MENOMONIE – The UW-Stout Volleyball team finished 2023 in seventh place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) standings and were selected seventh in the recent WIAC Preseason Coaches Poll. For the Blue Devils, a climb up the conference standings is key for 2024 with third-year head coach
Ben Staupe and his squad knowing what it takes to make that happen.
"We had a great non-conference record of 16-1 and competed well in conference," Staupe said. "But our ultimate goal is not just to compete, but to win more conference matches."
The Blue Devils finished the 2023 campaign with a 17-7 record. Stout opened the season 11-0 to match the best start in since 2002 but went just 1-6 in a tough conference schedule that saw seven of the eight teams be ranked or receiving votes at one point during the season.
For the 23-player 2024 roster, including 15 returners, a winning mindset is key.
"Our mentality as a program has begun to shift from competing to winning. We will be young this year, but with that comes the opportunity to gain experience and grow."
The Blue Devils passing and defense will be crucial to the success in the 2024 season. Stout returns All-WIAC Defensive Team member
Terrah Moshier, who had a career year as libero. She set a career mark with 4.49 digs per set, which was second in the conference. She had double-digit digs in all but two matches, including five matches with twenty or more, with a season-high 32. The Blue Devils also return defensive specialist's
Kailey Kline and
Maja Anderson who combined for 4.5 digs a set a season ago.
The Blue Devils return senior setter
Kennedy Barrett. Barrett started all 90 sets played in 2023 and averaged 8.39 assists per set, third in the conference. She also averaged 3.32 digs a set and added 30 blocks.
As a team, Stout averaged nearly two blocks a set with sophomore
Brynn Hessel leading the way. The All-WIAC honorable mention selection averaged 1.17 blocks per set, good for second in the WIAC and 11
th in the nation. She led the conference with 1.36 blocks per set in just WIAC play. She totaled 10 blocks against #17 UWSP and had eight or more blocks in a match four times.
Emma Barton added 1.33 kills .83 blocks a set.
Offensively Stout will look to fill the holes left by
Sidney Hoverman and
Lydia Kneubuehl. Hoverman averaged 4.11 kills per set, which was third in the WIAC and 18
th in the nation. She is ninth all time in total kills in Stout history. Kneubuehl hit .270 in 2023 with 1.88 kills a set and 63 total blocks.
The Blue Devil offense returns
Brooke McCune totaled 135 kills, averaging 2.18 kills per set.
Kyra Giffen (2.67 K/S),
Lauren Duenkel (1.48 K/S)
Macayla Thompson (.71 K/S), and
Sloan Horgan (1.67 K/S) along with a mix of incoming freshmen will step up and lead the Blue Devil offense.
"I've been impressed with our blue-collar work ethic, that mentality will drive this team."
The Blue Devils open the 2024 season this Friday, Aug. 30, when they travel to Lisle, Ill. to face Benedictine University and Milwaukee School of Engineering. Stout's home opener is set for Wednesday, Sept. 4 when they host St. Catherine at 7 p.m. in the Johnson Fieldhouse.
