Volleyball Preview: Blue Devils close out 2013 season at Hamline tonight

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THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (14-14, 2-6 WIAC) will wrap up the season when they travel to Hamline University for a pair of matches, one against the Pipers (16-12, 5-5 MIAC) at 7:30 p.m. and another against North Central University (5-23, 1-11 UMAC) at 5:30 p.m. Both matches are expected to be available via Live Stats. The Hamline match is expected to be available in a live video stream.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT:  UW-Stout and UW-Platteville traded sets throughout the afternoon with the Pioneers topping the Blue Devils 3-2 in five sets.  Platteville (15-15, 4-4 WIAC) took the contest, 25-11, 18-25, 25-12, 17-25, 15-10 and did so defensively at the net. The Pioneers recorded two solo blocks, but combined for 30 assisted blocks for the afternoon.  Laura Reiter (So, Lino Lakes, Minn) was the only Blue Devil (14-14, 2-6 WIAC)  to record double digit kills, putting down 10.  Emily Crew (Jr, Maplewood, Minn) finished with nine and Rachel Tschumperlin (So, Fairmont, Minn) eight. | Story and Box Score

A LOOK AT STOUT:  The Blue Devils last two matches will be Head Coach Jill Jolliff's final on the Stout sideline.  She will leave as the all time wins leader in program history.  The Blue Devils have a 14-14 record.  Laura Reiter leads Stout with 314 kills on the year, good for an average of 3.02 a set. Morgan Denny has 246 kills (2.37), Rachel Tschumperlin 176 (1.69) and Molly Brion 158 (1.46).  Karley Wiensch has 1046 assists.  The defense is led by Molly Brion and her 334 digs on the season, an average of 3.09 a game.  Stout leads their opponents in several statistical categories including kills, assists, solo blocks and digs.  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.             | 2013 Stats

A LOOK AT HAMLINE:  The Pipers are currently 16-12 overall and 5-5 in the MIAC.  Hamline has already clinched a spot in their conference tournament.  They are currently in 5th place.  The Pipers lead their opponents in most statistical categories, including kills, aces, assist, total attacks and digs.  Hamline is third in the MIAC in assists (1,176) and kills (1,244).  Sam Greeney-Hamlin leads the Pipers with 290 kills.  Molly Hurle's 858 assists are tops on the team.  Lynsey Reimer leads Hamline with 32 service aces.  | 2013 Stats

LAST TIME THEY MET:  The Pipers and Blue Devils already met once this season on Sept. 15, 2012 in Menomonie.  Stout dropped a 3-0 decision to Hamline.  | Story and Box Score

A LOOK AT NORTH CENTRAL:  The Rams are currently 5-23 overall and 1-11 in the conference.  They have lost their last seven matches.  Jamie High leads the team in kills (221), hitting percentage (.144), service aces (29) and blocks per set (0.42).  Elissa Pheneger leads the Rams in assists (517).     | 2013 Stats

LAST TIME THEY MET:  The Rams and Blue Devils have never faced in each other.

UW-STOUT COACH JILL JOLLIFF: Coach Jill Jolliff (362-318) is in her 21st and final 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.