Volleyball Preview: Blue Devils host Northwestern Eagles Wednesday

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THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (8-3, 0-0 WIAC) will host the University of Northwestern, (4-6, 0-0 UMAC) Wednesday, Sept. 16, then will be at the Gustavus Adolphus Triangular, Saturday, Sept. 19 to take on Concordia-Moorhead (6-2, 0-0 MIAC) and host Gustavus Adolphus (6-2, 0-0 MIAC).

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

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Devils went 3-1 at the Loras College Invitational, downing Loras, 3-2, Wheaton College, 3-0, and St. Mary's University, 3-1. The The Blue Devils lost, 3-1, to Wartburg College to open the second day of competition. Ashley Pratt was selected to the all-tournament team, her second all-tournament team selection of the season. UW-Stout had a chance to force a fifth and deciding set, but Augsburg College stormed back from a six point fourth set deficit and went on to defeat the Blue Devils, 3-1, in Stout's home opener Wednesday at Johnson Fieldhouse. The 25th-ranked Auggies handed Stout (5-2) their lunch in the first set, taking a 25-13 win, but the Blue Devils turned things around in the second set, with a commanding 25-18 win. The third set was close the entire way, but Augsburg took a 25-21 win. Stout controlled the fourth set, building up as much as a six point advantage late in the match only to see the Auggies come storming back to tie the score at 21-21. The teams traded points to 25-25, but a pair of Stout errors ended the match. Ashley Pratt and Carly Troudt both put down 14 kills to lead Stout. Ashley Peper had 14 kills to lead Augsburg. | vs. Augsburg | vs.Loras and Wheaton | vs. Wartburg and St. Mary's

A LOOK AT STOUT: The Blue Devils this year are led at the line by sophomore Ashley Pratt, who is averaging 3.07 kills per set, and Carly Troudt is averaging 2.47 kills. Senior Molly Brion is averaging 2.42 kills. Pratt is currently ranked fifth in the WIAC in kills and fifth in hitting percentage (.315). Troudt is ranked 16th in the league in kills and Brion is 17th. The Blue Devils utilize a two setter offense, with Maddie Phyle averaging 5.66 assists per set, ranking eighth in the WIAC, and freshman Emily Bialka averaging 4.16 assists. Pratt and freshman Kennedy Strain are leading the team at the net defensively, both averaging 0.88 blocks per set. Pratt has nine solo blocks and has paired for 29 assisted blocks. Strain leads the team with 11 solo blocks and has 19 block assists.  | 2015 Stats

STOUT LAST SEASON: With 20 wins, the 2014 Blue Devils put together more wins in a single season since the 2004 season. The Blue Devils will need to replace three players that loomed large last year and throughout their careers. Morgan Denny, a first team all-WIAC middle hitter pick, was the team's leading hitter the last two seasons. Karley Wiensch, an honorable selection for the last two years, is the only setter the Blue Devils have had for the last four years. Nicole Bradford, playing at the libero spot, led the team in digs. Molly Brion, an honorable mention all-WIAC pick, finished 12th in the WIAC in digs with 3.38, and finished with 1.87 kills per set. Sophomore middle hitter Ashley Pratt chipped in, with 2.23 kills per set, ranking 20th in the league, and ranked fourth in the WIAC in hitting percentage (.294). Outside hitter Laura Reiter contributed 2.57 kills per set, second on the team and 11th in the league. As a team, Stout finished third in the WIAC in hitting percentage (.209), fourth in assists (11.43), fourth in kills (12.16), sixth in blocks (1.62), fourth in service aces (1.32) and fifth in digs (16.72). | 2014 Stats

A LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN : The Eagles are tabbed as the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) preseason favorite and received votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Poll. The Eagles gained 32 votes in last month'sAVCA release, making it the third consecutive year UNW has been recognized in an AVCA poll. Northwestern ended the 2014season with a 24-10 record. Lindsey Peterson is leading the team with 115 kills (3.11 per set) at the start of the 2015 season. Lydia Palkers follows Peterson with 74 over all kills averaging 2.06 per set. Kaelyn Kilbo leads the Eagles in assists averaging 5.30 per set, with LIzzy Jonas averaging 4.86 assists.  The Eagles have been putting down 1.62 service aces, while allowing 1.19. Faith Vander Galien has four solo blocks and 25 assisted blocks to lead the way at the line. | 2014 Stats | 2015 Stats

LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles lost against UW- La Crosse (3-0) and University of St. Thomas (3-2) in day two of the Augusburg Tournament. In the game agains St. Thomas,  Abby Vander Galien took the lead with 18 kills. Foster (28)and Peterson (19)lead the team in digs.

THE LAST TIME STOUT ANDNORTHWESTERN MET: UW-Stout went up against Northwestern College Oct. 21, 2011, getting edged by the Eagles 3-1. Kate Mikutowski had 12 kills,  Morgan Denny tagged on nine kills and Tori Sandstrom finished with eight against Northwestern. Karley Wiensch finished with 37 assists against the Eagles. | Story and Statistics

AN OVERVIEW OF THE OPPONENTS AT THE GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS TRIANGULAR: Stout will be at the Gustavus Adolphus Triangular, Saturday, Sept. 19 to take on Concordia-Moorhead (6-2, 0-0 MIAC) and host Gustavus Adolphus (6-2, 0-0 MIAC).


TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2015 season are seniors Laura Reiter and Molly Brion and sophomore Maddie Phyle. Reiter and Brion were both captains for the 2014 season.

UW-STOUT COACH LAURA EVANS: Coach Laura Evans (28-13) is in her second year as the Blue Devil coach. In her first season, the Blue Devils posted 20 wins, the first 20-win season since 2004. Evans, the former Laura Hegerle, played her college volleyball at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minn. She has been an assistant coach at Colorado Christian, Augsburg College and Luther College.

QUICK HITS: The Blue Devils last season posted a 20-10 overall record, finishing with 20 wins for the first time since the 2004 season and finished fourth in league play, again their best finish since the 2004 season...Stout improved in the WIAC final statistics in hitting percentage, assists, kills, blocks and service aces from the previous year...Stout was picked to finish fifth in the WIAC in a preseason poll conducted by conference coaches and sports information directors.

AWARDS: Ashley Pratt was selected to the Loras College Invitational all-tournament team...Ashley Pratt was selected as the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual Athlete of the Week, Sept. 8...Carly Troudt and Ashley Pratt were named to the Pacific Coast Classic all-tournament team...2014 Awards: Morgan Denny was a first team all-WIAC selection, while Karley Wiensch was an honorable mention selection for the second time, while Molly Brion was an honorable mention selection for the first time...Nicole Bradford was the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual Athlete of the Week after Stout went 3-1 from Oct. 6-11...Laura Reiter was selected to the all-tournament at UW-La Crosse, Oct. 4....Morgan Denny was the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual Athlete of the Week after her performance at the St. Kate's Invitational, Sept. 19-20...Morgan Denny and Karley Wiensch were named to the St. Kate's Invitational all-tournament team, Sept. 20...Morgan Denny was named to the Macalester College all-tournament team, Sept. 6...Kaylee Jacobs was selected to the all-tournament team at the St. Olaf/Carleton Invitational, Aug. 29..the entire 2013 squad was honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) with the Team Academic Award for the fourth time in five years.

DOWN THE ROAD: The Blue Devils will open conference play when they host UW-River Falls, Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m., then will be at the UW-Whitewater Invitational, Sept. 25-26 to face Williams College, Carthage College, Millikin University and the University of Chicago.