Volleyball Preview: Blugolds Stout opponent in final home match

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THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (13-11, 1-3 WIAC) will close out the home portion of their schedule when they host UW-Eau Claire, (13-13, 3-1 WIAC) Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.

ON-LINE: All home Blue Devil matches are available in a live video stream.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT:  Stout dropped four matches, two on Oct. 11 and two on Oct. 12, at the UW-Eau Claire Sandy Schumacher Memorial Invitational.  On day one the Blue Devils lost 3-0 to UW-La Crosse.  In the match against the Eagles only Molly Brion (So, Cameron) averaged more than two kills per set. Brion finished with seven kills in the three set match. Morgan Denny (Jr, Luck) and Laura Reiter (So, Lino Lakes, Minn) each has six kills.  In the second match against Gustavus Stout fell in five sets.  Rachel Tschumperlin (So, Fairmont, Minn) had 11 kills to lead Stout. Reiter and Brion each had 10 kills. Denny and Reiter each had three solo blocks.  On day two the Blue Devils fell 3-0 to UM-Morris and Augsburg College.  Reiter led Stout against Morris, getting 12 kills against the Cougars.  Denny, Emily Crew (Jr, Maplewood, Minn) and Rachel Tshumperlin each had six kills against Augsburg.   | Day 1  | Day 2

A LOOK AT STOUT: UW-Stout currently holds a 13-11 record.Laura Reiter leads the Blue Devils with 278 kills on the year, good for an average of 3.16 a set. Morgan Denny has 213 kills (2.42), Rachel Tschumperlin 149 (1.71) and Molly Brion 148 (1.63).  Karley Wiensch has 894 assists (9.72/set).  The defense is led by Brion and her 288 digs, an average of 3.16 a game.  Stout leads their opponents in several statistical categories including kills, assists and digs.  The Blue Devils lead the WIAC in digs with 1,617.   Karley Wiensch was named to the Sugar Loaf Invitational all tournament team after collecting 99 assists in the first two matches of the season.  She followed that up by being named to the Macalaster College all tournament team the following weekend.  Wiensch was also named to the Wheaton Invitational all tournament team.  Laura Reiter was named to the St. Catherine Invitational all tournament team.  The 2013 roster has zero seniors, but juniors Emily Crew, Morgan Denny and Karley Wiensch have started since their freshmen years. 

A LOOK AT UW-EAU CLAIRE:  The Blugolds are currently 13-13 overall and 3-1 in the WIAC. The Blugolds are tied for second in the WIAC with UW-Whitewater.  Eau Claire's 1,401 digs put them currently in second in the WIAC behind UW-Stout.  Kelly Schuh leads the Blugolds with 317 kills - and leads the WIAC at a 3.61 clip.  The Blugolds play a modified 5-1, with Jenna Smit (504 assists) and Maggie Holcombe (402) doing the majority of the setting.  Lauren Sutherland's 452 digs and Kelly Riesgraf's 62 blocks top the Blugold defense.   | 2013 Stats

LAST TIME THEY MET:  The Blugolds and Blue Devils met in the WIAC quarterfinals on Oct. 30, 2012 in Eau Claire.  The Blugolds handed the Blue Devils a 3-1 defeat. | Story and Box Score

UW-STOUT COACH JILL JOLLIFF: Coach Jill Jolliff (361-315) is in her 21st season with the Blue Devils and has the most wins of any UW-Stout volleyball coach. 

QUICK HITS:   Stout started the season 9-4 which is the best start since 2009 when they opened up 8-5...Last season, Stout more than doubled their wins total from the previous year...as a freshman last season, Molly Brion was selected as the WIAC Athlete of the Week after averaging nearly four kills per set in three matches in mid-September...Morgan Denny's hitting percentage of .265 was the best by a Blue Devil since Maggie Meixl finished at .280 in 2008...

AWARDS: Karley Wiensch was selected to the all-tournament team at the Macalester College Invitational...Karley Wiensch was named to the all-tournament team at St. Mary's University in the season opener...Laura Reiter was named to the all-tournament team at the St. Catherine University tournament.  Karley Wiensch was named to the all-tournament team at the Wheaton Invitational.  Karley Wiensch was named the Northwestern Mutual UW-Stout athlete of the week for her play at the Wheaton Invitational. 

DOWN THE ROAD:  The Blue Devils will be at UW-River Falls, Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.