg College volleyball team will enter the 2011 season
with high hopes. With eight letterwinners returning to the team,
second-year head coach Jane Becker is excited about the potential
for this year's group. Talented sophomore and junior classes The Auggies will also be boosted by the return of a strong group
of front-line players, including Nikolene Miller (JR, Tomahawk,
Wis.), Jamila Lee (JR, Richfield, Minn.) and Micha Sater (JR,
Fridley, Minn./Centennial HS). Miller and Lee ranked first and
second respectively in blocks per-set in 2010, with Miller
recording 107 (16 solo, 1.03 per-set) and Lee recording 77 (9 solo,
0.79 per-set). Sater will be able to return to the floor after
missing the better part of the 2010 season due to injury. |
Bethel
Coach: Gretchen
Hunt
Career Record: 172-138 (10
seasons)
2010 Finish:
Tied 7th (13-16, 5-6 MIAC)
| Bethel Season Preview |
|
Upperclassmen The Royals will be led by six returning upperclass athletes
with significant playing experience: seniors Nicole Wriedt,
Kate Smith, and Haley Toter, and juniors Caitie Helle, Val Smith,
and Amy Werner. Each of these players has already played in at
least 50 matches in their career.
Wriedt leads the way as a two-time All-MIAC selection, she has
played in 82 matches, tallying 767 killls and 154 blocks in her
career. As a strong blocker and versatile offensive player from the
opposite side, Wriedt causes problems for opposing teams with
the variety of sets she can run and block she can put up on outside
hitters. "Nicole is a great leader, a smart player, a hard worker,
and she's a talented athlete," says Head Coach Gretchen Hunt.
"I just can't ask anymore of her than she already gives, and
I'm really looking forward to a successful season for
her."
Helle and Werner will anchor the middle blocker
position after strong sophomore campaigns. Helle was also an
All-MIAC selection in 2010, was twice named MIAC Player of the
Week, and finished the season ranked 44th nationally in blocks per
set. Werner finished both 2009 and 2010 ranked in the top 40
nationally in blocks per set, and has also racked up 490 kills in
her first two seasons. "Caitie and Amy are as formidable at the
middle blocker position as anyone we'll face in our conference or
regionally this season," says Hunt.
Kate Smith will get her chance to run the offense after
sharing duties the past three seasons with Betsy Naatjes, who
graduated this spring. Smith has appeared in 73 matches in her
career as a setter/hitter, tallying 254 kills and 852 assists. Hunt
says, "Kate will get her chance to mentor our freshmen setters this
year, and I know she'll be a great teacher. I also look forward to
seeing her take control of this team as her own and run the offense
with confidence."
Toter has been a sometimes starter at outside hitter, while
also playing significant time at defensive specialist, appearing in
67 matches. And finally, Val Smith will enter her third season as
the libero for the Royals, closing in on 1,000 digs as the season
begins. "Haley and Val are two of our most solid passers in serve
receive," says Hunt, "and we need both of them to be very
consistent in that area. I also really look forward to seeing Val
take some steps to becoming one of the really elite individual
defenders in our conference. She has worked hard this offseason,
and I really think it will pay off."
Other returners
Three sophomores are hoping to battle for increased playing
time as their second season begins. Nicole Ackatz appeared in a
handful of matches for the Royals last season, primarily at right
side or middle hitter. After moving to outside hitter during spring
workouts, Ackatz seems to have found a comfort level at that
position and looks to take over one of the spots vacated by the
graduation of Hannah Parks and Brianna Falck.
Mallory Rundquist appeared in 24 matches for the Royals as a
defensive specialist, and will challenge to become a part of the
regular defensive rotation. Rachel Bloom returns to Bethel after
spending what would have been her senior year in high school as a
PSEO student at Bethel, and after a year of learning the
college game and a commitment to her strength and conditioning,
will challenge for court time. "These three sophomores have worked
hard in the off-season to take their next steps in leadership
development, in their strength and conditioning, and in becoming
more confident on the court. They are ready to compete for
significant playing time with our returners and our talented
freshmen," says Hunt.
Newcomers
Setters: Cierra Nickel is a 5'-6” setter
who competed for Red Rock Central High School. Nickel was selected
to the six-person All-Area First Team of the Worthington Daily
Globe, and was a first team All-Conference selection (Red Rock) in
2008, 2009, and 2010. She surpassed 1,000 assists for her career
during her senior season. Nickel was also a first team
All-Conference basketball athlete, after averaging 10 points and
four assists from the guard position as a senior.
Anna Goerlitz is a 5'-8" setter/hitter who was a four-time
letterwinner in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. In
volleyball she was a first-team All-Conference selection
(Cloverbelt) as a sophomore, junior, and senior and team MVP
all three years.
Middles: Michelle Bailey is a 6'-0” middle
blocker from Kasson-Mantorville High School. A 2009 and 2010 first
team All-Conference selection (Hiawatha Valley), and a member of
the SMV Volleyball Club out of Rochester, Bailey brings a wealth of
experience.
Lauren Olson, who hails from Lynden, Washington, was a starter
on the powerhouse Lynden Lions. She is another 6'-0” middle
blocker with great athletic potential. Lynden has brought home a
consolation or championship trophy from the state tournament in
Washington four of the last five years. Olson is a two-sport
athlete who competed on the varsity tennis team as well.
Haley Christensen is a 5'-11” middle blocker from Pusch
Ridge Christian Academy in Tucson, Arizona. Christensen was an
Arizona Daily Star All-Southern Arizona Volleyball Team Honorable
Mention Selection in 2010. Another multi-sport athlete in high
school, she also garnered Honorable Mention All-City honors from
the Daily Star in basketball.
Anna Bernstetter is a 5'-9" middle blocker from Holdingford
High School. A 2010 first team All-Conference selection (Central
Minnesota), Anna was selected to the North Central Volleyball
All-Star Game in 2010. Another multi-sport athlete, Anna was also
an All-Conference selection in basketball and softball.
Outsides: Sam Olson is a 5'-9” middle blocker
or outside hitter from St. Louis Park High School and the Crossfire
Volleyball Club. Another multi-sport athlete, Olson was a first
team All-Conference (North Suburban) selection in 2010, and she
also competed for the St. Louis Park track and field team. Olson
garnered All-Conference honors in the high jump in 2010.
From Sheldon, Iowa, comes Kelly Van Wyk, a 5'-10” middle
blocker or outside hitter. Van Wyk was named to the Siouxland
All-Conference first team in 2010 and the IGCA Volleyball Academic
All State team. In 2009, she was a part of a Sheldon team that made
an appearance in the Iowa State Tournament for Class 2A, garnering
runner-up honors.
Kirstin Paulson is a 5'-7” outside hitter from Florence,
Wisconsin, and Florence High School. An All-Conference (Northern
Lakes) first team selection in 2009 and 2010, a Green Bay Press
Gazette All-Area second team selection in 2010, and a three-sport
athlete with basketball and track, Paulson was part of Florence's
4x400 relay team that finished third at the Wisconsin State Track
and Field Championships in 2009, in a school record time.
Christa Bruessel is a sophomore at Bethel who will be trying
out for volleyball for the first time. After a strong season as a
junior in high school at Owatonna and for the Northern Lights
Volleyball Club, Bruessel was sidelined with a knee injury that
lingered her entire senior year. After taking a season off,
Bruessel is hoping to return to the form she had two years
ago.
Defensive specialists: Kristin Wyss is a utility player and
defensive specialist from Clear Lake, Wisconsin, for Clear Lake
High School. An Honorable Mention All-Conference (Lakeland)
selection in 2010, Wyss played club volleyball for the Mahtomedi
Area Volleyball Association (MAVA). Wyss was also a four-year
varsity track athlete, as a sprinter and a jumper, qualifying for
the Wisconsin State Track Meet in 2009.
Hannah Indlecoffer is a 5'-4” defensive specialist
from White Bear Lake High School and the White Bear Lake Volleyball
Club. Indlecoffer was a three-year varsity player.
|
Carleton
Coach: Heidi
Jaynes
Career Record: 173-139 (12
seasons)
2010
Finish: Tied 10th (10-14, 2-9 MIAC)
| Carleton Season Preview |
|
The Carleton volleyball team hopes that 2011 offers much more stability than last year’s campaign. Last fall, the Knights had their season turned upside down when the Cannon River flooded a number of Carleton’s athletic facilities. The team played just one match on its home court inside West Gym, moving five other contests to other venues around campus and the Northfield area. Graduation once again created holes in the rotation, claiming
three impact players from the 2010 lineup: All-MIAC performer Kelly
Lovett, setter Beth Jarrett and outside hitter Kyla Walter.
This year the Knights will lean upon senior libero Erin
Anderson (Bloomington, Minn.) and a trio of juniors: middle hitter
Jessa Youso (Virginia, Minn.), right-side Sarah Nielsen (Altoona,
Wis.) and setter Hannah Folz (Evanston, Ill.)
In 2010, Carleton once again led the conference in blocks,
limiting the statistical accolades for Anderson in her first season
as the libero, yet she easily paced the squad at 3.67 digs per set.
Youso led the team with a .265 hitting percentage, was second at
2.46 kills per set, and ranked third in blocks. For the second
consecutive year, Nielsen finished second on the team in blocks,
this time placing sixth in the MIAC. She also ranked second on the
roster in attack percentage (.230). Sidelined for the entire 2010
season by illness, Folz was second on the roster in sets during her
rookie year.
Then-rookies Sami Kemper (Prior Lake, Minn.), Ellie Schmidt
(Denver, Colo.), and Chloe Nelson (Madison, Wis.) handled the
uncertainty of last year, seeing plenty of playing time and gaining
valuable experience, as the trio appeared in virtually every
set.
Kemper’s all-around play permitted her to stay on the
court throughout the rotation, and she was third on the squad with
1.76 kills while also ranking among team leaders in blocks, digs,
and assists. Schmidt spent the majority of the year on the back
row, ranking behind Anderson with 2.24 digs per set. Nelson served
as a defensive specialist and finished sixth in the MIAC in service
aces.
Senior Ailsa McCulloch (Woodside, Calif.), junior Elissa
Walter (Aspen, Colo.) and sophomores Rachel Johnson (Woodbury,
Minn.) and Haley Woodward (Edina, Minn.) provide added depth along
the front row.
Six newcomers join the roster in 2011: sophomore Becca Hobbs
(Williams bay, Wis.) and rookies Alicia Flatt (Walnut Creek,
Calif.), Liz Groesbeck (Henderson, Nev.), Karen Halls (Edina,
Minn.), Claire Willeck (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Rachel Womack (St.
Paul, Minn.).
|
Concordia
Coach:
Tim Mosser
Career Record: 346-122 (18
seasons)
2010
Finish: 3rd (24-7, 9-2 MIAC)
| Concordia Season Preview |
|
Not much has changed for the Concordia volleyball team since
they last left the court in the NCAA Tournament in November. The
Cobbers return all six starting players and have everyone back from
a team that went 24-7 on the year and was within one game of the
MIAC regular season championship. |
Gustavus
Coach: Rachelle Dosch
Career Record: 7-19 (1
season)
2010
Finish: 12th (7-19, 1-10 MIAC)
| Gustavus Season Preview |
|
The Gustavus volleyball team enters the 2011 season with a chip on its shoulder after finishing 12th in the MIAC last season with an overall record of 7-19 and a MIAC mark of 1-10. Head Coach Rachelle Dosch, in her second season at the head of the volleyball program, already sees a fresh attitude and a new focus in the gym. “Everyone is more comfortable with each other and with
the coaching staff the second year around. Everybody has
really worked hard to be on the same page,” said
Dosch.
The 2011 Gusties will be led by senior captains Angela Ahrendt
(St. Paul, Minn.), Malea Noennig (Norwood Young America, Minn.),
Olivia Warren (Goodhue, Minn.), and Katie Ness (Excelsior,
Minn). Angela Ahrendt, a proven force at the net in her first
three seasons, led the team in kills last season with 292,
averaging 2.95 kills per set. Ahrendt finished second in the
MIAC in blocks per set (1.13) and fifth in hitting percentage
(.297). She enters the year knocking on the door of the
Gustavus 1000 kill club with 823 in her career. Noennig
returns as the squad’s go-to setter, as she led the team in
assists with 589, averaging 7.10 assists per set. Olivia
Warren will look to reprise her role as an outside hitter after
missing the majority of last season due to illness, while Ness will
add depth to the back row. Coach Dosch says that the intensity
in practice stems from the four senior captains.
“They have wowed me in the way that they have stepped up
into this leadership role and it began as soon as they found out
they were captains,” commented Dosch on the leadership of her
senior captains. “They have really bought into our
system and have done a lot of work to learn how to be leaders in
this program.”
Juniors Kelsey Florian (Roseville, Minn.), Emily Phillips
(Cleveland, Minn.), Erin Sherman (Golden Valley, Minn.), and Lisa
Beacher (Roseville, Minn.) can all be expected to play larger roles
this season. Florian will compliment Noennig at setter,
recording 74 sets played and 344 assists last season. Phillips
played in 91 sets, notching 148 kills (1.63 k/set). Sherman
finished third on the team in digs last season with 171 (2.14
d/set) and will add depth to the back row, while Beacher will
compliment the front row as an outside hitter.
“The juniors again are a big part of this
program. On a level on and off the court, all of them have
important leadership qualities that help move our team in the right
direction,” said Dosch.
Sophomore Dana Boerboom (Cottonwood, Minn.) put her
versatility on display in her rookie season, finishing second on
the team in kills with 240 (2.55 k/set) and digs with 179 (1.90
d/set). Jenna Lagatt (Sartell, Minn.) will also be asked to
provide depth on defense in her second year.
First year players Emily Gilman (Maple Grove, Minn.), Jessica
Grill (Elk River, Minn.), and Shelby Nosan (Baudette, Minn.) have
all made an impact in training camp and will be expected to
contribute in the front row.
“Our freshman class has really impressed me so
far. They are really pushing both the upperclasses and
themselves. They have all come in here and taken the
initiative to be ready to go at the college level,” stated
Dosch.
Gustavus will open the 2011 season at the Pike’s Peak
Challenge hosted by Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo. on
Sept. 2-3. The Gusties will play four matches while in
Colorado Springs starting with Howard Payne University and
Westminster College on Friday, and finishing with Colorado College
and SUNY New Paltz on Saturday.
“We are really going to focus on the things that we have
been working on this pre-season and brining that to game
situations,” remarked Dosch on her expectations for the team
at the Pike’s Peak Challenge. “It’s the
first tournament and the lineup isn’t set yet, so it will be
a good opportunity to see who is working the best together on the
court. We will face a good mix of teams that we don’t
know very well, so its up to us to go in prepared and play our
best.”
|
Hamline
Coach: Audrey
Ludwig
Career Record: 10-18 (1 season)
2010 Finish:
Tied 10th (10-18, 2-9 MIAC)
| Hamline Season Preview |
|
12 new names join a pair of returning players on the 2011 Hamline University volleyball roster as second year head coach Audrey Ludwig brings in one of the largest recruiting classes the Pipers have ever seen. There’s not a senior on Ludwig’s roster but that
doesn’t mean that the young team will lack leadership.
Outside Hitter Aisha Baker (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) and Middle
Blocker Sam Greeney-Hamlin (So., St. Cloud, Minn.) return to the
court to help the Pipers establish a strong team identity.
Both players saw considerable action for the Pipers last
season.
Greeney-Hamlin is a good example for her teammates of the
impact that a first-year player can have on the court. In her
inaugural campaign last season, she led the Piper attack with 2.37
kills/set and 242 total kills. She also tied for the team
lead in total blocks with 34.
Baker was second on the team in kills/set last year at 1.95,
and tallied 154 total for the season. She is also a strong leader
off the court and will be a good mentor for the newcomers competing
at the outside hitter position. She was also Hamline’s
representative on the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team in 2010.
First-year players Frankie Miller (Grand Island, Neb.) and
Paige Walters (Nevis, Minn.) will join Baker in competition for the
OH role. Ludwig is also looking for Mackenzie Remick (Prior Lake,
Minn.), a 6-2 right side hitter who was the MVP of the South
Suburban Conference last year, to bring a strong blocking presence
to the floor for the Pipers. “We have a lot of players
coming in who are from excellent club and high school
programs,” Ludwig said. “They will be expected to fill
major roles for us this season from day one.”
Their classmates Karley Kilian (St. Michael, Minn.), Hanna
Arns (Waverly, Iowa), Dani Schultz (Eden Prairie, Minn.), and
Stephanie Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) bring in a versatility as hitters,
all having played a lot of different attacking roles and therefore
allowing Ludwig numerous lineup possibilities. Schultz is 5-11
while Kilian and Kaup stand 6-0, offering excellent size to the
Pipers’ front wall.
Assisting the Piper attack will be a pair of first-year
setters looking to make an immediate impression. Sammie Miller
(Grand Island, Neb.) – Frankie’s twin sister –
will be joined by Becka Mozes (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and at the
position. Ludwig, a three-time All-MIAC setter for St. Olaf,
believes that all three are capable and talented setters who each
bring something different to the court.
As with the other positions, the battle for libero and
defensive specialist roles are wide open between Lynsey Reimer
(Peosta, Iowa), Lacy Koss (Dodge Center, Minn.), and Brittney
Bredemus (Andover, Minn.).
The young Pipers will play nine matches (including a pair of
weekend tournaments on the road) before starting MIAC play
September 13 at Concordia. Another weekend tournament follows. So,
by the time the Pipers are ready for the meat of the conference
slate, Ludwig may have a good feel for where her players
stand.
“With this many new players, establishing the intensity
and work ethic of our gym culture and developing team chemistry
early on will be important to our success. The incoming players
will need to learn our systems and style of play quickly before our
opening match (against Bethany Lutheran on September 1),” she
said. “What I do know at this point is that we have a lot of
players who are passionate about playing volleyball for Hamline.
That’s a great base to start from. It will be exciting to
more forward from there.”
|
Macalester
Coach:
Annie Doman
Career Record: 13-16 (1 season)
2010
Finish: 9th (13-16, 3-8 MIAC)
| Macalester Season Preview |
|
After going winless in MIAC play three seasons in a row, Macalester made outstanding progress last fall under new coach Annie Doman, and is looking to continue improving in 2011. The Scots went 13-16 last fall, matching their victory total from their previous three campaigns, and return most key players. One player who will be difficult to replace will be All-MIAC
pick Majra Mucic, who ranked fifth in the conference with 3.6 kills
per set. She hit .297 on the season and led the team with 4.1
points a set. Expecting to take over much of the
responsibilities at the net will be Laura Avena (So., Cesis, Latvia
/ Riga Gymnasium #1), one of the MIAC’s top newcomers a year
ago. Avena hit .245 with 2.42 kills and 3.1 points per set,
and with her hard-moving jump serve, ranked fifth in the
league with 0.49 aces per set. She will be joined on the front
line by Taylor Tinkham (Sr., St. Louis Park, Minn.), who hit 2.2
kills per set with a .250 hitting percentage and team-best 68
blocks.
Danielle Dweck (Sr., Sea Cliff, N.Y. / North Shore) returns to
her setter role after ranking eighth in the conference with 7.3
assists a set. Anna Trier (Jr., Sun Prairie, Wis.) was among
the league-leaders in serving aces.
Several other key returners are back for Coach Doman,
including Bailey Rehnberg (So., York, Pa. / York Suberban), Mattie
Hill (Jr., Liberty, Mo.) and back row standout Glasha Marcon (Jr.,
Richmond, Calif. / Albany).
Coach Doman has brought in several new first-years who will
challenge the returners.
“I am very excited for the season,” said Coach
Doman. “It will be great to have back so many returners
with a lot of experience, combined with our incoming
first-years.”
|
Saint
Benedict
Coach: Nicole Hess
Career Record: 18-12 (1 season)
2010
Finish: Tied 5th (18-12, 6-5 MIAC)
| Saint Benedict Season Preview |
|
In her first year at CSB, Chelsie Sobieck played in the elite eight round of the NCAA Tournament. Now in her final collegiate season, senior captain Sobieck will try to lead the Blazers to similar heights. The College of Saint Benedict Blazer volleyball team enters
the 2011 season looking to build off of last year’s trip to
the MIAC Semifinals, where they lost to eventual conference
champion St. Olaf 2-3. CSB finished 18-12 overall and 6-5 in
the MIAC.
Head Coach Nicole Hess begins her second season at Saint
Benedict with a career coaching record of 82-144. After
picking up her first postseason victory against Saint Mary’s
3-1 last year, Hess hopes to enjoy more playoff success with a team
that ranked nationally in assists (32nd, 11.70 assists per set),
blocks (41st, 2.14 blocks per set) and kills (47th, 12.37 kills per
set).
Sobieck, an outside hitter, is the last active member of the
2008 squad that advanced to the national quarterfinals. After
ranking second and third for the Blazers in kills and digs
respectively, she averaged 2.52 kills and 2.12 digs in 111 sets in
2010. Sobieck now has 897 kills and 867 digs in her
career.
Joining Sobieck as co-captain is junior middle blocker Shannon
Bassett. Last season she compiled 207 kills and 87 blocks
while leading the team with 28 service aces.
Despite having only a few veteran players, the team is rich in
talent. Sophomore setter Kathryn Gaydos was a sensation for
the Blazers in 2010, ranking third in the MIAC with 10.53 digs per
set. In addition to being ranked 22nd in Division III in
assists per set, Gaydos was named to the all-conference team and
was chosen as the MIAC Rookie of the Year.
Other sophomores that made significant contributions last
season include outside hitters Lexi Alm and Chelsea Rachel. In
89 sets, Alm averaged 3.25 digs, 2.33 kills and 0.42
blocks. She missed the last four matches of 2010 due to
injury. Rachel was selected as the team’s most improved
player after recording 179 digs in 58 sets. She tallied
double-digit digs in 16 of the 18 matches she played in, including
a 24-dig effort in the regular season finale against
Concordia-Moorhead.
With the addition of an impressive class of 2015, the young
but experienced Blazers are prepared to make a deep run in the MIAC
Playoffs and vie for an NCAA Tournament bid.
| Saint Benedict volleyball page | 2011 Roster | 2011 Schedule | |
St.
Catherine
Coach:
Corey Phelps
Career Record: 9-20 (1
season)
2010 Finish:
Tied 5th (9-20, 6-5 MIAC)
| St. Catherine Season Preview |
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Fresh off their first playoff berth in several seasons, this year’s Wildcat squad has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about making another playoff run in 2011. With half a dozen athletes that can play multiple positions, the Wildcats boast unparalleled versatility and improved depth from last season. While the loss of MIAC Defensive Player of the Year Nicole Neumann will be felt, the Wildcats return four starters and will use their depth to implement a variety of lineups. Seniors Kayla Sis and Callie Teigen, along with junior Brittni
Wangerin, will be key players for the Wildcats again this
season. Wangerin led the team last year in kills and kills per
set. Sis was second to Wangerin in both categories, in
addition to leading the team in attack percentage. Teigen led
the team in aces and was second in set assists while moving among
several positions. Both Sis and Wangerin will anchor the front
line attack, while Teigen has the versatility to play almost
anywhere on the floor.
A talented group of incomers will help push the upperclassmen
and raise the overall team level of play. First-year setter
Jordyn Wentland was the North Suburban Conference player of the
year in 2010 and should see significant playing
time. First-year Karsee Kuntson and transfer Kelsey Wirtanen
both have the ability to start at several different positions and
will enhance the Wildcat’s versatility. Overall, the
athleticism and volleyball knowledge of every player will make this
a well-rounded Wildcat team.
Head Coach Corey Phelps says the coaching staff is
“cautiously optimistic about our chances. If we can stay
healthy, the potential is there for this program to take some big
strides forward this season. With our improved versatility and
depth, we’ll have the opportunity to figure out who we are as
a program both offensively and defensively and what the strengths
of this team will be in years to come.”
The Wildcats open up the season on September 2nd and 3rd at
the UW Stevens Point Tournament. They will host the St.
Kate’s Tournament on September 9th and 10th before heading to
Northfield on September 14th to open conference play with a match
against Carleton.
| St. Catherine volleyball page | 2011 Roster | 2011 Schedule | |
Saint
Mary's
Coach:
Mike Lester
Career Record: 234-171 (14
seasons)
2010 Finish:
4th (21-10, 7-4 MIAC)
| Saint Mary's Season Preview |
|
ABC’s Wide World of Sports may have coined the phrase, “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,” but the Saint Mary’s University volleyball team lived it in 2010. And it was that “agony of defeat” — failing to earn an invitation to the NCAA national tournament — that has helped fuel the Cardinals’ drive entering 2011. “The season has officially just begun, but the ladies have been anxious and ready to go for a while,” said SMU coach Mike Lester, whose team finished 21-10 a year ago — claiming their third straight Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament appearance, and eclipsing the 20-win barrier for the second straight year. “There’s no question the returners felt they played well enough to earn the right to play in the NCAA Tournament and not being selected hurt a little bit. I’m sure it lit a fire in some of our returners. “We haven’t really talked a lot about last year, mainly because we are trying to change the focus to this season. And this year’s squad will have a far different look when they kick off the season at the Sugar Loaf Classic on Sept. 2. Gone is two-time honorable-mention All-American Sarah Gardner, who closed out her senior year with a single-season career-best 429 kills.She was just the sixth player in SMU volleyball history to record 400 or more kills in a season — while also finishing her illustrious four years at SMU with 1,419 career kills, 62 kills shy of Diane Wood for second all time. Gone is three-time All-MIAC first-teamer Jessica Mate, who also completed a stellar senior season in 2010, recording a single-season career-best 354 kills, while finishing No. 5 all-time in career kills with 1,306. Gone is setter Brittany Cherwinka, just one of two SMU setters to leave SMU with 3,000 or more assists in a career — finishing 2010 with 870 assists and closing out her four-year SMU career with 3,164.Gone are four-year regulars Sarah Harstad, Emily Welhaven, Lindsey Legett and Rachel Monterastelli. Gone, but not forgotten. “When you lose seven players who played significant roles, it’s sure to have an impact,” said Lester. “We lost some very talented individuals, but everyone here also knows that it’s about the team — the players returning know there are some roles and opportunities for them to step in and do some good things. “The nice thing is, they are experienced players to go along with our new incoming freshmen.” Despite the loss of those seven graduated seniors, Lester’s cupboard is far from bare. All-MIAC First Team selection Amy Kujak (River Falls, Wis.) is back — and more healthy than ever following off-season shoulder surgery — while Erika Hurley (Chatfield, Minn.), Carissa Hahn (Hutchinson, Minn.) Cathy Rennie (Pine Island, Minn.), Tara Rasmussen (Kasson, Minn.), Megan Leisen (Kellogg, Minn.), Kaylee Bunne (LeRoy, Minn.), Sabrina Bushlack (Mapleton, Minn.) and Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.) are all back to fuel SMU’s quest for a fourth straight MIAC Tournament appearance — not to mention another run at a national tournament invitation. “It’s going to be an interesting year,” said Lester. “I’ve tried to tell everyone who will listen that we can have a very, very good season — everybody talks about what we lost, but we’re talking about the players that are returning. “And with the returners we have, and a very good crop of incoming freshmen, our expectations are the same as every year — to compete for a conference championship. Whether we get there or not, who’s to say, sometimes you can’t control that. “Our plan is to be in position to win every conference match and put ourselves in position to make the conference tournament or win a conference title, wherever the chips may fall — but I think we are going to be in that mix somewhere.”
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St.
Olaf
Coach:
Cindy Book
Career Record: 678-311 (29
seasons)
2010
Finish: Tied 1st (31-5, 10-1 MIAC)
| St. Olaf Season Preview |
|
The St. Olaf volleyball team, ranked 16th in the AVCA's preseason poll and off its second straight NCAA appearance and 31-5, will look to an experienced group in 2011 in its quest for another solid season. The Oles return all but two from last year's team, albeit an
important two. St. Olaf graduated two-time All-America outside Kim
Smisek and setter Kelly Prunty and will look to its returners to
pick up the slack.
OUTSIDE HITTERS
On the outside, Katie Wolfram (Jr., Woodinville, Wash./Bear
Creek) will anchor one of the spots, where she has for each of the
last two seasons. Wolfram accumulated 301 kills (2.30/set). The
other spot will likely go to Kelly Heissel (Soph., Depere, Wis.).
Heissel, a two-time all-conference pick in high school, appeared in
one match last season.
St. Olaf also added first year outside Molly Nelson (Eagan,
Minn. / Eastview) to the team.
MIDDLES
All-MIAC middle Ari Carlson returns for her junior campaign.
Carlson was outstanding in her first season with the Oles -- after
transfering from Division I Texas A&M Corpus Christi -- with
2.43 kills/set. She hit .274 and was second on the team in kills
with 323.
The other middle spot will likely belong to first year Maggie
Prunty (Welcome, Minn. / Martin County West), a three-time all-area
pick and younger sister of the graduated setter, Kelly. Prunty
led her Martin County West High School team to state, where she was
an all-tournament selection.
Junior Katie Henning (Wheaton, Ill. / Warrenville So.) could
see time in the middle or right. Henning was third on the team in
blocks last season, and collected 104 kills while playing in 31 of
the team's 36 matches.
RIGHT
Junior Melissa Burch (Lawrence, Kan. / Free State) will hold
down the Oles' right side attack. Burch played in every set and
match in 2010 and has 527 career kills to her credit. Burch
was the Oles' top attacker, hitting percentage-wise, at a .287 clip
last season. The Oles also have Alex Repperger (Soph., Cedarburg,
Wis.) back for her second season.
SETTER
Sophomore Justine Dammermann (Spicer, Minn. / New
London-Spicer) and Meghan Olsen (Fy., Stillwater, Minn.) will
compete for the setter spot.
DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
The trio of Kirstee Rotty (Jr., Farmington, Minn.), Katie
McDonald (Sr., Northfield, Minn.) and Kristin Boyum (Sr.,
Wanamingo, Minn. / Kenyon-Wanamingo) will achor the backcourt.
Boyum operated as the team's libero in 2010, collecting a team-high
534 digs while Rotty had 392. McDonald was the team's patroller,
and had 223 digs last fall.
SCHEDULE
St. Olaf opens with the its invitational event Sept. 1-2 with
matches against St. Scholastica, Crown, Bethany Lutheran and Martin
Luther. After a tournament at Wartburg, the Oles open MIAC play
with a home match against Bethel on Sept. 14.
|
St.
Thomas
Coach:
Thanh Pham
Career Record: 216-57 (7 seasons)
2010
Finish: Tied 1st (31-7, 10-1 MIAC)
| St. Thomas Season Preview |
|
The Tommie volleyball team is ranked 10th in the 2011 Division III preseason poll by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA). St. Thomas has been ranked in the top 25 for 71 of the last 72 consecutive polls. Last season, St. Thomas shared the MIAC championship, won the NCAA region playoff championship and tied for fifth in the nation with the program's first appearnce in the national finals and a 31-7 overall record. It was the Tommies' seventh MIUAC title or co-title in the last nine seasons. UST graduated seven seniors, including setter Emily Foster, a three-time All-America and two-time conference Player of the Year. Foster surpassed 5,500 career asissts to rank No. 2 in MIAC history. Junior libero Kaitlin Wachler, sophomore hitters Nicole Potts and KariAnne Nass, a soph middle blocker Mackenzie Piechowski lead the group of 13 returners. UST has 15 freshmen, and among those expected to push for playing time include 5-8 OH Jill Greenfield of Hopkins; 6-0 MB Kelly Foley of Cretin-Derham Hall; 6-1 OH Sara Atkinson of Mounds View; and 5-6 setter Elizabeth Hawkins of Blaine. St. Thomas will open its 2011 season with the Sugar Loaf Invite at St. Mary's on September 2-3, then seven days later will take on Augsburg, Northwestern, and UW-Stevens Point in pool A of the Augsburg Tournament. UST later will travel to San Antonio and twice to Iowa for weekend competitions. UST has made its mark on the national and conference scene in
Coach Thanh Pham's first eight seasons. Pham's .787 win percentage
(216-57) ranks fifth nationally among active Division III coaches.
Over the last six seasons, St. Thomas has the eighth best won-loss
record out of 350-plus teams in Division III. The Toms’
172-37 record since 2005 includes a 76-9 record vs. MIAC
opponents. |
