2019 Volleyball Statistics
MENOMONIE (August 23, 2021) – There will certainly be some familiar faces when the UW-Stout volleyball team takes to the court in their season opener, Sept. 1. But there will also be some faces not so familiar to Blue Devil fans.
With the pandemic wiping out the 2020 season, last year's incoming freshmen – now sophomores – didn't get a chance to show off their talents in front of a crowd. And coupled with this year's incoming freshmen and the graduation of several regulars from the 2019 and 2020 teams, it will be a new-look group.
And, of course, there are the veteran returners.
Mandy Trautmann returns for her fourth season with the Blue Devils and looks forward to getting the team back on the court. The team was able to play three exhibition matches last spring with outside opponents.
"We do have the veterans and a lot of younger athletes that are motivated," Trautmann said. "As an entire group, they have grown and got along well. They kept on overcoming adversity."
Seven veterans return to lead the Blue Devils' charge.
Over her two years of play,
Lexie Nelson (Sr, St. Michael, Minn) has missed only three sets in her two years of varsity action and earned All-WIAC honorable mention honors in 2018. Nelson played predominately right side as a freshman and during her second year played setter in a 6-2 formation. She was third on the team in kills as a freshman and led the team in kills as a sophomore. Nelson was second on the team both years in assists.
Grace Maurer (Sr, Rogers, Minn) saw a considerable amount of action on the outside in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, averaging just under two kills per set during the 2019 season.
Emili Cain (Sr, Corcoran, Minn) has the longest history with the team, playing in 81 sets in 2017 as a freshman, averaging 2.01 kills. An injury in the 2018 season limited her time to 26 sets as a sophomore and she sat out the 2019 season, joining the team in the spring of the pandemic-flattened 2020-21 school year, playing in the team's only scrimmage in April.
Elise Banitt (Sr, Prescott) saw action in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Caroline Braun (Jr, Mantorville, Minn),
Jessica Barr (Jr, Bloomer) and
Staci Meyer (Jr, Rice, Minn) saw action during the 2019 season.
Trautmann sees last year's incoming class, along with this year's incoming freshmen, as vital to the program.
"That sophomore class has a lot of talent and they worked hard with everything going on," Trautmann said. "As a group, they persevered through the times."
The sophomore class that returns from last year's team include:
Allyssa Ihde (Rochester, Minn),
Morgen Gyger (Crivitz),
Sam Spoden (Maplewood, Minn), Sydney Hoverman (St. Croix Falls),
Ellie Therrien (Corcoran, Minn),
Brynn Timerson (Farmington, Minn),
Terrah Moshier (Oakdale, Minn) and
Anna Hansen (Eau Claire).
"We have talent across the board," Trautmann said. "We have the pieces to the puzzle, but now we have to put it together.
"With the group we have, we do have options. We have talent with the freshmen and sophomore classes that will help us through the years."
The Blue Devils will open play on Wednesday, Sept. 1 when they host Hamline University at 7 p.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse. Stout travels to Iowa the following weekend to play in the Grinnell/Central Tournament, then returns home to host St. Mary's University, Wednesday, Sept. 8. The Blue Devils have six home matches this season. Stout opens the conference schedule when they host UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Sept. 15.
The Blue Devils will host UW-Stevens Point, Friday, Oct. 1, UW-Oshkosh, Friday, Oct. 15 and UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Oct. 20.
