No. 15 Northwestern slated in top spot of UMAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
ST. PAUL, Minn.---No. 15-ranked University of Northwestern has dominated the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) for the better part of a decade winning seven-straight shares of conference titles and making three-consecutive NCAA regional final appearances. Despite the graduation of a talented class of players, the Eagles were picked as the predicted top team in the 2018 Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Wednesday.
The Eagles tallied 63 points points with seven first-place votes to edge out the University of Minnesota Morris that came in second with 55 points and two first-place nods.
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Poll |
Team Previews |
2018 UMAC Schedule |
The Eagles' resume over the last four years speaks for itself – four-consecutive undefeated conference seasons and regular season UMAC titles, four-straight NCAA appearances, three "Sweet Sixteens" and one "Final Four." Those accomplishments wouldn't have been possible without the likes of two-time All-American and 2016 National Player of the Year Lindsey Peterson along with a solid supporting cast in All-America Honorable Mention setter Leesa Malone and All-Region libero Jackie Doering.
The big question is whether the Eagles will sustain their success and high level of play without its most successful class in program history. That is yet to be decided, but the Eagles have the pieces to defend their spot atop the conference as a starting point. Senior outside Mariah Halvorsen was a First Team pick in her debut with the Eagles in 2017 and among the top 10 hitters in the conference. Halvorsen should lead the Eagles along with seniors Kaelyn Kilbo and Freya Hanson who have been consistent contributors for the Eagles over the last three years.
Minnesota Morris looks to sustain its success from last season in which it made an appearance in the NCAA Midwest Region rankings. However, the Cougars will also need to refocus with returning talent after losing All-America Honorable Mention picks Marissa Ekness and Katie Reitsma to graduation. First-year Head Coach Joe Sussenguth will rely heavily on two-time All-UMAC First Team setter Layne Herrmann to fuel the offense after leading the conference in assists each of the last two years. First Team middle blocker Morgan Miller returns along with 2017 Rookie of the Year Mia Frick to lead the Cougar attack.
After returning to the UMAC postseason in 2017, the University of Wisconsin-Superior should be incontention for the postseason and comes in third in the poll with 50 points. The Yellowjackets will be in good hands with senior three-time All-UMAC First Team setter Emily VerWay to set up junior hitters Anna ribich and Brylee Colligan who pose a dual threat as outsides. Four of the Jackets' top five hitters from last fall return.
The College of St. Scholastica and Bethany Lutheran College rounded out the top five in the poll with 43 and 34 points, respectively. The Saints will look to make another postseason appearance with the likes of experienced veteran hitters Brooke Schermann and Emily Bounds back to lead a young roster. The Vikings missed the playoffs a year ago but hope to threaten again this year with Megan Rutt back following a season in which she ranked third in kills per set in overall play.
Martin Luther College was just behind Bethany Lutheran with 31 points for sixth while only four points separated the final four teams with Crown College seventh (18), Northland College eighth (16) and North Central University ninth (14).
The Knights have made the UMAC tournament each of the last seven seasons but will need junior Ruth Buchholz to step in to lead a young team after the graduation of a large senior class. Crown returns junior Christine Anderson who was among the team's top performers a year ago, while Northland will be led by four-year starting setter Hannah Hitchcock. North Central will need Honorable Mention Emma Middendorf to lead the Rams' 10 new players in 2018.
UMAC volleyball teams open up non-conference competition beginning Friday, Aug. 31 before conference play kicks off Saturday, Sept. 15. The final date of UMAC regular season contests is Saturday, Oct. 27. The postseason tournament starts Monday, Oct. 29 with the No. 4 vs. No. 5 quarterfinal game. Semifinals will be held Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds and the championship is set for Saturday, Nov. 3 at the highest remaining seed. The winner of the UMAC postseason tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA championship.
2018 UMAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Northwestern – 63 points (7 First Place Votes)
2. Minnesota Morris – 55 (2 First Place Votes)
3. Wisconsin-Superior – 50
4. St. Scholastica – 43
5. Bethany Lutheran – 34
6. Martin Luther – 31
7. Crown – 18
8. Northland – 16
9. North Central – 14
Team Previews
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BLC |
CC |
CSS |
MLC |
NC |
NCU |
UMM |
UNW |
UWS |
Bethany Lutheran College
John Olmanson | 6th Season |
2017 Season
6-10 UMAC, 10-20 | 6th |
Top Returners
- Megan Rutt, Jr., OH | ’16 All Conference, ’17 All Conference HM | 3rd in kills/set, 4th in points/set |
- Veeva Lee, Jr., DS | 1st in service aces/set |
- Hailey Domonoske, Jr., MB | 14th in blocks/set |
The College of St. Scholastica
Dana Moore | 22nd Season |
2017 Season
9-7 UMAC, 13-19 | 5th |
Postseason: Lost to Martin Luther (2-3) in UMAC First Round
Top Returners
- Brooke Schermann, Jr., OH | 231 kills, 36 service aces, 304 digs |
- Emily Bounds, Sr., OH | 206 kills, 101 digs, 22 blocks |
- Espi Austvold, Jr., S | 724 assists, 34 service aces, 207 digs |
Need to Know
The team had a top-25 GPA in NCAA Division III for the second straight year in 2017.
Crown College
Danielle Hall | 5th Season |
2017 Season
2-14 UMAC, 3-24 | 8th |
Top Returners
- Christine Anderson, Jr., MB | 2.7 points/set, 2.1 kills/set, 47 blocks |
- Sarah Reinke, Jr., DS| 42 points, .7 points/set, 61 digs |
- Madeline Svoboda, Jr., DS | 154 digs, 2.1 digs/set, .92 career reception percentage (Crown’s all-time leader) |
Need to Know
Graduated setter Kelsey Roschen, Crown’s second member of the 1,000 assist club.
Martin Luther College
Rebecca Cox | 10th Season |
2017 Season
10-6 UMAC, 16-17| 4th place |
Postseason: lost 3-0 at #1 seed Northwestern in semi-final round of UMAC Tournament
Top Returners
- Ruth Buchholz, Jr., MH | 1.29 kills/game, 0.63 blocks/game, .233 attack % |
- Camryn Biebert, So., S | 0.33 service aces/game, 1.89 assists per game in limited action |
Need to Know
MLC has made the UMAC Postseason Tournament in each of the last seven seasons, and eight of the nine seasons under Coach Rebecca Cox.
North Central University
Faith Ooms | 2nd Season |
2017 Season
0-16 UMAC, 2-26 | 9th |
Top Returners
- Emma Middendorf, Jr., MB | All conference- honorable mention | Captain | | k/s 2.3, H% .162, b/s .52 |
- Maddie Stocker, Sr., L | d/s 4.7, 2017-428 digs, a/s .34 |
- Bekah Johnson, Jr., S |
Need to Know
New Team – 5 returners and 10 new players
Northland College
Kim Falkenhagen | 6th Season |
2017 Season
4-12 UMAC, 7-20 | 7th |
Top Returners
- Adrianna Galtieri, Sr. L | 3rd in UMAC for digs (4.52) |
- Hannah Hitchcock, Sr., S | 4-year starter and 3-year captain |
- Justine Litherland, So., MB | Top returning hitter, Asst. Captain |
University of Minnesota Morris
Joe Sussenguth | 1st Season |
2017 Season
14-2 UMAC, 26-8 | 2nd |
Postseason: defeated UWS in UMAC semis, lost to UNW in UMAC finals
Top Returners
- Layne Herrmann, Jr., S | 2016, 2017 All-UMAC First Team, 2016 UMAC Rookie of Year | Led UMAC with 1248 assists (10.40/set), 105 kills (0.88/set), 241 digs (2.01/set) |
- Morgan Miller, Jr., MB | 2017 All-UMAC First Team, 2016 All-UMAC HM | Led UMAC with 116 blocks (0.97/set), 320 kills (2.67/set) |
- Mia Frick, So., OPP | 2017 UMAC Rookie of Year, 2017 All-UMAC HM | 240 kills (2.03/set), 67 blocks (0.57/set), 57 digs (0.48/set) |
Need to Know
Team had program-best .765 winning percentage in 2017. Team’s 26 wins were second most in program history.
University of Northwestern
Beth Wilmeth | 15th Season |
2017 Season
16-0 UMAC, 34-7 | 1st |
Postseason: 2017 UMAC Postseason Champions (Win vs. Martin Luther, 3-0; Win vs. Minnesota Morris, 3-0); Advanced to NCAA Sweet 16 (Win vs. Cornell College, 3-0; Win vs. UW-La Crosse, 3-0; Loss to Gustavus Adolphus, 3-1).
Top Returners
- Mariah Halvorsen, Sr., OH | 2017 All-UMAC First Team | 2.83 k/s, 378 k |
- Freya Hanson, Sr., OH | 49 aces, 2.4 d/s |
- Kaelyn Kilbo, Sr., S | 583 ast, 4.7 ast/s |
Need to Know
Since 2015, the program has competed in three-straight NCAA Regional Championships.
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Lynne Deadrick | 16th Season |
2017 Season
11-5 UMAC, 18-13 | 3rd |
Postseason: 2017 UMAC First Round
Top Returners
- Emily VerWay, Sr., S | All-UMAC (2015, 2016, 2017); 2015 UMAC ROY | 795 assists, 7.64 assists/set, 282 digs |
- Anna Ribich, Jr., OH | All-UMAC (2017) | 702 attacks, 215 kills, 28 blocks |
- Brylee Colligan, Jr., OH | 203 kills, 690 attacks, 200 digs |
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets return four of their top five players in kills from last season.