THIS WEEK'S MATCHES: The Blue Devils (13-11, 1-5 WIAC) will wrap up the regular season by traveling to UW-Superior (10-15, 8-4 UMAC), Tuesday, Oct. 26, then go to the opposite corner of the state for the weekend when they travel to UW-Whitewater (23-1, 5-1 WIAC), Friday, Oct. 29 and to Concordia-Wisconsin (20-4, 10-2 NACC), Saturday, Oct. 30.
2021 UW-STOUT BLUE DEVILS: Sidney Hoverman is third in the WIAC in kills, averaging 3.59 kills over 86 sets played. Out of 24 matches, Hoverman has had 19 matches in double digit kills and has collected three double-doubles over the last several weeks, recording 12 digs against Macalester, 14 digs against Rockford and a season-high 32 digs against St. Norbert College. Lexie Nelson is fourth in the WIAC in assists with 8.35 per contest, and seventh in the league in hitting percentage (.271). She is third on the team in kills, trailing only Hoverman and Jessica Barr (2.23 k/s) in kills with 1.60. Barr set a career-high with 18 kills against Minn-Morris last weekend. On the defensive end, Barr leads Stout with 47.0 total blocks, with Macayla Thompson (40.0) and Nelson (39.0) behind her. Barr and Thompson are both averaging 0.53 blocks per set. Emili Cain is averaging 0.48 blocks, Nelson 0.44, and Hoverman 0.41. Thompson has a team-best eight solo blocks on the season. Staci Meyer is seventh in the league in digs, averaging 3.39 per set. | Statistics
BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Devils lost 3-0 to UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 20, then defeated Martin Luther College, 3-0, and Minnesota-Morris, 3-1, Oct. 23. | UW-Eau Claire Game Story and Statistics | Martin Luther College Game Story and Statistics | Minn-Morris Game Story and Statistics
UW-SUPERIOR: Alexie Pryd leads the team in kills with 3.17 per set and Cassy Tess and Maina Stark each are averaging 2.30 kills. Superior has won five of their last seven games. | 2021 Statistics
YELOWJACKETS LAST TIME OUT: Three UW-Superior volleyball players reached double figures in kills as the Yellowjackets hit .321 on their way to a 3-1 win over North Central in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action at Clark-Danielson Gymnasium Saturday. UWS won by set scores of 25-14, 25-17, 20-25 and 25-15 with junior Alexie Pryd, sophomore Kaylin Plautz and freshman Maiana Stark putting down 13, 12 and 11 kills, respectively, to lead a 55-kill attack. Superior had just 13 hitting errors on the day to record its second-highest attack efficiency of the season, which included a .469 mark in the first set and .419 in the deciding fourth set. | North Central Story and Stats
LAST TIME THEY MET: Stout has won the last four games against the Yellowjackets, including 3-1 win earlier this season at the Bethel University Invitational, Sept. 18. Sidney Hoverman came close to her career-best by putting down 19 kills against the Yellowjackets. Her current best is 21 kills. Anna Hansen did match a career-best with 11 kills against the Yellowjackets. Lexie Nelson recorded a then career-best 48 assists against the Yellowjackets. Nelson had three service aces. Alexis Pryd led the 'Jackets with 15 kills and Cassy Tess added 11. Stout won the match, 25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22. The win snapped a three-match losing skid. | Game Story and Statistics
THE SERIES: Since the 2000 season, Stout is 24-6 over Superior. | History
UW-WHITEWATER: The Warhawks are currently in second place in the WIAC, with their only loss of the season coming to first-place UW-Eau Claire on Sept. 22. Whitewater is ranked ninth in the Oct. 19th AVCA Top 25 poll. Jenna Weinfurt leads the team in kills with 3.13 per set. As a team, Whitewater leads the league in hitting percentage (.243) and blocks (2.40/set). | 2021 Statistics
WARHAWKS LAST TIME OUT: The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team used a potent offensive attack Saturday to defeat Wheaton (Ill.) 25-13, 25-13, 25-18 on the second day of the Dig Panici Classic at Russell Arena. The Warhawks, who also extended their active win streak to 15 matches, posted a team hitting percentage of .392, the team's second-highest mark in a match this season, and committed a season-low seven attack errors in the contest. Erin McNeil tallied a team-high nine kills on a .562 hitting percentage and added two blocks. Emma Aske registered seven kills on a .333 hitting percentage with three service aces, eight digs and two blocks, and Jenna Weinfurt collected eight kills and one block. | Cornell and Wheaton Game Story and Stats
LAST TIME THEY MET: After a battle of momentum shifts between sides, UW-Stout came up short against the UW-Whitewater Warhawks. Tenth-ranked Whitewater came back after dropping the first set to a feisty Stout squad Oct. 4, 2019, at Johnson Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils captured the first set 25-18, but the Warhawks took the final three set, 25-15, 26-24, 25-20. | Game Story and Statistics
THE SERIES: The Blue Devils have not beaten Whitewater since the 1994 season, a 33-match streak. | History
CONCORDIA-WISCONSIN: The Falcons saw their winning streak end at 17 against St. Norbert College last weekend and need help to claim a share of the conference title. Concordia was 3-3 to start off the season before their long winning streak began on Sept. 18. The Falcons have four players hitting above 2.00 in kills, led by Maycee Karpfinger with 2.64 kills per set. Karpfinger leads the team in blocks with 1.06 blocks per set and is ranked 25th in Division III. | 2021 Statistics
FALCONS LAST TIME OUT: The Falcons play MSOE Wednesday, Oct. 27. The Falcons' winning streak came to an end on Saturday afternoon at St. Norbert with a 3-1 loss. The loss also knocks CUW out of first place in the NACC and gave Aurora at least a share of the NACC title.The Falcons dug themselves into a 14-8 hole in the first set. They fought back and cut the lead to two points on multiple occasions but fell in the opening set, 25-22. The Blue and White used an 8-2 to close out the second set and secure a 25-17 victory. The Green and Yellow jumped on Concordia early in the third and fourth sets to claim the victory. Freshman Lauren Shroba led the flock with 14 kills on the day. Senior Madelyn Alton led the match with 19 digs. CUW looks to bounce back on Wednesday against MSOE and needs Illinois Tech to upset Aurora to claim a share of the NACC title. | St. Norbert Game Story and Stats
LAST TIME THEY MET: UW-Stout split two matches playing in their final tournament of the season, falling in the opener, 3-2, to host Concordia University Wisconsin, but bouncing back to beat Carroll University for the second time this season, 3-1, at the Concordia Invitational Oct. 26, 2019. Lexie Nelson recorded a triple-double in both matches. Against Concordia, Nelson had 14 kills, 25 assists and 25 digs. In the second match against Carroll, Nelson had a match-high 17 kills, 19 assists and 14 digs. | Game Story and Statistics
THE SERIES: The Falcons have won the last three meetings between the two programs. | History
CONFERENCE & NATIONAL POLLS: The Blue Devils were picked to finish seventh in the WIAC, according to a preseason poll by conference coaches and sports information directors. | 2021 WIAC Preseason Poll | AVCA Top 25 Poll
UW-STOUT COACH MANDY TRAUTMANN: Coach Mandy Trautmann (48-35) is in her fourth season as the head coach of the Blue Devils in 2021. In her first season as head coach in 2018, Trautmann led the Blue Devils to a home WIAC playoff berth, the first for the Blue Devils since 2004. 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.
BLUE DEVIL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Week Eight: Offensive athlete of the week: Jessica Barr, Jr, Bloomer, Wis..; Defensive player of the week: Terrah Moshier, So, Oakdale, Minn. (Tartan) Week Seven: none; Week Six: none; Week Five: Offensive athlete of the week: Sidney Hoverman, So, St. Croix Falls, Wis.; Defensive player of the week: Staci Meyer, Jr, Rice, Minn. (Sauk Rapids-Rice) Week Four: Offensive athlete of the week: Lexie Nelson, Sr, St. Michael, Minn. (St. Michael-Albertville); Week Three: Offensive player of the week: Sidney Hoverman, So, St. Croix Falls, Wis. Defensive player of the week: Staci Meyer, Jr, Rice, Minn. (Sauk Rapids-Rice) Week Two: Offensive athlete of the week: Lexie Nelson, Sr, St. Michael, Minn. (St. Michael-Albertville); Week One: Offensive athlete of the week: Lexie Nelson, Sr St. Michael, Minn. (St. Michael-Albertville); Defensive athlete of the week: Terrah Moshier, So, Oakdale, Minn. (Tartan).
AWARDS: 2021: Lexie Nelson and Sidney Hoverman were selected to the all-tournament team at the UW-Oshkosh Polito's Invitational...Lexie Nelson and Jessica Barr were selected to the all-tournament team at the Grinnell College/Central College Invitational.
DOWN THE ROAD: Stout is waiting to see if they can acquire a berth in the WIAC Volleyball Championship.
