10-Year Celebration: UMAC Volleyball All-Decade honors
ST. PAUL, Minn.---As part of its 2018-19 "10-Year Celebration," the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) named seven individual players to the UMAC Volleyball All-Decade Team and recognized both a Coach and Team of the Decade, the conference announced Thursday.
The seven individuals named to the All-Decade Team include Marissa Ekness (University of Minnesota Morris, 2014-2017), Rebecca Engelbrecht (Martin Luther College, 2010-2013), Stephanie Koth (Northwestern, 2008-2009), Lindsey Peterson (Northwestern, 2014-2017), Katie Reitsma (Minnesota Morris, 2014-2017), Krista Stoltz (Northwestern, 2010-2013) and Anna Zyvoloski (College of St. Scholastica, 2010-2012). University of Northwestern's Beth Wilmeth was picked as the Coach of the Decade and the 2016 Northwestern squad was named the Volleyball Team of the Decade
All-Decade Team
Marissa Ekness, University of Minnesota Morris (2014-2017)
Ekness was a three-time All-UMAC First Team outside hitter for a Minnesota Morris team that finished second in the UMAC in each of her four seasons. In 2015, Ekness led the UMAC in conference-only kills per set (4.44) and was second in 2016 and 2017. As a junior and senior Ekness was an AVCA First Team All-Region and All-America Honorable Mention selection. She was diagnosed with cancer in spring 2017, had major surgery in her hitting arm and returned for her senior season and set the Cougar program-record for career kills (1,717).
Rebecca Engelbrecht, Martin Luther College (2010-2013)
Engelbrecht earned All-UMAC First Team honors three times and was the 2010 UMAC Rookie of the Year. The Martin Luther outside hitter ranks second in program history for kills (1,297) and kills per set and ranked in the top 25 in the NCAA as senior for k/s. As a senior, Engelbrecht boasted a UMAC-best 4.43 k/s in conference play. She finished her career with 12 total UMAC Player of the Week honors and helped the Knights to top four conference team finishes in each of her four seasons.
Stephanie Koth, University of Northwestern (2008-2009)*
Koth was and integral part of the beginning of Northwestern's volleyball dominance in the first 10 years of the conference's Division III membership but played prior to the first AQ to the NCAA tournament. The outside hitter led the Eagles to back-to-back regular season conference titles in 2008 and 2009 and earned UMAC Player of the Year in both seasons. She was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2008 and four-time all-conference player.
Lindsey Peterson, University of Northwestern (2014-2017)
Peterson is the most-decorated UMAC volleyball player in the 10-year NCAA Division III era of the UMAC. The outside hitter owns three UMAC Player of the Year honors and was also Defensive Player of the Year in 2015. She owns four All-UMAC First Team honors and helped Northwestern to four-straight NCAA tournament appearances. She was selected as the 2016 AVCA Division III National Player of the Year during the team's run to the NCAA semifinals. Peterson earned back-to-back AVCA All-America honors in 2016 and 2017 and set program records for career kills (2,151) and career digs (2,234).
Katie Reitsma, University of Minnesota Morris (2014-2017)
Reitsma was a three-time All-UMAC First Team selection and earned back-to-back UMAC Defensive Player of the Year honors to end her four-year career at Minnesota Morris. In 2016, Reitsma boasted 7.14 digs per set in league games and was AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention. As a senior Reitsma was a First Team All-Region honorees and All-America Honorable Mention. She is the all-time career digs leader for the Cougars with 2,024.
Krista Stoltz, University of Northwestern (2010-2013)
Stoltz was a three-year All-UMAC First Team honoree for Northwestern as a setter. During her time, the Eagles won four regular season titles and made four NCAA tournament appearances. In 2012, Stoltz recorded a UMAC-best 12.56 assists per set in conference games and was selected AVCA All-America Second Team. She followed up with AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2013. Stoltz represented Northwestern and the UMAC as a NCAA Woman of the Year Top 9 finalist following completion of her career.
Anna Zyvoloski, College of St. Scholastica (2010-2012)
Zyvoloski finished her three-year career at St. Scholastica with three All-UMAC First Team selections and back-to-back Player of the Year accolades in 2011 and 2012. In both seasons she was a AVCA First Team All-Region honoree. As a junior Zyvoloski was a AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and a AVCA All-America Second Team pick in 2012. She led the Saints to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance and two regular season UMAC titles in 2010 and 2011.
Coach of The Decade
Beth Wilmeth, University of Northwestern
Wilmeth took over Northwestern volleyball in 2004 and has since won 11 UMAC regular season titles. During the NCAA Division III era of the conference, Wilmeth's Eagles have made eight-straight NCAA tournament appearances including trips to the Round of 16 in the last three seasons. In 2016 Wilmeth led her squad to the NCAA national semifinals and was named the AVCA Division III National Coach of the Year. She boasts seven UMAC Coach of the Year accolades and currently serves on the NCAA Division III Volleyball Committee.
Team of The Decade
University of Northwestern, 2016
The 2016 Northwestern volleyball team made program and conference history as the first UMAC team in any sport to reach the NCAA national semifinals. The Eagles kicked off their success winning the UMAC regular season and tournament titles. They were ranked No. 1 in the Central Region and became the first UMAC team selected to host a NCAA regional. The Eagles knocked off defending NCAA champion and No. 1 California Lutheran to win the Central Regional and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals. Northwestern set a program record for wins (34) in a season and were 34-5 overall. Team members included Nicole Brouwer, Jackie Doering, Anna Gasch, Lauren Gillson, Toria Gillson, Shanay Gonder, Freya Hanson, Coral Hulcher, Leesa Hulstrand, Kaelyn Kilbo, Jalyn Larson, Kayla Meyer, Mackenzie Meyerson, Lindsey Peterson, Hannah Stohs, Kayla Tanner, Kylee Thiner and Abby Vander Galien. Head coach was Beth Wilmeth.
*Only seasons a student-athlete competed during the 10-Year timeframe (2008-2018) are listed.
Throughout 2018-19, the UMAC will recognize individual athletes and one coach for each conference sport on All-Decade Teams and name one team as Team of the Decade. Individuals and teams were nominated by UMAC full and associate member institutions and the teams were selected by a committee of administrators and coaches from the UMAC. The All-Decade recognition is part of the UMAC "10-Year Celebration" commemorating the first 10 years of NCAA Division III membership for the UMAC.
All-Decade Team Archives
"10-Year Celebration" Page