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WIAC Weekly Release |
THIS WEEK'S MATCHES: After nearly the entire opening month of the season on the road, UW-Stout (6-7, 1-0 WIAC) finally comes home where they will begin a four-game homestand when they host
Hamline University (6-6, 0-3 MIAC) Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils are coming off a week where they split a pair of 3-0 games, downing UW-Platteville, 3-0, Sept. 18 to open the conference schedule, then falling to Bethel University, 3-0, Sept. 21 in St. Paul, Minn. The Pipers lost a pair of conference games last week, falling to St. Olaf, 3-0, Sept 19, and to St. Benedict, 3-1, Sept. 21. Stout will host
UW-Stevens Point (12-7, 0-1 WIAC) Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. and
UW-La Crosse (9-6, 1-0 WIAC) Saturday, Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. Both Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse competed at an invitational in Stevens Point last weekend.
ON-LINE: All home Blue Devil matches are available in a
live video stream.
PARKING: Parking on the UW-Stout campus is restricted during the business week. For games in Johnson Fieldhouse during the week, please plan to park in Lot 29. Do not park in Lot 4, which is a reserved lot for students that live in the residence halls.
BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Devils made runs at Bethel University, but lost a 3-0 decision, 26-24, 25-18, 25-17. Stout came back from a 20-12 deficit in the first set.
Lexie Nelson started the Blue Devils' roll with a service ace.
McKylie Hoff answered with a kill. Nelson had two kills and an assisted block in the run, as did
Kennedy Strain.
Jessica DuVal provided a kill to tie the score at 23 before Bethel took a one point lead. Nelson and Strain tied the score with a combined block, but the Royals took the final two points and the set.
Kennedy Strain led Stout in the match with 11 kills and three assisted blocks. Nelson finished with nine kills and two assisted blocks. |
Bethel Match and Stats | UW-Stout breezed into UW-Platteville and breezed out just about as quickly as the Blue Devils opened the conference season with a three-set sweep over the Pioneers Tuesday. Stout downed the Pioneers, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23.
Amber Ripley and
Kennedy Strain each recorded six kills and two assisted blocks to lead the way for the Blue Devils. |
UW-Platteville Match and Stats
THE BLUE DEVILS IN 2018: Amber Ripley leads the Blue Devils in average kills per set with 3.21, putting down a total of 122 kills over 38 sets played. Middle hitter
Kennedy Strain is averaging 2.94 kills per set over 49 sets played and has recorded 144 total kills. Strain is the team's leading blocker, recording 10 solo blocks and 26 assisted blocks. Ripley and setter
Jessica DuVal led the team in service aces with 16. DuVal is tops in assists with 7.67.
McKylie Hoff has four solo blocks and just trails Strain with 23 assisted blocks. The Blue Devils started the season at 4-1, but since then have gone 2-6. |
Statistics
BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: Coming into the Hamline match,
Kennedy Strain has nine times this year registered double-digit kills with a season-high against Willamette. Twice she has recorded 15 kills, including in a three set win over Luther College. In
Amber Ripley's first seven matches (she missed three matches at the Oshkosh tournament), she recorded double-digit kills and had a season-high 18 kills against Minnesota-Morris.
Steph Cannon has notched double-digit digs in 11 matches and had a season-high 34 against St. Norbert College.
Jessica DuVal had a season-high 53 assists vs. St. Norbert College, a match where she recorded a triple-double, putting down 13 kills and popping up 11 digs. DuVal has recorded triple-doubles three times, doing in consecutively in three matches. Lexi Nelson recorded a triple-double in her first three matches of the season.
A LOOK AT STOUT: The Blue Devils return all-conference picks
Kennedy Strain and
Steph Cannon, who both garnered honorable mention honors. Strain, a senior middle hitter,, led the Blue Devils in kills, averaging 2.82 kills per set, tallying 302 total, and ranks 10th in the WIAC in kills per set. She ranks eighth in the conference in hitting percentage, hitting at a .255 clip. On the block, Strain finished with 23 solo blocks and 49 block assists for 79 total She averaged 0.67 per set. Eighteen times this season, Strain finished with double-digit kills, with a season-high 20 in a 3-2 win over Minnesota-Morris. After sitting out the 2016 season, Cannon, a junior, made the switch from hitter to back-row specialist, wearing the libero shirt for the majority of games and was chosen to the all-conference team as a libero. Cannon, who was also selected to the all-defensive team, finished the year with 548 digs, a mark that is fifth on the UW-Stout all-time singles seasons list. Cannon ranked fourth in the WIAC in digs, averaging 4.98 per set. Cannon threatened the school single match digs record, recording 44 digs against Minnesota-Morris. The school record is 48. Cannon 11 times exceeded 20 digs in a single match and four times had 30 or more digs.The Blue Devils return senior
Emily Bialka, who switched from setter to hitter last season.
Jessica DuVal returns after two years as the starting setter.
Amber Ripley made an impression as a freshman hitter. |
Complete 2018 Season Preview
MILESTONE MARKERS LOOMING:
Kennedy Strain currently has 968 career kills.
Jessica DuVal has 2181 career assists.
Steph Cannon has 1147 career digs.
HAMLINE UNIVERSITY: Madi Hurrle leads the Pipers, averaging 2.90 kills per set and leads the team at the block, getting 16 solo blocks and 24 assists blocks for an average of 0.95 per set. Megan Rubbelke is averaging 8.17 assists per set. The Pipers are coached by former UW-Stout All-WIAC middle hitter, who played for the Blue Devils from 2005-08. Meixl is currently eighth on the school all-time list for block assists with 202, and finished her Blue Devil career with 680 career kills and 93 career solo blocks. She is in her second season as the Pipers' head coach and in her fourth overall with the Hamline program. The Pipers opened the season at 5-1, but have since gone 1-5. |
Statistics
HAMLINE LAST TIME OUT: Piper volleyball team opened their home schedule against St. Benedict Sept. 21, and fell just short as the Bennies took the match in four sets (13-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-16). The Bennies hit a solid .301 in the match and had three players in double figures in kills, as their offense kept the Pipers busy the whole night. HU responded though, with the freshman duo of Erin Tadych and Gabby Robinson combining for 23 digs. The Piper offense was held to a more modest .148 hitting percentage, but were led by consistent efforts from junior Morgen Coleman and sophomore Madison Hurrle. Coleman finished with a team-best 12 kills with a .219 hitting percentage and Hurrle was right behind her with nine kills, hitting .261. Freshman Sydney Larson also racked up 10 kills on the night, which was the third time this season that she has ended in double figures in this category.. |
Game Story and Statistics
LAST TIME THE PIPERS AND BLUE DEVILS MET: It may have been a three-set win, but UW-Stout's 3-0 win over Hamline University was anything but a runaway, Oct. 14, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. The Blue Devils and the Pipers, coached by former Blue Devil standout Maggie Meixl, were locked in a close 26-24, 25-21, 26-24, eventual Stout victory in the morning matinee contest.
Emili Cain finished the match with 11 kills for Stout (8-16).
Kennedy Strain had nine kills. The Pipers got 10 kills and three blocks from Reilly Geistfeld. |
Game Story and Statistics
THE SERIES: The Blue Devils hold a 21-15 lead in the series.
UW-STEVENS POINT: UW-Stevens Point are led by interim head coach Lyndsay Kooi during the 2018 campaign. She was an assistant coach at Millikin University (Ill.) in 2017 after serving as an assistant coach at UW-Stevens Point in 2015 and 2016. Junior rightside hitter April Gehl topped the conference with 495 kills and 555 points in 2017, while ranking third on the squad with 279 digs and 71 blocks. Junior defensive specialist/libero Lisa Bedessem contributed 265 digs, while senior defensive specialist/libero Shannah Carter added 156 digs. The Pointers are projected to finish fifth in the WIAC, according to a preseason poll. | Statistics
STEVENS POINT LAST TIME OUT: Stevens Point got a pair of quality wins and ended the weekend with a three-set win over Coe College and a thrilling four-set victory over Wheaton. Junior April Gehl racked up 32 kills over the two wins, topping all players in the category in both matches. She added 21 digs in the win over Wheaton for yet another double-double. Sophomore Ellie Adams recorded a double-double in each match on Saturday. She had 24 assists and 14 digs against Coe and had a career-high 53 assists and 10 digs against the Thunder. Freshman Maddie Lawson added 17 kills and eight blocks on the day. Rachel Hein also had a double-figure kills match with 11 against Wheaton. |
Game Story and Statistics
LAST TIME THE POINTERS AND BLUE DEVILS MET: Stout lost a three set match to 23rd-ranked UW-Stevens Point Wednesday. The Pointers captured the meet, 25-13, 25-11, 25-18. Stout's
Amber Ripley led the Blue Devils with nine kills and
Kara Simonson had six kills.
Jessica DuVal finished with 22 assists and had 11 digs. The Pointers' April Gehl led the way with 15 kills. The Blue Devils committed 24 errors to 26 kills for a hitting percentage of .021, and hit negative percentages in the first two sets. The Pointers , meanwhile, committed only seven errors to 40 kills for a hitting percentage of .344. |
Game Story and Statistics
THE SERIES: The Blue Devils hold a 30-28 lead in the series.
UW-LA CROSSE: UW-La Crosse, the defending regular-season and tournament champion, has posted 45 wins the last two seasons for the program's best two-year stretch since 52 victories from 2007-08. The Eagles also made the program's 15th NCAA appearance in 2017. Senior outside hitter Marisa Johnson was second on the team with 229 kills and 29 service aces, while adding 214 digs and 26 blocks. Sophomore rightside hitter Laine Hoeffel provided 207 kills and 45 blocks, while junior middle blocker Kathryn Maas led the squad with 85 blocks and added 187 kills. The Eagles were projected to finish fourth, according to a WIAC preseason poll. | Statistics
LA CROSSE LAST TIME OUT: La Crosse volleyball team completed action at the UW-Stevens Point Invitational Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 (19-25, 14-25, 25-21, 25-16, 15-6) victory over Wheaton College (Ill.). The Eagles dropped a pair of matches Friday, falling 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 19-25, 25-23) to Elmhurst College (Ill.) and 3-0 (25-14, 27-25, 25-18). The Eagles are scheduled to host UW-River Falls, Sept. 26. |
Game Story and Statistics
LAST TIME THE EAGLES AND BLUE DEVILS MET: UW-Stout made several runs at their opponent in the second and third sets, but the Blue Devils were swept for the second straight outing by a WIAC opponent, this time falling 3-0 to UW-La Crosse last season. The Eagles downed the Blue Devils, 25-16, 25-22, 25-23. The Eagles controlled the first set from start to finish, but Stout held the lead for most of the second set until La Crosse caught up to tie the score at 21. then captured the three point lead. Stout trailed for all of the third set, falling behind 17-10 and 21-11 before making a run at the Eagles.
Ashley Pratt put down three kills and had a block assist, and
Carissa Hilgers served six times that that the Blue Devils turned into points and Stout got to as close as 24-23, but the took the win. Pratt had seven kills for Stout, while
Emily Bialka and
Demi Ploor contribted five apiece. La Crosse's Stephanie Henk and Kathryn Maas each finished with 10 kills.. |
Game Story and Statistics
THE SERIES: The Eagles hold a 42-13 lead in the series.
CONFERENCE & NATIONAL POLLS: The Blue Devils were picked to finish sixth in a preseason poll conducted by league coaches and sports information directors. UW-Whitewater is projected to finish first, UW-Eau Claire second, UW-Oshkosh third, UW-La Crosse fourth, UW-Stevens Point fifth, UW-Stout sixth, UW-Platteville seventh and UW-River Falls eighth. |
2018 WIAC Preseason Poll |
AVCA Top 25 Poll
UW-STOUT COACH MANDY TRAUTMANN: Coach
Mandy Trautmann (6-7) is in her first season as the head coach of the Blue Devils. Trautmann took over the Blue Devils after a season as an assistant coach. Prior to coming to Stout, Trautmann was the team captain for UW-Oshkosh in 2015, a season the Titans captured the WIAC regular season championship. Trautmann was a two-time first team all-WIAC selection in 2014 and 2015, and an honorable mention choice in 2013. She was named to the all-WIAC defensive team in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
QUICK HITS: The Blue Devils have two seniors, six juniors, four sophomores and seven freshmen on the 2018 roster...the team is made up of 13 players from Minnesota, four from Wisconsin and one each from Iowa and Illiniois...assistant coach
Pam Schroeder begins her 15th season with the Blue Devils, matching hockey assistant coach
Greg Slupe as the longest current assistant coaching tenure with a Stout program...
BLUE DEVIL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Defensive athlete of the week: Steph Cannon, Jr, Mora, Minn.
AWARDS: 2018:
Kennedy Strain was selected to the Bethel University all-tournament team...
Jessica DuVal was selected to the UW-Oshkosh Pizza Hut all-tournament team...
Kennedy Strain was selected to the Oregon Trail all-tournament team...
2017:
Kennedy Strain and
Steph Cannon were selected All-WIAC honorable mention...
Steph Cannon was selected as the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week, Oct. 16, after averaging 5.25 kills in a 2-1 week that saw the Blue Devils come up just points from upsetting nationally ranked UW-Whitewater...
Kennedy Strain was selected to the UW-Eau Claire Sandy Schumacher Memorial all-tournament team, Oct. 7...
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: The Blue Devils wrap up four straight home games, by hosting St. Mary's University, Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m., then head to Augsburg College, Saturday, Oct. 6 for an 11 a.m. contest.
