Volleyball Preview: Stout to play two ranked teams, at UNW Wednesday

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THIS WEEK'S GAMES:  The Blue Devils (7-2, 0-0 WIAC) return to the University of Northwestern (6-2, 0-0 UMAC), Wednesday, Sept. 14.  The Blue Devils opened the season at the Northwestern Invitational two weeks ago, but did not meet the Eagles. Stout will be at the UW-Eau Claire Nike/Eastbay Fall Classic, Saturday, Sept. 17 to face a pair of MIAC schools, St. Thomas (4-4, 0-0 MIAC) and Bethel University (8-1, 0-0 MIAC). Bethel is currently ranked 12th nationally and Northwestern is ranked 25th.

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

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: Only a few days after beating Augsburg College 3-0 at the Northwestern Invitational, the Blue Devils were blanked by the Auggies Sept. 7 in Minneapolis, Minn. Stout then headed north to the Northland College Invitational where they swept through the tournament with four 3-0 scores, downing UW-Superior, Finlandia University, Knox College and Northland College. Over the past five matches, Ashley Pratt averaged 4.54 kills per set and 0.85 blocks and is currently second in the WIAC in hitting percentage (.353) and kills (3.93). Fellow middle blocker Kennedy Strain in averaging 2.93 kills per set, ranking 11th in the league, and her 0.83 blocks per set is sixth. | Story and Stats


A LOOK AT STOUT: The Blue Devils 7-2 start is the best start since Stout went 8-2 to open the 2013 season. UW-Stout returns their top two hitters and blockers to lead a small group of returners into the 2016 season. The Blue Devils return six players to the roster - one senior, two juniors and three sophomores - including both starting middle hitters from last season. All-WIAC honorable mention pick Ashley Pratt (Jr, Lakeville) led the team in kills last season at 2.59 per set and was the team's leader in total blocks with 109 as a sophomore. Pratt recorded 18 solo blocks and 91 block assists. Kennedy Strain (So, Elk River, Minn) had a strong freshman season, securing the middle opposite Pratt, finishing with 2.14 kills per set and led the team in solo blocks with 29. Strain finished with 106 total blocks. Beginning her third year as the Blue Devil head coach, Laura Evans will look to Pratt and Strain to anchor the team in the middle. Olivia Jung (Andover, Minn), the lone senior on the team, will play either outside or on the right side. Jung saw limited action last season, playing in 43 sets, but still finished sixth on the team in total blocks with 23. Junior Becky Bradshaw (Oak Lawn, Ill) returns at outside hitter and she too saw limited action last year, but when she is on the court, she is capable of playing front and back row and averaged 1.83 kills per set. Outside hitter Steph Cannon will need to recover from an injury and is not expected to be back for the season after playing in 118 sets last year. Sophomore setter Emily Bialka (Cottage Grove, Minn) gained valuable experience after playing in 139 of 141 possible sets last year. Bialka was part of a two-setter system - Stout played three different offenses throughout the year - for much of last season and led the team in assists with 742 (5.34), ranking eighth in the WIAC. Bialka can also get off the ground. She put down 50 kills and recorded 36 total blocks, fourth on the team. Defensive specialist Carissa Hilgers played in 73 sets last season and returns. Defensive specialist Hallie Locher comes in as a junior after transferring from UW-La Crosse, where she played for two seasons. Last season, Locher played in 88 sets for the Eagles, averaging 2.33 digs and tallied 14 service aces. The Blue Devils will look to a large freshman class to fill needs. The recruiting class includes three setters who will compete with Bialka. "Our incoming setters coming in can, and will need to, compete at a high level," Evans said. The coaching staff will need to concentrate on fundamentals early in the preseason "With so many new kids, we will need to focus on the ball control piece," Evans said. "Our serve, receive and defense will be key." | 2015 Stats


A LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN: The Eagles are currently posting a 6-2 overall record and were ranked 25th in the Sept. 13 AVCA poll. The Eagles, who went 8-0 last season in UMAC play and earned their sixth straight trip to the NCAA playoffs, were picked to win the league again this season, and with five returners, the outlook appears good. Norhtwestern returns Lindsey Peterson, the UMAC player of the year. Shanay Gonder, a first team all-UMAC player last year, also returns in the middle. Peterson leads the way with 3.93 kills per contest, followed by Freya Hanson's 2.43. Gonder has a team-high five solo blocks and 27 assisted blocks.  | Statistics

EAGLES LAST TIME OUT: Northwestern split their last two matches at the Augsburg Tournament, losing 3-1 to UW-La Crosse, but closing the tournament with a 3-1 win over the University of St. Thomas.  | Story and Statistics

THE LAST TIME STOUT AND NORTHWESTERN MET:UW-Stout held a two set to zero lead over the University of Northwestern, but the Eagles came back to take the final three sets to hand the Blue Devils an 18-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 15-12 loss Wednesday at Johnson Fieldhouse. Stout handily took the first set, but the Eagles hung around in the second set, threatening throughout. Northwestern took over in third set and never really looked back. | Story and Statistics


A LOOK AT ST. THOMAS: St. Thomas was picked to finish fourth in the 2016 MIAC standings. The Tommies experienced growing pains last season with a rare losing record. With just one senior on its roster, Coach Thanh Pham's team had several young or first-time varsity players getting playing opportunity. St. Thomas struggled to find consistency in a 9-17 final record. The Tommies have 11 juniors and seniors on hand, led by All-MIAC outside hitter Taylor Lewis. UST also boasts a good mix of youth with one sophomore transfer and 10 freshmen. | Statistics

TOMMIES LAST TIME OUT: The Tommies defeated UW-Eau Claire, 3-2, and lost to the University of Northwestern, 3-1, on the final day of the Augsburg Tournament, Sept. 10. The Tommies play at St. Benedict Wednesday before meeting the Blue Devils Saturday.  | Story and Statistics

THE LAST TIME STOUT AND ST. THOMAS MET: The Blue Devils and the Tommies have not met since the 2007 season, with St. Thomas taking a 3-0 win. . | Story and Statistics


A LOOK AT BETHEL UNIVERSITY:  The Royals were picked to finsh atop the 2016 MIAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll.  A look at Bethel's returning roster is all the proof needed to figure out why the conference coaches are so high on Head Coach Gretchen Hunt's squad.  The Royals (25-10, 9-2 MIAC) return stars at all the right spots, and the team enters the season ranked No. 12 in the nation in the AVCA Coaches' Poll. Leading the way is senior hitter Carlee Hoppe, who was the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Regional and an Honorable Mention All-American. She'll team up with two-time All-MIAC middle Kristin Stern at the net, with setter Katie Lubben also back to run Bethel's high-powered offense. Bethel is ranked 12th in the Sept. 13 AVCA Top 25 poll.  | Statistics

ROYALS LAST TIME OUT: Bethel's only loss this season was a 3-1 loss at UW-Stevens Point in the first game of the second day of the Pointer Invite. Bethel then blanked MIAC opponent St. Benedict, 3-0, later that day. | Story and Statistics

THE LAST TIME STOUT AND BETHEL MET: The Blue Devils and Royals last met twice during the 2014 season, with Bethel winning the first meeting, 3-0, but Stout coming back with a 3-1 win later in the season. | Story and Statistics


TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2016 season are yet to be named.

UW-STOUT COACH LAURA EVANS: Coach Laura Evans (43-30) is in her third 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 posted a 20-10 overall record during the 2014 season, 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. But the Blue Devils picked up the competitive level of their schedule in 2015 and finished at 16-18 overall...Stout was picked to finish sixth in the WIAC in a preseason poll conducted by conference coaches and sports information directors.

AWARDS: Middel hitter Ashley Pratt was selected as the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Sept. 13...Middle hitter Kennedy Strain was named to the Northland College all-tournament team, Sept. 10...Setter Jessica DuVal and middle hitter Kennedy Strain were selected to the University of Northwestern all-tournament team, Sept. 3.

DOWN THE ROAD: The Blue Devils will open conference play when they travel to UW-River Falls, Wednesday, Sept. 21, then play at the WIAC/CCIW Cross Over at UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, Sept. 24. The Blue Devils will Elmhurst College and Wheaton College.