Three Volleyball Athletes Earn Academic All-America Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, December 13, 2001

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's volleyball student-athletes have been named to the 2001 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Team. UW-Whitewater's Kristy Dettman and Allison Erickson earned first and second team honors, respectively, while Eau Claire's Rachel Gullerud was also named to the second team.

Dettman, a senior setter from Pulaski, Wis., is majoring in accounting with a 3.93 grade point average. She led the WIAC in assists and ranked second in the NCAA Division III in this category.

Erickson, a senior outside hitter from Ripon, Wis., is majoring in psychology with a 3.79 grade point average. She was named the WIAC's Judy Kruckman Women's Volleyball Tri-Scholar-Athlete earlier this season.

Erickson was also named the NCAA Division III Player of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and the WIAC's Co-Player of the Year with Oshkosh's Christina Southward.

This is the third time in Whitewater volleyball history that two athletes have earned the top academic award. Stephanie Everett and Lynn Olsen were Academic All-Americans in 1997, while Denise Cobb and Cindy Paplham were honored in 1993.

In addition, Whitewater was one of just two schools with more than one athlete earning the distinction. Truman State University (MO), a Division II school, also had two athletes earn the honor.

Gullerud, a senior outside hitter from Eau Claire, Wis. (Immanuel H.S.), is majoring in math/economics with a 3.92 grade point average. Earlier this season, she was the WIAC's Judy Kruckman Women's Volleyball Tri-Scholar-Athlete.

Gullerud is the third volleyball player in Eau Claire's history to earn Academic All-America recognition. Kim Arndt garnered first team honors for the 1999-2000 season and Deb Allaman was a third team selection for the 1989-90 school year.

The Academic All-American Team, sponsored by Verizon and coordinated by the College Sports Information Directors of America, consists of six players each named to a first, second and third team.

To be nominated as an Academic All-American, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum 3.20 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, be a starter or a key reserve on a varsity team and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their respective institution.

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Allison Erickson Named AVCA National Player of the Year

RELEASED: Friday, December 7, 2001
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior outside hitter Allison Erickson is the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Player of the Year. The award, presented by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), was announced at the banquet in Whitewater preceding the NCAA III championship semifinals and finals, Thursday, November 29.

Erickson, a native of Ripon, Wis., is the second player in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) history to win the award, joining Oshkosh's Amy Ward who won the honor in 1996.

The national player of the year award wraps up a season in which Erickson's personal success played a key role in the winning ways of the Warhawk volleyball team.

For her play in the 2001 season, Erickson was named First Team All-WIAC for the fourth time in her career, was the WIAC Co-Player of the Year, was named WIAC Tri-Scholar Athlete for Volleyball, and was selected for the league's All-Defensive Team.

She was also AVCA All-Midwest Region four times, and a Verizon Academic All-Region choice by the College Sports Information Directors of America (with a 3.79 cumulative grade point average and a psychology major).

Last week, Erickson was chosen First Team AVCA Division III All-American, adding to the second team honors she earned for the 2000 season, when she was also a First Team Verizon Academic All-American.

Erickson's 2001 statistical totals included 387 kills (sixteenth in the UW-W record book), 86 assists (tied for 28th), 36 service aces (49th), 401 digs (tied 12th), 81 blocks (37th), and a .296 attack percentage (21st).

For her career, Erickson is second all-time in the UW-W record books in kills with 1,560, ninth in assists with 314, third in digs with 1,523, and sixth with 385 blocks.

Erickson helped UW-W compile a 35-3 record for the 2001 season. The Warhawks tied for the WIAC regular season title, won the league's postseason tournament, and earned the school's tenth consecutive NCAA III postseason tournament berth. Whitewater, ranked number one the second half of the season, advanced through the national championship to the title game, eventually finishing second after a loss to the University of La Verne (Calif.) in the title match December 1.

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Five Earn Volleyball All-America Honors

RELEASED: Friday, December 7, 2001

Madison, Wis.--Five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's volleyball players have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Team. Whitewater's Allison Erickson, Melinda Erickson and Kristy Dettman, along with Oshkosh's Christina Southward earned first team honors, while Whitewater's Angie Wildish was a second team honoree.

The Whitewater quartet guided the Warhawks to a 35-3 record, a share of the 2001 WIAC championship and a second-place finish in the NCAA Division III Championship. Whitewater was the lone institution to place more than two players on the first two teams.

Allison Erickson, a senior right-side hitter from Ripon, Wis., earned Second Team All-America honors last season. Earlier this season, she was named All-Region, First Team All-WIAC, All-WIAC Defensive Team and the WIAC's co-Player of the Year.

Allison Erickson totaled 422 digs, 401 kills, 91 assists, 84 blocks and 36 service aces for the Warhawks this season with a .292 hitting percentage.

Melinda Erickson, a senior outside hitter from Ripon, Wis., was named First Team All-America for the second consecutive season. She led the Warhawks with 501 kills and added 415 digs, 64 blocks and 31 service aces. She had a .272 hitting percentage during the 2001 campaign.

Kristy Dettman, a junior setter from Pulaski, Wis., garnered All-America honors for the first time in her career. She was a First Team All-WIAC selection an All-Region pick during the 2001 campaign. Dettman totaled 1,442 assists this season, a mark that led the WIAC and ranked seventh in all of NCAA Division III. Her career assist total of 3,995 is second in the school record book.

Southward, a senior setter from St. Anthony, Minn., helped the Titans to a share of the 2001 WIAC championship and advance to the third round of the NCAA Division III Championship. She earned All-America honors for the third consecutive season and second straight as a first team honoree. Southward joins Amy Ward (1994-96) as the only Titans to become three-time AVCA All-Americans.

Southward shared WIAC Player of the Year honors with Whitewater's Allison Erickson and was also named to the All-Region squad.

Southward holds school career records with her 6,122 assists, 1,634 digs, 1,081 kills, 321 service aces, 319 total blocks and .436 hitting percentage. In the WIAC, she ranks first in career assists and career hitting percentage and third in career service aces.

Wildish, junior outside hitter from Menomonee Falls, Wis., earned All-America honors for the first time in her career. She was an All-Region selection this season and also earned First Team All-WIAC and All-WIAC Defensive Team honors. Wildish led the Warhawks with 686 digs and added 412 kills and 38 service aces this season.

The AVCA announced the 12-member All-Midwest Region Team earlier this season and additional WIAC athletes represented on the squad included: Oshkosh's Jessie Goffard and Kristi Kujak and Platteville's Brooke Kaiser.

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Eight Earn Women's Volleyball Academic All-District Honors

RELEASED: Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Madison, Wis.--Eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s volleyball student-athletes have been named to the 2001 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District V Team. Four athletes were named to the seven-member First Team, while three were named to the Third Team and one earned Second Team honors.

Whitewater’s Allison Erickson and Kristin Dettman, Eau Claire’s Rachel Gullerud and La Crosse’s Megan Eklund all received First Team honors.

Erickson, a senior right-side hitter from Ripon, Wis., is majoring in psychology with a minor in human relations and carries a 3.79 grade point average. She was named First Team Academic All-District last year was named a WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Volleyball Tri-Scholar-Athlete earlier this season. Dettman, a senior setter from Pulaski, Wis., is majoring in accounting with a 3.93 grade point average.

Gullerud, a senior outside hitter from Eau Claire, Wis. (Immanuel HS), is majoring mathematics/economics with a 3.92 grade point average. She earned Third Team Academic All-District honors last season and was named a WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Volleyball Tri-Scholar-Athlete earlier this season.

Eklund, a senior setter from Neenah, Wis., carries a 3.87 grade point average while majoring in finance/economics. She was a Second Team Academic All-District selection last year and was a WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Volleyball Tri-Scholar-Athlete this season.

Laura Bogenschutz, a sophomore setter from Baxter, Minn. (Brainerd HS), was named to the Academic All-District Second Team. She is majoring in early childhood education with a minor in psychology and carries a 4.0 grade point average. Bogenschutz was one of four athletes named to the three teams with a 4.0 mark.

Named to the All-District Third Team were: Eau Claire’s Missy Gehring, Oshkosh’s Kristi Kujak and Platteville’s Kristen Shields.

Gehring, a senior middle hitter from Eau Claire, Wis. (North HS), is majoring in history with a 3.77 grade point average. Kujak, a junior middle blocker from Fountain City, Wis. (Cochrane-Fountain City HS), carries a 3.77 grade point average and is majoring in physical education with a minor in athletic training. Shields, a senior outside hitter from Montfort, Wis. (Iowa Grant HS), carries a 3.73 grade point average, while majoring in business/marketing and advertising.

Athletes named to the First Team will represent the district on the national ballot.

The Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District V team is comprised of all non-Division I student-athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota. Seventy-eight individuals were submitted for consideration to the squad.

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Petersen Named Top Midwest Regional Freshman

RELEASED: Tuesday, November 20, 2001
Amber Petersen, a freshman middle blocker from UW-Oshkosh, has been named the 2001 NCAA Division III Midwest Region's Freshman Player of the Year. The award is sponsored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Petersen is the first UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball player to receive the honor.

Appearing in 122 of the 123 games played by UW-Oshkosh this past season, Petersen hit .349 with 226 kills. The Fox Point native also totaled 103 assisted blocks, 33 solo blocks, 27 digs and nine service aces.

Petersen had a career-high 11 kills in UW-Oshkosh's 3-2 loss to Central College on September 29 and a career-best 13 blocks in the Titans' 3-1 win over UW-Stout on November 2. She led UW-Oshkosh to a share of the WIAC championship by compiling a .429 hitting percentage, 11 blocks and 10 kills in the Titans' 3-1 win over UW-Whitewater in the league's regular season finale.

UW-Oshkosh registered a 32-5 record during the most recent season and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Championship.

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Three Share Women’s Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Award

RELEASED: Wednesday, November 7, 2001

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s volleyball student-athletes have been named the 2001 Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athletes, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner. The trio includes UW-Whitewater’s Allison Erickson, UW-La Crosse’s Megan Eklund and UW-Eau Claire’s Rachel Gullerud.

Erickson, a senior from Ripon, Wis., is majoring in psychology and human resource management with a 3.79 grade point average. She was named to the Verizon Academic All-District First Team last season and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Erickson has been named to the UW-Whitewater Dean’s List six semesters.

Erickson helped the Warhawks to a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament this year, and was named to the All-WIAC First Team for the fourth-consecutive season. A team captain, Erickson has three conference championships to her credit and was an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Second Team selection last season. She has also been named to the All-Region squad each of the last three years.

Erickson is also a member of the National Honor Society for Psychology.

Eklund, a senior from Neenah, Wis., is majoring in finance and economics with a 3.87 grade point average. She earned Verizon Academic All-District Second Team honors last season and has been a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll for three years. Eklund has also been named to the UW-La Crosse Dean’s List five semesters.

Eklund is a four-time All-WIAC First Team selection. She is also a two-time All-Midwest Region First Team performer. Eklund, a two-time team Most Valuable Player, holds the UW-La Crosse career record with 5,391 assists. She also holds the school record for assists in a season with 1,437 in 1998.

Eklund is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and a member of the UW-La Crosse Winner’s Council. She also works as a coach for the junior Eagles volleyball program.

Gullerud, a senior from Eau Claire, Wis. (Immanuel Lutheran HS), is double majoring in mathematics and economics. She carries a 3.92 grade point average and is a three-year member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Gullerud was named to the Verizon Academic All-District Third Team last season and has received numerous academic scholarships throughout her coursework.

Gullerud, a team captain this season, recently earned All-WIAC First Team honors. She was named to the conference’s Honorable Mention squad last season. Gullerud earned her team’s Most Improved Player award in 1999 and was named the Rookie of the Year in 1998.

Gullerud is a member of the Golden Key, Omicron Delta Kappa, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Kappa Mu Epsilon and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Societies. She is also a member of the UW-Eau Claire Student Athlete Advisory Committee and has served as an economics tutor.

Also nominated for the scholar-athlete award were: Eau Claire’s Melissa Gehring, Platteville’s Jennifer Bazala and Kristen Shields, River Falls’ Becky Hylland and Superior’s Sarah Moravchik.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver’s. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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WIAC Co-Champions Earn NCAA Volleyball Bids

RELEASED: Monday, November 5, 2001

Madison, Wis.--2001 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) co-champions, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater, earned bids to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament.

Whitewater, the No. 1 ranked team in the country according to the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, will host the Midwest Regional from November 8-10 at the Williams Center. The Warhawks (31-2 overall) earned the automatic bid from WIAC by winning the league's postseason tournament.

Whitewater will take on the winner of the Lake Forest (Ill.) vs. Benedictine (Ill.) match. Lake Forest (26-9) received the automatic berth from the Midwest Conference, while Benedictine (36-6) was awarded an at-large bid. The Warhawks defeated Lake Forest earlier this season 30-24, 27-30, 30-23, 30-25.

Oshkosh (31-4), ranked No. 5 nationally, received one of 14 at-large bids awarded throughout the country. The Titans, the No. 2 seed in the regional, will play the winner of the Elmhurst (Ill.) vs. Marian match. Elmhurst (32-6) earned the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin automatic bid, while Marian (23-10) won the Lake Michigan Conference bid. The Titans defeated Marian earlier this season 30-17, 30-26, 30-21.

This season marks the second consecutive year that both Oshkosh and Whitewater are appearing in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Warhawks are making their 13th NCAA Tournament appearance and finished second in the country last season, while the Titans are appearing in their eighth national tournament and have a 15-10 all-time tournament record.

The Midwest Regional winner will advance to quarterfinal action on November 17.

Following is the complete Midwest Regional schedule:
Nov. 8--No. 3 Elmhurst (Ill.) (32-6) vs. No. 6 Marian (23-10)--5:00 p.m.
Nov. 8--No. 4 Benedictine (Ill.) (36-6) vs. No. 5 Lake Forest (26-9)--7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9--No. 2 UW-Oshkosh (31-4) vs. Elmhurst/Marian winner--5:00 p.m.
Nov. 9--No. 1 UW-Whitewater (31-2) vs. Benedictine/Lake Forest winner--7:30 p.m.
Nov. 10--Winners of Nov. 9 matches--7:30 p.m.

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