at UW-Stevens Point: Live Stats | Live Video
THIS WEEK'S MATCHES: The Blue Devils (4-5, 0-0 WIAC) continue their extended road trip to start the 2022 season and this week open the WIAC season when they travel to UW-Stevens Point (7-1, 0-0 WIAC,) Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. The Pointers were ranked 21st in the Sept. 13 AVCA Division III Coaches Poll. Stout will be at the UW-Eau Claire-hosted Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament this weekend where they will face Lakeland University (4-4, 0-0 NACC), Friday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils return to Eau Claire Saturday, Sept. 17 to meet Finlandia University (0-8) at 11 a.m. and the College of St. Benedict (5-3, 0-0 MIAC) at 1 p.m.
LOOKING AT UW-STOUT: The Blue Devils return 10 letter winners from last year's squad and five starters from 2021. Top hitters Sidney Hoverman, a 2021 all-WIAC honorable mention selection, and Jessica Barr return. Hoverman averaged 3.53 kills per contest and Barr 2.22. Barr and McCayla Thompson were Stout's top blockers, with Thompson averaging 0.55 and Barr 0.53 blocks per set. The Blue Devils will be looking to replace leading setter Lexie Nelson, who provided 80 percent of the assists, averaging 8.21 assists, put down 1.55 kills, averaged 2.94 digs and 0.47 blocks. Staci Meyer and Terrah Moshier alternated at the libero position and were among the team leaders in digs. Meyer led the team with 3.30 digs per set and Moshier averaged 2.90 digs. Anna Hansen saw action in 91 sets and Caroline Braun saw action in 62 sets. After a two-year absence, middle hitter Lydia Kneubuehl returns. Kneubuehl earned WIAC honorable mention selection in 2019 when she averaged 0.74 blocks per set and 2.45 kills per set. | Statistics
THE BLUE DEVILS THIS YEAR: After dropping the first four matches of the season at the Trinity University Invitational over Labor Day weekend, the Blue Devils neared .500 by going 4-1 last week to run their record to 4-5. Junior Sidney Hoverman and Caroline Braun have been leading Stout on the attack; senior Jessica Barr has been solid on the block and the Blue Devils have been good at the service line. Hoverman is currently third in the WIAC in kills, averaging 3.62, while Braun is averaging 2.32. Hoverman has been good off the serve, ranking seventh in service aces with 0.45. Freshman Maja Anderson has stopped up on the serve, leading Stout with 15 service aces and averaging 0.65, good for fourth in the WIAC. Barr is seventh in the conference in blocks, averaging 0.66 and Anna Hansen is eighth, averaging 0.65. | 2022 Statistics
BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: Stout gave Blue Devil coach Ben Staupe his first Stout win with a convincing 3-0 win at Hamline University Sept. 7. The Blue Devils won the match, 25-17, 25-14, 25-16. The Blue Devils posted a resounding .375 hitting percentage as Stout pounded out 44 kills to 25 for the Pipers| Hamline Game Story and Statistics | Stout hit over .300 for the second consecutive match and downed Bethany Lutheran College, 3-0, in the first match of the St. Catherine Tournament Sept. 9. The Blue Devils played host St. Kate's in the second match and were tripped up 3-0. | Day One Game Story and Statistics | For the first time this season, the UW-Stout volleyball team was able to post a clean sweep on a single day at a tournament. Competing at the St. Catherine Wildcat Invitational, the Blue Devils swept Martin Luther College, 3-0, and Central College, 3-0. | Day Two Game Story and Statistics
UW-STEVENS POINT: The Pointers, ranked 24th in the AVCA Top 25 poll, are off to a 7-1 overall record, with their only loss of the season coming at the hands of 12th ranked University of Northwestern during the opening weekend. The Pointers have one of the top hitters in the country in 2021 AVCA All-America honorable mention selection Ashley Kopp, who is ranking second nationally in kills, averaging 5.04 per set. The Pointers top the WIAC in kills as a team, averaging 13.96. Kopp ranks fifth in the WIAC in service aces, averaging 0.54 per set. Grace Michalske is tops in the league in assists, averaging 10.96. Emma Peterson is second in the WIAC in digs at 5.43 and Katie Larson is sixth in hitting percentage at .278. | 2022 Pointer Statistics
THE POINTERS LAST TIME OUT: Sophomores Ashley Kopp (and Grace Michalske had a statement game as Stevens Point won both matches of the team's home opener on Sept. 10. UWSP defeated Saint Mary's in straight sets before taking down Concordia-Moorhead by a 3-1 final. Kopp had a massive offensive day, including a career-best 30 kills against the Cobbers. She had a match-high 13 kills in the opener versus SMU. Michalske also posted a career-high with 54 assists against CCM. She added 32 helpers versus the Cardinals to up her league-leading total to 307 this season. | Story and Stats
LAST TIME THEY MET: UW-Stout dropped three straight sets against nationally ranked UW-Stevens Point Oct. 1, 2021, in Johnson Fieldhouse Stout fought hard the first set, only losing 25-21, before falling in the second 25-16. Stout battled back in the third set, but the the Pointers sealed the match with a 25-22 third set. | Match Story and Statistics
THE SERIES: Since the 2000 season, the Pointers hold a 20-12 lead in the series. The Pointers have won the last 15 matches. Stout's last win against Stevens Point came Oct. 4, 2012, in Stevens Point. | History
UW-EAU CLAIRE SANDY SCHUMACHER MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT: The Blue Devils will meet Lakeland University, Friday, Sept. 16 at 7 pm.., followed by Finlandia University at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. and will close out the tournament at 1 p.m. against the College of St. Benedict.
THE SERIES VS LAKELAND UNIVERSITY: Stout has won all five meetings since the 2006 season, including last year's match at UW-Oshkosh, a 3-2 win | History | Lakeland Stats
THE SERIES VS FINLANDIA UNIVERSITY: Since the 2000 season, the Blue Devils hold a 3-0 lead in the series. Stout has won their last meeting 3-0 during the 2016 season in Ashland. | History | Finlandia Stats
THE SERIES VS THE COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT: St. Benedict holds a 7-3 lead in the series since the 2000 season. The teams met twice during the 2017 season at a couple of different tournaments with the Blazers taking 3-0 wins in both outings. Stout's last win against St. Ben's came during the 2003 season. | History | St. Benedict Stats
CONFERENCE & NATIONAL POLLS: The Blue Devils were picked to finish eighth 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 BEN STAUPE: Coach Ben Staupe (20-93) is in his first year as the Blue Devil head coach, coming to Stout after four seasons as the head coach at NCAA Division I Western Illinois University, which was preceded by eight seasons as the associate head coach at Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) member UW-Whitewater. Before joining the Whitewater staff, Staupe was the head coach at Rock Valley College, a junior college in Rockford, Ill. A UW-La Crosse graduate, Staupe also served a stint as an assistant coach at NAIA Viterbo University, as well as coaching club volleyball and high school volleyball.
BLUE DEVIL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Week Two: Offensive athlete of the week: Sidney Hoverman, Jr, St. Croix Falls, Wis..; Defensive player of the week: Terrah Moshier, Jr, Oakdale, Minn. (Tartan)....Week One: Offensive athlete of the week: Sidney Hoverman, Jr, St. Croix Falls, Wis..; Defensive player of the week: Jessica Barr, Sr, Bloomer, Wis.
WIAC PRESEASON POLL: The Blue Devils were picked to finish eighth in a WIAC preseason poll conducted by league coaches and sports information directors.
AWARDS: 2022: Sidney Hoverman was named the UW-Stout Athlete of the Week after leading Stout to a 4-1 overall record in the second week of the season...2021: Lexie Nelson and Sidney Hoverman were selected all-WIAC honorable mention...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: : The Blue Devils return to conference play by traveling to UW-La Crosse, Sept. 21, for a 7 p.m. contest. Stout will be at the Wartburg College Invitational, Sept. 23. The Blue Devils will meet host Wartburg College, Friday, Sept. 23 at 5 pm.., followed by Coe College at 7 p.m. Stout will close out the tournament Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. against Concordia-Moorhead.
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