No. 4 Northwestern takes top spot in UMAC Volleyball Coaches' Poll

8/23/2017 12:31:20 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn.---Over the better half of the last decade, the University of Northwestern has built a legacy in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) volleyball that was topped off with an unprecedented season and run to the NCAA Division III Final Four. According to the UMAC coaches, the Eagles aren't expected to slow down any time soon as they were a unanimous pick to finish first in the 2017 Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Wednesday.

| Poll | Matchups | Team Previews |

The Eagles locked up their ninth regular season UMAC title in the last 10 years in 2016 going a perfect 8-0 before finishing with a 34-5 overall mark. The Eagles' dynasty under National Coach of the Year Beth Wilmeth has captured the last five UMAC postseason championships and has made seven-consecutive NCAA appearances. With a returning plethora of talent, the Eagles are set for another exciting season as and tallied 64 points with eight first-place votes for a unanimous first in the conference poll.

The Eagles enter the 2017 season ranked No. 4 in Division III after winning the NCAA regional on their home court last year before defeating Eastern University in a thrilling 3-2 victory to become the first-ever UMAC program in any sport to advance to the national semifinals. Repeating that success, though, may be a challenge, but the return of National Player of the Year in Lindsey Peterson for her final season should help the Eagles make another run.

Over the last three seasons, Peterson has dominated the UMAC twice – being named the conference's Player of the Year and three times earning All-UMAC honors. As a junior, she was an All-America selection after tallying 4.73 kills per set and 4.43 digs per set. Peterson also tallied 20 or more kills eight times last season – including 24 in the Eagles' win over defending national champion California Lutheran University to win the regional final and advance to the Elite Eight.

Peterson will be joined by fellow senior standouts Jackie Doering – a All-Region Honorable Mention libero who averaged 5.07 digs per set – and setter Leesa Malone who earned All-UMAC honors averaging 5.15 assists per set and totaling 102 blocks. Despite losing All-America Honorable Mention Shanay Gonder in the middle, the Eagles should be just as solid all-around welcoming a talented new class of incoming players.

The Eagles will have a tough road if they hope to repeat as they will now face UMAC opponents twice in the regular season. Northwestern also has scheduled matches against four AVCA Preseason Top 25 teams in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (No. 12), the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (No. 18), the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (No. 23) and Gustavus Adolphus College (No. 24). Additionally, the Eagles have matches against four other squads receiving votes in the poll.

Not only will the Eagles face tough competition in non-conference, they must defeat a University of Minnesota Morris team twice that was a dominant second in the UMAC a year ago. The Cougars have made four-straight tournament title matches and racked up 56 points as the favorite for second in the UMAC Coaches' Poll.

Under second-year Head Coach Lauren Torvi, the Cougars should provide a tough test for the Eagles and make a push for the title returning three All-UMAC selections. The Cougars will rely heavily on All-American Honorable Mention Marissa Ekness who led the conference with 4.75 kills per set. UMAC Rookie of the Year Layne Herrmann will anchor the offense after racking up 9.90 assists per set, while Defensive Player of the Year Katie Reitsma returns for her senior campaign after leading the conference with 6.46 digs per set which was seventh in all of Division III.

The College of St. Scholastica repeats this season as the coaches' choice for third and will need its incoming talent to step up on a young team in order to qualify for the postseason tournament. Veteran coach Dana Moore will rely on senior Honorable Mention selection Christaia Houser who was one of the conference's top blockers a season ago picking up 80 total.

Martin Luther College hopes to continue its upward climb in the standings after a 5-3 season a year ago. The Knights' were picked fourth with 42 points and welcome back two of the league's top All-UMAC hitters in seniors Kira Grev and Jade St. Germaine, as well as Honorable Mention Rylee Weisensel who joins her fellow seniors to lead the team's front row attack.

Bethany Lutheran College took fifth a year ago, but the coaches' predicted it would be a close race for the final postseason spot as they were fifth with 34 points and just one point ahead of the University of Wisconsin-Superior in sixth. The Vikings will need All-UMAC hitter Megan Rutt to put together a solid sophomore campaign after a standout rookie season. All-UMAC setter Emily VerWay will be the catalyst for the Yellowjackets' offense and key to a postseason run.

The final three spots in the poll were separated by just one point each with North Central University in seventh (16 points), Northland College in eighth (15 points) and Crown college in ninth (14 points). North Central sees new leadership under former All-UMAC player Faith Vander Galien, while Northland looks for continued improvement with senior Camile Eastburn fueling the offense. Crown brings in new front row players to replace a core of the team lost after last season.

Intriguing Matchups
The UMAC volleyball schedule will have a new look in 2017 with all nine schools playing each other twice counting toward the league standings. There will be four sets of triangular tournaments with each UMAC institution hosting at least once. Triangular dates include Sept. 16, 19, 22/23 and 27. All teams will then play each other school once throughout the remainder of the season.

No. 4 Northwestern will face its toughest challenge during the conference season matching up against Minnesota Morris in the triangular opener at Northland on Sept. 16, before hosting the Cougars on Wednesday, Oct. 11. The Cougars will look to hold their spot in the top two but will need to fight off a traditionally-strong St. Scholastica squad in triangular play Sept. 27 before the two meet again Friday, Oct. 13 in Morris.

Martin Luther has become a staple in the UMAC tournament, but will need to fight off Bethany Lutheran and Wisconsin-Superior to maintain that hold. The Knights host the Yellowjackets in the Sept. 27 triangular, but travel north for the single contest Oct. 14. The Yellowjackets also host the Vikings in the single-game matchup, while the Vikings host the Yellowjackets in triangular play Sept. 16.

Complete UMAC Schedule

2017 UMAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Northwestern – 64 points (8 First Place Votes)
2. Minnesota Morris – 56 (1 First Place Vote)
3. St. Scholastica – 50 points
4. Martin Luther – 42 points
5. Bethany Lutheran – 34 points
6. Wisconsin-Superior – 33 points
7. North Central – 16 points
8. Northland – 15 points
9. Crown – 14 points

Team Previews
| BLC | CC | CSS | MLC | NC | NCU | UMM | UNW | UWS |

Bethany Lutheran College
John Olmanson | 5th Season |

2016 Season
4-4 UMAC, 9-17 | 5th |
Postseason: Lost to Martin Luther College 3-2 in the Opening Round of the UMAC Postseason Tournament.

Top Returners
- Megan Rutt, So., OH | All Conference | 262 Kills, 49 Total Blocks
- Jasmine Carlson, Jr., S | All Conference Honorable Mention | 682 Assists, 215 Digs
- Anna Nelson, Sr., DS/L | 335 Digs
- Rachel Sorenson, Sr., OH | 171 Kills, 134 Digs

College of St. Scholastica
Dane Moore | 21st Season |

2016 Season
6-2 UMAC, 12-16 | 3rd |
Postseason: Lost in UMAC Tournament Semifinals to Minnesota Morris 3-0

Top Returners
- Christaia Houser, Sr., MB | 2016 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 80 Total Blocks, .280 attack pct., 125 kills |
- Emily Bounds, Jr., RS | 105 kills, .219 attack pct.
- Espi Austvold, So., S | 308 assists, 23 service aces, 116 digs |

Need to Know
The Saints finished in the top 25 of NCAA Division III last year in team grade point average.

Crown College
Danielle Hall | 4th season |

2016 Season
0-8 UMAC, 3-23 | 9th |

Top Returners
- Kelsey Roschen, Sr., S | 513 assists, 5.97 a/set, .57 k/set |
- Christine Anderson, Jr, MB | 129 points, 114 kills, 1.46 k/set |
- Alayna Kohler, Sr., OH | .57 k/set, 13 SA, 62.5 points |

Need to Know
New additions to the front row will help aid the loss of multiple front row players, and the addition of some new setters will aid the heavy load Roschen has been carrying the last couple years.

Northland College
Kim Falkenhagen | 5th Season |

2016 Seasom
1-7 UMAC, 3-25 | 8th |

Top Returners
- Camille Eastburn, Sr., OH | Honorable Mention All-Conference, Team Captain, 4-year starter/ 3.96 k/s
- Hannah Hitchcock, Jr., S | UMAC Individual Sportsmanship Award, 2X Captain, 3-year starter
- Adrianna Galitieri, Jr., L | 5.17 digs/set

Need to Know
Outside hitter Bethany Best will return from a season ending injury for her final year.

University of Minnesota Morris
Lauren Torvi | 2nd season |

2016 Season
7-1 UMAC, 16-15 | 2nd |
Postseason: Lost in UMAC championship to Northwestern

Top Returners
- Marissa Ekness, Sr., OH | 2016 All-UMAC First Team, 2015 All-UMAC First Team, 2014 All-UMAC HM | 2016 AVCA All-American HM, 2016 AVCA All-Region | 503 kills, 4.75 k/s, 39 aces, 348 digs, 3.28 d/s |
- Katie Reitsma, Sr., L | 2016 UMAC Def. POY, 2016 All-UMAC First Team, 2015 All-UMAC First Team | 661 digs, 6.36 d/s, 27 aces |
- Layne Herrmann, So., S | 2016 UMAC Rookie of Year, 2016 All-UMAC First Team | 1059 assists, 9/90 a/s, 31 aces, 242 digs, 2/26 d/s |

Need to Know
The Cougars have reached the UMAC championship match four straight seasons.

University of Northwestern
Beth Wilmeth | 14th Season|

2016 Season
8-0 UMAC, 34-5 Overall | 1st |
Postseason: 2016 UMAC Postseason Champions (Win vs. Martin Luther 3-0; Win vs. Minnesota Morris, 3-0); Advanced to NCAA National Semi-Final (Win vs. St. Norbert, 3-0; Win vs. #15 UW-Lacrosse, 3-0; Win vs. #1 California Lutheran, 3-2; Win vs. #13 Eastern 3-2; Loss to #2 Calvin 0-3)

Top Returners
- Lindsey Peterson, Sr., OH | 2016, 2015 UMAC POY; 2015 Defensive POY; 2016, 2015, 2014 All-UMAC; 2014 ROY | 2016 AVCA National Player of the Year; 2016 AVCA First-Team All-American, 2015 AVCA All-American HM | 4.73 k/s, 4.43 d/s, 33 aces, 67 blocks |
- Leesa Malone, Sr., S | 2016 All-UMAC | 5.15 asst/s, 1.33 k/s, 102 blocks |
- Jackie Doering, Sr., L | 2016 All-UMAC, 2015 All-UMAC HM | 2016 AVCA All-Region HM | 5.09 d/s |

Need to Know
In 2016, the Eagles earned their seventh-straight trip to the NCAA tournament, finishing at the NCAA Final 4 for the first time in program history. Head Coach Beth Wilmeth was named the 2016 AVCA National Coach of the Year, and Lindsey Peterson was named the 2016 AVCA National Player of the Year.

Need to Know
The Yellowjackets ranked third in assists per set (10.19) and kills (10.90) in the UMAC in 2016.

Schedule

Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

Conference Members

Conference Members

No. 4 Northwestern takes top spot in UMAC Volleyball Coaches' Poll