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| Team Pages: EC, LC, OSH, PLT, RF, STP, ST, SUP, WW |
|
RELEASED: Thursday, August 30, 2007 UW-Whitewater Claims Top Spot In Women’s Volleyball Predictions
The Warhawks, ranked No. 3 nationally in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division III preseason poll, received six first-place votes in the conference projections. They have won the WIAC title eight of the last 11 years and have made 14 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, winning national championships in 2002 and 2005, and recording second-place finishes in 1995, 2000 and 2001. Seniors Rebekah Nelson and Carley Polk earned NCAA Division III All-America honors a year ago and will be joined on this year’s roster by transfers Liz Benzschawel (University of North Carolina-Greensboro), Patti Lawlor (UW-Green Bay) and Natalie Starken (Northern Kentucky University). UW-Oshkosh, ranked No. 9 in the AVCA preseason poll, received the remaining three first-place votes in the league poll and is expected to place second in the conference ledger. In 2006, the Titans earned a share of the WIAC championship for the second straight season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history. UW-Oshkosh is seeking its fifth 30-plus win season in eight years and has won 68 of its last 79 matches. Senior Leah Rosenbaum, a two-time All-American, is 235 kills away from becoming the ninth player in WIAC history to total 1,600 career kills. Junior Samantha Schmidt is 463 digs away from becoming the fifth player in WIAC chronicles to compile 2,100 career digs. UW-La Crosse has registered at least 20 victories the last 12 seasons under the guidance of head coach Sheila Perkins. The Eagles return their top seven leaders in kills and eight players who participated in at least 99 games from a year ago. Sophomore Brianne Stankus led the team in kills, points and aces during the 2006 campaign. Kim Wudi begins her first season in charge at UW-Eau Claire, replacing Lisa Herb, who ranks third on the conference’s all-time list with a 626-208 record after 22 years with the program. The Blugolds, ranked No. 18 nationally, earned a share of last year’s title with UW-Oshkosh. UW-Eau Claire also registered 30 or more wins for the ninth time in school history and made their ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament. In 2006, UW-Stevens Point registered the most wins and highest winning percentage since 1995. The Pointers’ fourth-place finish in the WIAC ledger was the best since 1998 and a nine-match winning streak was the program’s longest streak since 1986. Senior Shelly Maus was the first individual in the program to earn All-WIAC first team status since the 1995 campaign. She also secured All-America status. UW-Stevens Point received votes in this season’s AVCA preseason poll. A year ago, UW-Platteville recorded at least 20 wins for the 14th time in head coach Deb Schulman’s 19 seasons. The Pioneers received votes in this year’s AVCA preseason poll and have defeated 17 ranked teams over the past three seasons. For the last eight years, the Homecoming Yell crowd has been the largest NCAA Division III regular-season crowd, including the 2006 match that drew 1,068 against Loras College (Iowa). Gone due to graduation is Dana Alf, who last year became the first individual in program history to win the WIAC Player of the Year award. UW-River Falls head coach Patti Ford needs six wins to reach 400 in her career and become the fifth coach in conference history to achieve the milestone. She has amassed a 394-171 mark in 15 seasons with the Falcons. In 2007, the Falcons play only five matches at home where they have accumulated an 89-20 record the last 10 seasons, including a 10-0 mark in 2000 and three additional years with just one home loss. UW-Stout won 13 of its first 17 matches during the 2006 campaign, but then won only two of its final 12. The Blue Devils have not had a sub-.500 season since 1996. Head coach Jill Jolliff, the winningest coach in school history and the longest tenured, is seven wins shy of reaching 300 in her career and would become the eighth coach in the WIAC history to reach the mark. She is 293-181 in 14 seasons with the Blue Devils. UW-Superior has reached double-digits in victories in three of four years under head coach Lynne Deadrick. Prior to Deadrick’s arrival, the Yellowjackets went four consecutive seasons without achieving double-digits in wins. 2007 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC Sports Information Directors) ( )-First-place votes Team Vitals UW-La Crosse UW-Oshkosh UW-Platteville UW-River Falls UW-Stevens Point UW-Stout UW-Superior UW-Whitewater # # # # #
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| Past Seasons Review |
| WIAC
Team Records WIAC Individual Records WIAC Career Records |
| WIAC
All-Americans WIAC All-Time Coaches Records All-Time All-WIAC Selections Past Team Champions WIAC NCAA Tournament History |
| Year-By-Year/Game-By-Game
Results (Since 1995) All-Time Standings (Since 1987) WIAC Tournament All-Time Results |
| NCAA Division III Statistics |
| American Volleyball Coaches Association |
Madison, Wis.--For the fourth consecutive season, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is the preseason choice of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) sports information directors to win the women’s volleyball championship.
