Volleyball Preview: Think Pink!!! Blue Devils host Augsburg Wednesday

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THIS WEEK'S MATCHES: The Blue Devils (5-12, 1-2 WIAC) host Augsburg University, (13-4, 4-1 MIAC) Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in a Dig Pink contest with the Auggies. The Blue Devils will be at the UW-Eau Claire Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament, Oct. 6-7. Stout will meet Millikin University, (12-4, 2-0 CCIW) Friday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m., then the next day will have a rematch with the College of St. Benedict (10-6, 4-1 MIAC) at noon and will close out the tournament with a 4 p.m. contest with the College of St. Scholastica (7-13, 5-4 UMAC).  

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

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Devils played a pair of road conference games last weekend, falling 3-0 at UW-Stevens Point, Sept. 27, and 3-0 at UW-La Crosse, Sept. 30. | Story and Stats

THE BLUE DEVILS IN 2017:The Blue Devils have four players averaging more than 2.00 kills per contest - Kennedy Strain (2.63), Kylie Hoff (2.26), Amber Ripley (2.14) and Ashley Pratt (2.12). Middle hitters Strain and pratt lead the team in blocks, both averaging 0.52. Jessica DuVal is leading Stout in assists (7.89). Steph Cannon, who has moved from the attack to the back row, leads the team in digs (4.59). | Statistics

A LOOK AT STOUT: The Blue Devils return strength up the middle by returning middle blockers Ashley Pratt and Kennedy Strain, both WIAC honorable mention selections last season. Pratt, a two-time All-WIAC honorable mention pick, has been at or towards the top of Stout's hitting game throughout her career, lasting year leading the team in both hitting percentage (.264) and kills (3.41). Pratt ranked seventh in the WIAC in hitting percentage and was fourth in kills. For her career, Pratt is averaging 2.75 kills per contest and hitting at a .268 clip. Pratt has played in 91 matches, tallying play in 335 sets. Opposite Pratt, Strain is the team's top returning blocker and trailed only Pratt in kills. Strain averaged 0.83 blocks last year, ranking 10th in the league, but topped all league players with 28 solo blocks. Strain also led the conference as a freshman in solo blocks with 29, ranking seventh in total blocks (0.85) in her rookie year. Emily Bialka contributed to the Blue Devils last season while moving to a different role. As a freshman, Bialka was one of the two setters in the Blue Devils' 6-2 offense. Bialka played a few sets last season as the setter, but was moved to the right side hitter position. Bialka finished by averaging 1.0 kills per contest and still managed to contribute just short of one assist per contest (0.80). Bialka trailed only Strain in blocks per set, averaging 0.59. Jessica DuVal secured the setter position last season as a freshman, and finished the season ranking sixth in the WIAC in assists, averaging 8.26 per contest. DuVal played in 105 sets last year, tops of any returning players. DuVal recorded 2.83 digs per set, the best of any returning players. Carissa Hilgers returns to the back row where she played in 99 of 107 possible sets and averaging 1.79 digs per set. Hilgers served up 19 service aces, second on the team, and the best of any returners. Following a good freshman season, Steph Cannon was forced to sit out the entire 2016 season due to injury. But Cannon returns in 2017 as an outside hitter. During her freshman year, Cannon averaged just shy of a kill per set, tallying 0.99 kills, seeing action in 118 of 141 sets. Cannon was second on the team in digs with 2.89 digs per set.


A LOOK AT AUGSBURG: The Auggies have won six of their last seven games, including four conference games during that swing. Augsburg's only loss during that run came at the hands of Minnesota-Morris, a 3-2 decision. The Auggies are led by Taylor Linn's 3.32 kills, Corinna Evans' 2.75, Jordan Weeding's 2.59 and Elli Schwart's 2.10.  Morgan Malley has been dishing off 10.87 assists. Bridget Bednar is collecting 1.50 blocks per set and Evans 0.98. | Statistics

AUGGIES LAST TIME OUT: The Auggies swept past Hamline University, 3-0, Sept. 30. Corrina Evans and Taylor Linn had outstanding offensive performances allowing the Augsburg University volleyball team to cruise past Hamline University in a three-set sweep on Saturday at Si Melby Hall. In the middle, Evans did not commit an attack error in recording 10 kills on 16 attempts, a .750 attack percentage that stands as a season-best for the Auggies. Linn had another strong effort, claiming 10 kills with a .421 attack percentage -- her sixth match hitting .400 or better this season. She added three block assists and six digs. | Story and Statistics

LAST TIME THEY MET: The teams played each other twice last season, in back-to-back meetings, with Stout winning the first meeting, 3-0, at the Northwestern Tournament, but the Auggies returned the favor four days later in the Augsburg gym, 3-0. Ashley Pratt had 11 kills in both matches for Stout. The Auggies' Jaelyn Arndt had 13 kills and Taylor Linn 10 in the rematch. | Story and Statistics


A LOOK AT THE EAU CLAIRE TOURNAMENT: At the UW-Eau Claire Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament, Oct. 6-7, Stout will meet Millikin University, Friday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m., then the next day will have a rematch with the College of St. Benedict at noon and will close out the tournament with a 4 p.m. contest with the College of St. Scholastica. Millikin is ranked 15th in the latest AVCA Division III Coaches poll. The Big Blue have lost three of their last four matches and are scheduled to meet North Central College, Oct. 3. The will be the second meeting of the season between Stout and St. Benedict. The Blazers defeated Stout 3-0 at the UW-River Falls in mid-September. The Saints are scheduled to play conference opponents UW-Superior and the University of Northwestern before they meet Stout. 


UW-STOUT COACH LAURA EVANS: Coach Laura Evans (56-54) is in her fourth 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.


AWARDS: Steph Cannon was selected to the UW-River Falls Invitational all-tournament team, Sept. 16...Kennedy Strain was selected to the UW-Oshkosh Pizza Hut Classic all-tournament team, Sept. 9.

DOWN THE ROAD: Stout will host UW-River Falls, Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils host UW-Whitewater, Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., then will travel to Hamline University, Saturday, Oct. 14 for a 10 a.m. contest.