2002 WIAC Women's Volleyball Headlines

UW-Whitewater Volleyball Coach Kris Russell Named Area Sportswoman of the Year

RELEASED: Monday, May 19, 2003 (Written By: Tom Fick, UW-Whitewater Sports Info. Dir.)

Whitewater, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball coach Kris Russell has been named Area Sportswoman of the Year by the Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club. Russell, who directed the Warhawks to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III championship, will be honored at a banquet Tuesday, June 3 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison.

Russell, the head women's volleyball coach at UW-Whitewater since 1981, was named 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year, an honor bestowed by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, and sponsored by Tachikara.

Russell has been named AVCA Division III National Coach of the Year five times (1986, 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2002). Earlier this school year she was named AVCA III Midwest Region Coach of the Year, also her fifth time receiving regional recognition. She has been the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year six times (1986, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2000, and 2001).

Russell directed this year's Whitewater team to the NCAA III championship. UW-W went 36-4, shared a piece of the WIAC regular season championship for the sixth time in seven years, and won the league's postseason tournament for the sixth consecutive year. The Warhawks went on to earn the squad's fifteenth NCAA III championship tournament berth, and Whitewater's eleventh in a row. Whitewater was the national runnerup in the 2000 and 2001 NCAA III women's volleyball championship tournaments.

UW-W has had just one losing season (20-22 in 1990) in Russell's tenure at the school. Whitewater has finished first or second in the WIAC sixteen times in that span, including the last eleven in a row. She has compiled a 750-215 (.777 winning percentage) record in her 22 years at UW-Whitewater and is among the top five active Division III coaches in both winning percentage and number of victories.

Tickets for the Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club banquet, $35 per person, can be purchased by calling Dave Kelliher, Executive Director, at (608) 233-3532; by mail at Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club, P.O. Box 45443, Madison, WI, 53744; or more information is available from Kelliher at dkelliher@att.net

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UW-Whitewater's Dettman Receives NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

RELEASED: Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Whitewater, Wis.--Kristin Dettman (sr, Pulaski) has been chosen by the National Collegiate Athletic Association Postgraduate Scholarship Committee to receive a $6,900 scholarship for her academic achievements during her volleyball career at UW-Whitewater.

Dettman is an accounting major with a 3.95 cumulative grade point (on a 4.0 scale). In December 2002 she was named Verizon First Team Academic All-American chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America, which was also awarded to Dettman in 2001. She is one of three Warhawk volleyball players to earn this status more than once (Cindy Paplham - 1993 and 1994, Lynn Olsen - 1997, 1998, 1999).

UW-Whitewater Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst recently commented on Dettman's achievement. "We are extremely delighted and proud to learn that Kristi Dettman has been awarded the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes the very best student-athletes in the country regardless of division classification and is truly a tremendous honor. Ms. Dettman is an extremely dedicated and hard working individual who has been and will continue to be a shining star."

As a setter, Dettman holds the school's assist record with 5,541, more than 1,300 ahead of second place in that category. She is also fifth in career digs (1,334) and service aces (205), and thirteenth in total blocks (224).

During her career at UW-Whitewater, Dettman earned many honors. In the 2002 season, she was named First Team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete for Volleyball, American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Midwest Region First Team, AVCA Second Team All-American, and First Team Academic All-District. Last year, she was honorable mention all-WIAC, first team all-region, first team academic all-district, First Team AVCA All-American, and First Team Academic All-American. Dettman helped UW-Whitewater win three consecutive WIAC regular season titles, and four WIAC tournament titles during her career. In the last three years, Whitewater has advanced to the NCAA III final four teams, finishing second in 2000 and 2001, and winning the national championship in 2002.

Other UW-Whitewater athletes who have received past NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships are Tabitha Fendrick (track and field 2002), Peter Katz (football 2001), Kara Krumenauer (Cross Country and track and field 2001), Alison Erickson (volleyball 2001), Lynn Olsen (volleyball 2000), and Scott Hanig (football 1996).

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UW-Whitewater's Russell Named National Coach of the Year

RELEASED: Monday, December 16, 2002

Madison, Wis.--The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), in conjunction with Tachikara USA, Inc., is proud to announce that University of Wisconsin-Whitewater head coach Kris Russell has been selected as the 2002 AVCA/Tachikara Division III Coach of the Year.

Russell guided the Warhawks to a 36-4 overall record this year and the top seed in the NCAA Division III Tournament Midwest Region and rode it to the final round of the NCAA Championship. The Warhawks won their first NCAA Division III national championship after finishing second the previous two years.

Russell has coached seven WIAC championship teams and 12 have participated in the NCAA Division III tournament. She holds a 750-215 career record (.777 winning percentage) and ranks second on the NCAA Division III all-time wins list with her victory total.

Russell has earned the AVCA/Tachikara Division III Coach of the Year four times (1988, 1995, 2000 and 2002).

Tachikara will formally present the AVCA National Coach of the Year award on December 19 in New Orleans at the AVCA/Tachikara Coach of the Year banquet. The brunch is held in conjunction with the 2002 AVCA Annual Convention.

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UW-Whitewater Wins Women's Volleyball National Championship

Whitewater, Wis.-- The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater defeated Washington (Mo.) 30-24, 30-28, 30-25 in the championship match of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III women's volleyball tournament Saturday, December 7 before a capacity crowd of 1,534 in the Williams Center volleyball arena.

In game one, UW-Whitewater jumped out to a 14-10 lead before Washington tied the game at 21-21. With the score 26-24, the Warhawks ended the game on a 4-0 run to win game one 30-24. UW-Whitewater was led by Katie Monhart with five kills. Angie Wildish and Abbie Mueller added six digs apiece. Cindy McPeak led the Bears with eight kills. Rebecca Rotello had 12 assists and one service ace for Washington.

In the second game, UW-Whitewater jumped out to an 8-2 lead, but Washington battled back with an 11-3 run to take a 13-11 lead. The two teams traded points back and forth until the game was tied 28-28. UW-Whitewater's Lindsay Tomasovich had a solo block, followed by a Katie Monhart kill to end the game 30-28. The Warhawks were led by Angie Wildish with five kills and two service aces. Kristin Dettman added nine digs. Colleen Winter had four kills and nine digs to lead Washington. Amy Brand added four kills for the Bears.

In game three, Washington trailed 11-13, but used a 5-1 run to take a 16-14. UW-Whitewater bounced back with a 7-1 run to take a 25-21 lead. The Warhawks finished the game on a 5-2 run to win game three 30-25. Heidi Pfeiffer led Washington with four kills, while Nicole Hodgman had seven digs for the Bears. Lindsay Tomasovich led UW-Whitewater with six kills, while Katie Monhart had five kills and six digs.

In the final match statistics, UW-Whitewater, was led by Angie Wildish with 10 kills, 19 digs, and four service aces. Katie Monhart had 13 kills and 11 digs, while Megan Kay had three solo blocks and three block assists. Kristin Dettman had 35 assists and 15 digs. The Warhawks had a team hitting percentage of .139.

Washington University was led by Cindy McPeak with 13 kills. Heidi Pfeiffer contributed seven kills, one solo block and two block assists. Rebecca Rotello had 35 assists and 12 digs. The Bears had a team hitting percentage of .077.

UW-Whitewater, ranked sixth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Poll, finished the 2002 campaign with a 36-4 record. This is the first national championship for the Warhawks, which had finished second the last two years. Washington, ranked second in the AVCA poll, finished the season with a 41-2 mark. The Bears second place finish is their best since they won the title in 1996.

UW-Whitewater's Kristin Dettman, Lindsay Tomasovich and Angie Wildish were named to the All-Tournament Team.

The title by the Warhawks is the first in women's volleyball for any WIAC school.

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UW-Whitewater's Dettman Named Women's Volleyball Academic All-America

RELEASED: Thursday, December 5, 2002

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Kristin Dettman has been named to the 2002 Verizon/CoSIDA Women's Volleyball Academic All-America First Team.

Dettman, a senior setter from Pulaski, Wis., earned Academic All-America First Team honors for the second consecutive season. She is majoring in accounting and carries a 3.95 grade point average. Dettman was named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete earlier this season.

Dettman recently earned All-America Second Team, All-Midwest Region First Team and All-WIAC First Team accolades for her efforts on the court during the 2002 campaign. She has helped UW-Whitewater win three consecutive WIAC regular season titles and during her four seasons, the Warhawks have also won the WIAC Tournament four times, and earned four straight trips to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Dettman holds the school career record with 5,450 assists and is also fifth on the Warhawk all-time list with 1,302 digs, ninth with 164 service aces and 13th with 218 total blocks.

Dettman is the third Warhawk women's volleyball player to earn Academic All-America honors more than one season, joining Cindy Paplham (1994 and 1993) and Lynn Olsen (1999, 1998 and 1997).

The academic all-america team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes from around the country and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

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Six Earn Women's Volleyball All-America Honors

RELEASED: Tuesday, December 3, 2002

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's volleyball players have been named to the 2002 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Team. UW-Whitewater's Angie Wildish was named to the first team, while her teammate, Kristin Dettman, earned second team honors along with UW-River Falls' Melissa Tvrdik. UW-Whitewater's Katie Monhart, UW-Stout's Tanille Zenner and UW-River Falls' Karen ZumMallen earned third team accolades.

Wildish, a senior outside hitter from Menomonee Falls, Wis., was an All-America Second Team pick last season and leads UW-Whitewater with 487 kills (4.06 per game), 611 digs (5.09 per contest) and 66 service aces. She holds the school record with 2,316 career digs, while ranking second with 1,600 career kills, eighth with 165 career service aces. Wildish holds the number one, three and five places in the Warhawk record book for digs in a season and was named the WIAC Player of the Year earlier this year.

Dettman, a senior setter from Pulaski, Wis., was an All-America First Team selection last season. She leads UW-Whitewater with 12.85 assists per game and leads the Warhawk record book with 5,450 career assists. Dettman also ranks fifth with 1,302 career digs and ninth with 164 career service aces.

Tvrdik, a junior middle hitter from Farwell, Minn. (Minnewaska Area H.S.), led UW-River Falls with a .345 hitting percentage and 133 blocks (1.02 per game) and was second with 414 kills (3.18 per game). She was third on the squad with 49 service aces and added 135 digs.

Monhart, a senior outside hitter from Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead H.S.), ranks second on the team with 397 kills (3.51 per game) and 388 digs (3.43 per game).

Zenner, a freshman middle hitter from Athens, Wis., finished the season with 445 kills (3.56 per game), 146 digs and a school record 107 block assists.

ZumMallen, a senior outside hitter from Grand Rapids, Minn., led UW-River Falls with 448 kills (3.42 per game) and 58 service aces, while ranking second on the team with 537 digs (4.10 per game).

UW-Whitewater was one of just two schools to have three players honored on the All-America Team.

The AVCA announced the 12-member All-Midwest Region Team earlier this season and additional WIAC athletes represented on the squad included: UW-Eau Claire's Brooke Wozniak and UW-Whitewater's Lindsay Tomasovich, while UW-Oshkosh's Cassie Uttech and UW-Stout's Brooke Viegut were honorable mention picks.

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UW-Stout's Zenner Named National Freshman of the Year

RELEASED: Tuesday, December 3, 2002

Menomonie, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout middle hitter Tanille Zenner was named the freshman of the year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

Zenner, a freshman from Athens, Wis., finished the season with 445 kills (3.56 per game), 26 service aces, 146 digs, 53 solo blocks and a school record 107 block assists. Zenner appeared in 125 of the Blue Devils' 126 games, despite ligament damage to her thumb and having to play with the hand wrapped nearly the entire season.

Zenner was second in the WIAC inShe earned All-WIAC First Team, All-Midwest Region and All-America Third Team honors this year. hitting percentage (.343) and total blocks (1.28 per game) and seventh in kills. Zenner was named to four all-tournament teams - Augsburg (Minn.), UW-La Crosse, UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls - and was the WIAC Athlete of the Week on November 3.

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UW-Whitewater To Host Women's Volleyball 'Final Four'

RELEASED: Monday, November 25, 2002

Whitewater, Wis.--For the second consecutive year, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will host the semifinals and finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III women's volleyball championship

The event will be held Friday-Saturday, December 6-7 at the volleyball arena in the Williams Center. UW-Whitewater, 34-4, will face Juniata College (PA), 33-4, in the 7:00 p.m. semifinal Friday. The other semifinal, at 4:30 p.m., will match Washington University (MO), 40-1, versus Trinity University (TX), 37-4.

All four teams were among the top six in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III poll. Washington is second, Trinity fourth, Juniata fifth and UW-Whitewater sixth.

Friday's winners will play for the NCAA Division III title Saturday at 7:00 p.m., with the third-place match taking place at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, November 27 at 9:30 a.m. at the UW-Whitewater ticket office, located on the main campus mall in the University Center. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students with ID's and senior citizens, and $3 for children under twelve. The ticket office phone number is (262) 472-2222.

UW-Whitewater has finished second in the national tournament each of the last two seasons.

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UW-Stout's Zenner Named Midwest Region Freshman of the Year

RELEASED: Tuesday, November 26, 2002

Menomonie, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout middle hitter Tanille Zenner was named the Midwest Region Freshman of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Zenner, a freshman from Athens, Wis., transferred from UW-Stevens Point where she did not play volleyball, and finished the season with 445 kills (3.56 per game), 26 service aces, 146 digs, 53 solo blocks and a school record 107 block assists.

Zenner appeared in 125 of the Blue Devils' 126 games, despite ligament damage to her thumb and having to play with the hand wrapped nearly the entire season.

Zenner was second in the WIAC in hitting percentage (.343) and total blocks (1.28 per game), while ranking seventh in kills.

Zenner becomes the second straight individual from the league to earn Midwest Region Freshman of the Year honors. UW-Oshkosh's Amber Peterson claimed the award last season.

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UW-Whitewater's Russell Named Midwest Region Coach of the Year

RELEASED: Tuesday, November 26, 2002

Whitewater, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's volleyball head coach Kris Russell has been named the 2002 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Tachikara Midwest Region Coach of the Year.

Russell has guided UW-Whitewater to a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship semifinals on December 6-7 in Whitewater. The Warhawks have compiled a 34-4 overall record and won the 2002 WIAC regular season and WIAC Tournament titles this season. UW-Whitewater is making its 10th consecutive NCAA Division III appearance this year.

Russell earned the region coach of the year honor for the fifth time in her career. She also won the award in 2001, 1998, 1995 and 1988.

Russell, in her 22nd season at the helm of the Warhawks, is the winning coach in WIAC history with a 748-215 overall record (.777 winning percentage) and has been named the league's coach of the year six times (2001, 2000, 1998, 1993, 1988 and 1986).

Russell will officially be presented her award at the AVCA Convention in New Orleans, La. on Thursday, December 19.

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Three Earn Women's Volleyball Academic All-District Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, November 16, 2002

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's volleyball players have been named to the 2002 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District Five Women's Volleyball Team. UW-Whitewater's Kristin Dettman was named to the first team, while UW-Stout's Tami Martinek received second team honors and UW-La Crosse's Diane Radzajewski received third team recognition.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Dettman, a senior setter from Pulaski, Wis., is majoring in accounting and carries a 3.95 grade point average. She was an Academic All-America First Team selection last season and recently received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award. Dettman was an All-America First Team selection last season and has compiled a school record 5,307 assists. The Warhawks have won three league titles during her four seasons. Dettman was an All-Midwest Region and All-WIAC First Team selection in 2001, after earning All-WIAC Honorable Mention accolades in 2000.

Dettman is now eligible for Academic All-American honors.

Martinek, a senior outside hitter from Eau Claire, Wis. (North H.S.), is majoring in vocational rehabilitation with a minor in psychiatric rehabilitation and carries a 4.00 grade point average. She was one of six individuals on the 19-member all-district squad to earn a 4.00 grade point average. Martinek has received the UW-Stout Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence three times and has been a member of the Academic Honor Society. She helped the Blue Devils to an overall mark of 31-6 this season, participating in 52 games and compiling 41 kills, 37 digs, 37 blocks and 33 assists.

Radzajewski, a senior middle hitter from Willow Springs, Ill. (Lyons Township H.S.), is majoring in communications and Spanish with a minor in environmental studies and carries a 3.75 grade point average. She earned All-WIAC Honorable Mention honors this year after participating in 115 games for the Eagles and registering a .306 hitting percentage, 308 kills, 143 digs, 133 blocks and 42 service aces.

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UW-Whitewater's Dettman Named Women's Volleyball Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Thursday, November 14, 2002

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Kristin Dettman has been named the 2002 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Volleyball Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Dettman, a senior from Pulaski, Wis., is majoring in accounting and carries a 3.95 grade point average. She was an Academic All-America First Team selection last season and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Dettman has been recognized on the UW-Whitewater Honor Roll and Dean's List all four years.

Dettman was an All-America First Team selection last season, helping the Warhawks finish second at the NCAA Division III Championship for the second straight year. She has compiled a school record 5,307 assists and helped the Warhawks win three league titles during her four seasons. Dettman was an All-Midwest Region and All-WIAC First Team selection in 2001, after earning All-WIAC Honorable Mention accolades in 2000.

Dettman is a member of the Golden Key, Beta Alpha Psi and Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Societies.

Dettman becomes the seventh women's volleyball player from UW-Whitewater to win the conference's scholar-athlete award, joining Allison Erickson (2001), Lynn Olsen (1999), Holly Klein (1997), Cindy Paplham (1994), Chris Conradt (1988) and Aurora Zurlo (1986).

Also nominated for the scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Andrea Hemple, UW-La Crosse's Diane Radzajewski, UW-River Falls' Stacy Hinz and Hillary Keene, UW-Stevens Point's Melinda Rockwood and Alicia Kara Schwan and UW-Stout's Tamara Martinek.

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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UW-Whitewater's Wildish Leads All-WIAC Women's Volleyball Team

RELEASED: Tuesday, November 12, 2002

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior outside hitter Angie Wildish was named the 2002 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year, headlining the 12-member All-WIAC Women's Volleyball Team, which was recently selected by the league coaches.

Wildish helped the Warhawks to the 2002 regular season title and the WIAC Tournament championship and a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The regular season title was their third straight and 10th in school history. The Warhawks have also registered their eighth straight season of 30 or more wins (31-4).

Wildish leads the league with 5.08 digs per game, while ranking second with 4.04 kills per game and fourth with .54 service aces per contest. She holds the school career record with 2,264 digs, while ranking second on the all-time list with 4,398 attempts and third with 1,557 kills. Wildish established a school record with 686 digs last year and set a school mark with 38 digs against Washington (Mo.) on November 21, 2001.

Wildish was an All-WIAC First Team and All-Defensive Team selection last year after earning honorable mention honors during the 2000 season. She becomes the second Warhawk to win the league's player of the year honor in the four-year history of the award. Allison Erickson captured the award last season.

Wildish is joined on the first team by teammates Kristin Dettman and Katie Monhart. Dettman leads the league with 12.70 assists per game and ranks eighth with .47 service aces per game. Her assist average ranks 10th in the NCAA Division III. She holds the school career record with 5,307 assists and earlier this season against Wittenberg (Ohio), dished out 69 assists, the third highest total in team history. Dettman was an All-WIAC First Team pick last season and a honorable mention selection in 2000.

Monhart ranks seventh in the WIAC with 3.56 kills per game. She is second on the team with 352 digs (3.42 per game) and fourth with a .224 hitting percentage.

UW-River Falls, the 2002 WIAC regular season co-champion, landed Krystle Brune, Melissa Tvrdik and Karen ZumMallen on the first team. Brune, who earned All-WIAC First Team accolades last season, ranks second on the squad with 3.26 kills per game and is fourth with 63 total blocks (.50 per game). She also registered her 1,000 career kill earlier this year.

Tvrdik leads the league with a .345 hitting percentage, while ranking seventh with 1.02 blocks per game. She was a honorable mention selection last year.

ZumMallen participated in all 131 games for the Falcons this season and ranks sixth in the conference with 4.10 digs per game and ninth with 3.42 kills per game. She also has 1,365 kill attempts on the year, which is the sixth highest mark in WIAC history.

UW-Stout's Brooke Viegut and Tanille Zenner directed the Blue Devils to the second 30-win season (31-6) in the 32-year history of the program. The Blue Devils compiled a 33-6 record during the 1994 campaign. Viegut ranks third in the conference with 3.86 kills per game and fourth with 4.39 digs per contest. She is second on the squad with 44 service aces (.36 per game) and third with 74 total blocks (.61 per game). Zenner is second in the league in both hitting percentage (.343) and blocks (1.28 per game), while ranking eighth with 3.56 kills per game.

UW-Oshkosh had a pair of individuals earn first team recognition. Amanda Delgadillo leads the league with 4.12 kills per game, while ranking fifth in both service aces per game (.53) and digs per game (4.29) and ninth with a .258 hitting percentage. Cassie Uttech ranks third in the conference with .56 service aces per game and 10th with 3.42 kills per game.

UW-Eau Claire's Brooke Wozniak helped the squad to 24 wins this year, the highest total since the 1999 season (26-9). She played in all 124 games for the Blugolds this season and ranks third in the league with a .328 hitting percentage and fourth with 3.82 kills per game. Wozniak was an honorable mention pick a year ago.

UW-La Crosse's Elissa Hansen helped the Eagles to their eighth straight season of 20 or more wins (25-10). She ranks fifth in the WIAC with 3.70 kills per game and is third on the team with 40 service aces (.35 per game).

Named to the honorable mention team were: UW-Eau Claire's Julie Bobbe and Andrea Hemple, UW-La Crosse's Annalee Erdmann and Diane Radzajewski, UW-Oshkosh's Amber Petersen, UW-Platteville's Joanna Carlson, UW-River Falls' Nina Petersen, UW-Stevens Point's Alyssa Mader, UW-Stout's Laura Bogenschutz, UW-Superior's Kim Dunbar and UW-Whitewater's Lindsay Tomasovich.

The league also named a four-member All-Defensive Team for the 2002 season. Individuals receiving recognition included: UW-La Crosse's Jenny Randall, UW-River Falls' Jennifer Braun, UW-Stout's Erin Heger and UW-Whitewater's Michelle Stanislawski. Randall ranks eighth in the league with 3.95 digs per game, while Braun is third (4.58), Heger is ninth (3.88) and Stanislawski is 20th (3.07).

UW-River Falls head coach Patti Ford was named the Coach of the Year by the league coaches, marking the third time in her career she has won the conference honor. Ford also won the award in 1999 and 1995. She guided the Falcons to a 31-8 overall record this year, including a school record-tying 16-match winning streak and third WIAC championship in the last seven seasons.

2002 All-WIAC Women's Volleyball Team

First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Krystle Brune, UW-River Falls, Junior, Outside Hitter, Oakdale, Minn. (Tartan)
Amanda Delgadillo, UW-Oshkosh, Junior, Outside Hitter, West Allis (Hale)
Kristin Dettman, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Setter, Pulaski
Elissa Hansen, UW-La Crosse, Junior, Outside Hitter, West Bend (West)
Katie Monhart, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Outside Hitter, Hartland (Arrowhead)
Melissa Tvrdik, UW-River Falls, Junior, Middle Hitter, Farwell, Minn. (Minnewaska Area)
Cassie Uttech, UW-Oshkosh, Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Watertown
Brooke Viegut, UW-Stout, Junior, Outside Hitter, Abbotsford
Angie Wildish, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Outside Hitter, Menomonee Falls
Brooke Wozniak, UW-Eau Claire, Junior, Middle Hitter, Stanley (Stanley-Boyd)
Tanille Zenner, UW-Stout, Freshman, Middle Hitter, Athens
Karen ZumMallen, UW-River Falls, Senior, Outside Hitter, Grand Rapids, Minn.

Honorable Mention
Julie Bobbe, UW-Eau Claire, Junior, Outside Hitter, Minocqua (Lakeland)
Laura Bogenschutz, UW-Stout, Junior, Setter, Baxter, Minn. (Brainerd)
Joanna Carlson, UW-Platteville, Sophomore, Setter, Forreston, Ill.
Kim Dunbar, UW-Superior, Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Proctor, Minn.
Annalee Erdmann, UW-La Crosse, Junior, Outside Hitter, Sauk Rapids, Minn. (Sauk Rapids-Rice)
Andrea Hemple, UW-Eau Claire, Senior, Setter, Belleville
Alyssa Mader, UW-Stevens Point, Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Kimberly
Amber Petersen, UW-Oshkosh, Sophomore, Middle Blocker, Milwaukee (Nicolet)
Nina Petersen, UW-River Falls, Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Byron, Minn.
Diane Radzajewski, UW-La Crosse, Senior, Middle Hitter, Willow Springs, Ill. (Lyons Township)
Lindsay Tomasovich, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Middle Blocker, Eau Claire (Regis)

All-Defensive Team
Jennifer Braun, UW-River Falls, Junior, Libero, Morristown, Minn. (Waterville-Elysian-Morristown)
Erin Heger, UW-Stout, Sophomore, Libero, Chaska, Minn.
Jenny Randall, UW-La Crosse, Freshman, Libero, White Bear Lake, Minn.
Michelle Stanislawski, UW-Whitewater, Sophomore, Libero, Milwaukee (More)

Player of the Year: Angie Wildish of UW-Whitewater
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Kristin Dettman of UW-Whitewater
Coach of the Year: Patti Ford of UW-River Falls

UW-Whitewater Earns Top Seed In Women's Volleyball Midwest Regional

RELEASED: Monday, November 11, 2002

Whitewater, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's volleyball team earned the top seed in the Midwest Regional and will host NCAA Division III regional competition Thursday-Saturday, November 14-16. The Warhawks are 31-4 overall and ranked sixth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.

Thursday's first round matches have Bridgewater State (Mass.), 26-9 overall, playing Benedictine (Ill.), 27-14, and Lakeland (Wis.), 32-4, facing St. Norbert (Wis.) 31-8. The winner of Bridgewater State/Benedictine match will face UW-Whitewater Friday, while the Lakeland/St. Norbert winner will play Elmhurst (Ill.), 33-5 and seeded second in the regional, in Friday's other semifinal.

The NCAA Division III Midwest Regional will be played in the volleyball arena in Williams Center on the UW-Whitewater campus. Matches Thursday and Friday are set for 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., with the Warhawks playing in the 7:00 p.m. match Friday. The regional championship will be played at 7:00 p.m. Saturday.

UW-Whitewater automatically qualified for the national tournament by winning the WIAC Tournament title last weekend in River Falls. The Warhawks claimed a share of the 2002 regular season league title, their third straight and 10th in school history.

UW-Whitewater is making its 15th appearance in the NCAA tournament and carries an all-time record of 23-15 in postseason play. The Warhawks have finished second in the NCAA Division III women's volleyball championship the last two seasons.

UW-Whitewater was the lone WIAC institution to receive a bid to the NCAA tournament. UW-River Falls and UW-Stout did not earn an at-large spot in the tournament despite 31-8 and 31-6 records, respectively.

2002 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament

Thursday's First Round - at Whitewater
Bridgewater State, Mass. (26-9) vs. Benedictine, Ill. (27-14)--4:30 p.m.
Lakeland, Wis. (32-4) vs. St. Norbert, Wis. (31-8)--7:00 p.m.

Friday's Second Round - at Whitewater
Elmhurst, Ill. (33-5) vs. Lakeland/St. Norbert winner--4:30 p.m.
UW-Whitewater (31-4) vs. Bridgewater State/Benedictine winner--7:00 p.m.

Saturday's Final - at Whitewater
Second Round winners--7:00 p.m.

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UW-River Falls and UW-Whitewater Share Championship

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls women's volleyball team missed an opportunity to claim the outright Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship on Wednesday, October 23, when they were upended by UW-Stout, 30-27, 30-26, 26-30, 30-27, in Menomonie.

UW-River Falls will share the 2002 league title with UW-Whitewater after both teams concluded the conference slate with a 7-1 record.

The conference title for the Warhawks is their third straight and 10th in school history, while the Falcons claimed their third title in the last seven seasons. The two teams also shared the league crown in 1996.

The Falcons had their 16-match winning streak snapped in the loss to the Blue Devils. UW-Stout fell behind by five points early in the fourth game, but pulled ahead to stay at 15-14, but not without a fight from the Falcons. UW-River Falls tied the match at 19, but could never get closer than one point the rest of the way.

Tanille Zenner smacked down two kills to put Stout ahead, 23-21, then Lindsay Mensink gave Stout a 24-22 lead. The Falcons' Karen ZumMallen pulled River Falls to 24-23. Kills by Stout's Brooke Viegut and Gretchen Schroer stretched Stout's lead to 26-23.

The Falcons' Stacy Hinz, who had entered the match for the first time all evening minutes earlier, pulled the visitors to within 26-25 on consecutive kills, before Stout pulled away.

All four games had their moments, and very rarely did the score differential balloon to more than four points for either team.

Viegut and River Falls' Krystle Brune led all scorers with 18-kill evenings. Mensink added 17 for Stout, and Zenner had 15. ZumMallen pitched in 16 kills for the Falcons.

Play at the net was outstanding, with River Falls recording one solo block and 16 assisted blocks, while Stout had four solo blocks and 18 assisted blocks. Gina Anderson and Melissa Tvrdik each had four assisted blocks for River Falls and ZumMellen finished with a solo and three assisted blocks.

The Falcons will receive the top seed in the WIAC Tournament, which begins on November 5, because they defeated the Warhawks in their dual meet on September 21, 23-30, 30-28, 30-19, 15-30, 15-13. UW-River Falls will host UW-Superior in its quarterfinal match, while UW-Whitewater will enter the tournament as the second seed and host UW-Stevens Point. The winner of the conference tournament will receive the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

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Houghton Named UW-Superior Interim Women's Volleyball Coach

RELEASED: Wednesday, August 14, 2002

Superior, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics Director Jeff Kaminsky has announced that Steven Houghton will serve as Interim Women's Volleyball Coach for the 2002 season.

Houghton has served as an International Student Services Specialist at UW-Superior for the past three years. A native of McFarland, Wis., Houghton graduated from Lawrence University in 1991 with a bachelor of science degree in both Spanish and psychology.

He has eleven years of competitive volleyball playing experience at various levels. He also coached three years of youth volleyball in Japan and has been a local volleyball referee for three years.

"It's going to be a challenge with a new coach," says Houghton. "But I am very excited about the opportunity. I am looking forward to working with the student-athletes and going as far as we possibly can. I hope that we improve throughout the season and provide a good core for next year's team."

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