For Immediate Release
Monday, September 30, 2013
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#6  Heather Schiller
MB, 5-11, So.,
Coon Rapids, Minn.
Totino Grace HS
Concordia-St. Paul


NSIC Setter of the Week
#4  Amanda Konetchy  
 S,  5-7, Sr.,
 Victoria, Minn.  
 Chaska HS  
 Concordia-St. Paul

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#2  Kaitlin VanWinkle
MB, 5-11, So.,
Farmington, Minn.
Lakeville South
MSU Moorhead

2013 NSIC VOLLEYBALL TEAM NOTES
Augustana College Vikings (8-2, 0-2 NSIC)
Augustana College Vikings (11-2, 3-2 NSIC)
www.goaugie.com
Head Coach: Ashley Buckley • Penn State ‘05 • 6th Season • W-L: 95-71, 54-45 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Ashley Petak                    2012 Record: 17-13, 11-9 NSIC (8th)
Augustana battled back from a rough start to conference play with three straight wins this past week.  The Vikings tripped to Wayne State on Tuesday where they dispatched the Wildcats in straight sets. The Vikings dug up nearly every WSC attack as they finished with 73 digs in just three sets of work.  Avoiding a letdown, Augustana returned home to defeat U-Mary in three sets. Three Vikings smashed double-digit kills, led by Kelsey Kaufmann who finished with a match-high 11. Closing out the busy week, the Vikings downed the high-flying Minot State Beavers in four sets.  Augustana recorded a season-high 16 blocks, holding the Beavers to a .194 attack percentage.  Taylor Hrdlichka led the defensive charge with a career-high 11 blocks.
 #12 Holly Hafemeyer (MB, 6-3, Sr., Faribault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy) drilled 4.1 kills./set and hit a .445 attack percentage to lead the Vikings to a 3-0 record this past week.  Hafemeyer tallied 41 kills, nearly breaking a career-best with 19 kills in a three-set win over Wayne State. In the Vikings’ win over WSC, Hafemeyer swung at a .500 clip with 19 kills and just one error.  Over the weekend, Hafemeyer tallied a 10 and 12 kills in wins over U-Mary and Minot State, respectively. Hafemeyer only recorded four attack errors on the week and her lowest attack percentage was .370 in the win over Minot State. Hafemeyer also finished the week with 11 total blocks with gave her 48.5 points in three matches.
 #2 Marissa Johnson (S, 5-8, So., Omaha, Neb./Burke HS) ran an evenly distributed offense leading the Vikings to three wins and 118 total assists. Johnson recorded her second double-double of the year when she dished out 42 assists (14.0 per set) and scooped up 10 digs in Augustana’s win over No. 8 Wayne State. Johnson then paced the Viking offense to a sweep of U-Mary with 33 assists and a season-high three kills against the Marauders.  In the final match of a busy week, Johnson assisted on 43 kills and picked up two blocks to beat Minot State in four sets.  Johnson again flirted with a double-double when she finished with seven digs in Augustana’s wins over U-Mary and Minot State.
 #13 Taylor Hrdlichka (MB, 6-1, Sr., Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS) recorded a career-high 11 blocks, falling just one shy of the Augustana record, while leading the Vikings to a season-high 16 blocks in a four-set win over Minot State. Hrdlichka finished with three solo blocks and eight block assists for her new career mark. She paired her defensive numbers with eight kills for 15 points in the match. Hrdlichka finished the weekend with 19 kills and 12 blocks as the Vikings went 3-0. For the season, Hrdlichka is second on the Vikings with 35 total blocks and four solo blocks.
9/24/2013    Wayne State W 3-0     9/27/2013    University of Mary W 3-0
9/28/2013    Minot State W 3-1     
10/4/2013    Northern State 7 p.m.     10/5/2013    MSU Moorhead  4 p.m.
   •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Bemidji State University Beavers (5-8, 1-4 NSIC)
www.bsubeavers.com
Head Coach: Wayne Chadwick • Wisconsin-Whitewater ‘88 • 4th Season • W-L: 27-69, 14-53 NSIC
Assistant Coaches: Jerry Hulla &  Hannah Wilson     2012 Record: 4-23, 2-18 NSIC(t-15th)
Jessica Yost (OH, 6-3, Fr., Bemidji, Minn.) was Bemidji State University’s top offensive player from a week in which it earned its first conference win. Yost led the Beavers in kills in all three matches. In the win over Upper Iowa University, she had a career-high 21 kills—marking BSU’s first 20-kill performance since Sept. 8, 2012 when Bethany Thompson accomplished the feat versus Erskine University.
Kayla DeJong (DS, 5-8, So., Jefferson, Wis.) was BSU’s top defender last week as the Beavers earned their first conference victory. DeJong led the team in the digs in all three matches including a 24-dig performance in the win over Upper Iowa.
Courtney Volkmann (S, 5-7, Jr., Wadena, Minn.) had three double-doubles last week as the Beavers went 1-2 in NSIC action. Volkmann had 45 assists and 16 digs against Minnesota Crookston, 24 assists and 10 digs against Winona State and lastly, 45 assists and 10 digs in the win over Upper Iowa.
9/24     Minnesota Crookston L, 2-3    9/27     Winona State L 0-3
9/28     Upper Iowa                W 3-2
10/4     Minnesota State          7 p.m.    10/5     Concordia-St. Paul      4 p.m.
   •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Concordia University-St. Paul Golden Bears (13-1, 5-0 NSIC)
http://www.cugoldenbears.com/
Head Coach: Brady Starkey  • Metropolitan State ‘02 • 10th Season • W-L: 352-31, 179-6 NSIC
Assistant Coach: George Padjen, Hailey Cowles & Ellie Duffy 2012 Record: 33-4, 18-2 NSIC (t-1st)
Heather Schiller (MB, 5’11”, So., Coon Rapids, Minn. / Totino Grace HS) had a tremendous week for the Golden Bears, finishing with 40 kills (3.64 per game), and 13 blocks (six solo).  She hit .364 and is the third leading hitter in the conference at .394 on the season.  Schiller had a career high 16 kills against the #1 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Friday.  She also pitched in with seven blocks (four solo) and three digs with a .389 hitting percentage in the match.
Amanda Konetchy (S, 5’7”, Sr., Victoria, Minn. / Chaska HS) had perhaps her best weekend of the season with 141 assists (12.82 per game) in CU’s three wins.  She contributed defensively as well, adding 20 digs and five blocks.  Konetchy led an offense that hit .352 on the week to improve an attack that already leads the nation by a large margin at .350.  That percentage is a full .017 ahead of the next best team.  Konetchy was dominant in CU’s win over the Bulldogs, picking up 61 assists and nine digs against the conference’s top defense that had been holding opponents to just .143 hitting.
Friday’s win over #1 UMD improved the Golden Bears record against top ranked teams to 7-0 during their championship run.    Concordia extend their NSIC regular season winning streak to 19 and overall winning streak to 11.
9/24/2013 Minnesota State  W 3-0         9/27/2013 Minnesota Duluth  W 3-2          9/28/2013 St. Cloud State W 3-0
10/4/2013 Minnesota Crookston  7 p.m.      10/5/2013 Bemidji State  4 p.m.
 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
University of Mary (N.D.) Marauders (3-9, 0-5 NSIC)
www.goumary.com
Head Coach: Steve Novacek  • Minnesota Duluth ‘05 • 4th Season • W-L: 8-61, 4-41 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Christa Jung & Maureen Moriarty  2012 Record: 3-24, 3-17 NSIC (14th)
U-Mary struggled this past weekend as they were swept by Augustana College and #8 Wayne State College. Against Augustana, Alexis Jacobs (OH, R-Fr., 5-11, Bismarck, N.D. / Century HS) was U-Mary’s top performer leading the team with 11 digs and nine kills. Despite facing stiffer competition against Wayne State, U-Mary played significantly better being outhit by just .082. Individually Allison Adams (MB, Jr., 6-0, Minneapolis, Minn. / Southwest HS) and Paige Smith (MB, So., 5-11, Jordan, Minn./ Jordan HS) were the Marauders’ top performers. Adams finished with 10 kills and hit .381. Smith has nine kills and hit .333. With 6 blocks this weekend Smith remains one of the top blockers in the conference averaging just under one per set.
9/24/2013    Minot State L 1-3     9/27/2013    Augustana L 0-3
9/28/2013    Wayne State L 0-3
10/4/2013    Southwest Minnesota State 7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Sioux Falls 6 p.m.
 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (6-7, 1-4 NSIC)
www.goldeneaglesports.com
Head Coach: Lee Anderson  • University of Ottawa ‘98 • 7th Season • W-L: 46-140, 25-95 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Heather Grieser 2012 Record: 11-16, 7-13 NSIC (11th)
Brittany Looker (Jr., OH, Rochester, Minn.) averaged 17 kills per match on the week as UMC went 1-2 including a five-set win over Bemidji State University. Looker had a career-high 23 kills last Tuesday against the Beavers in a 3-2 win. She followed the impressive performance up with 15 kills against Upper Iowa and 10 versus Winona State. Looker comes into this weekend hitting .174 and averaging 3.65 kills per set.
Chelsea Wiesner (Sr., Lib., Rochester, Minn.) averaged 16 digs per match in three matches last week as the Golden Eagles went 1-2 including a five-set win over Bemidji State University. Wiesner had 20 digs versus the Beavers and followed that up with 13 against Upper Iowa and 15 versus Winona State.
9/24/2013    Bemidji State University  W 3-2     9/27/2013    Upper Iowa University     L 2-3
9/28/2013    Winona State University  L 0-3     
10/4/2013    Concordia University, St. Paul  7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Minnesota State  4 p.m.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (13-1, 4-1 NSIC)
www.umdbulldogs.com
Head Coach: Jim Boos  • UW–Oshkosh ‘94 • 12th Season • W-L: 307-58, 116-22 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Christyn May   2012 Record: 29-5, 18-2 NSIC (t-1st)
Coming off their first loss of the season at the hands of No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul, the Bulldogs bounced back in decisive fashion with a three-set sweep of Minnesota State on Saturday night. Early last week, UMD maintained its home court advantage defeating St. Cloud State in straight sets. Coach Jim Boos surpassed his predecessor Pati Rolf as the all-time winningest volleyball coach at UMD, now sitting at 311 for his career.
Senior outside hitter Kate Lange moved into the top four in all-time kills at UMD this week, now sitting at 1,680 for her career. The season’s kill leader in the NSIC, Lange had 50 last week alone. She added six blocks (three solo) while hitting .287 for the week. She came up big in the battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 with 21 kills for the Bulldogs. Junior libero Julie Rainey added 59 digs for UMD last week, an average of 5.36 per set.  Sophomore setter Ashley Hinsch averaged 11.73 assists per game as she collected 129 on the week.
9/24/2013    St. Cloud State W 3-0      9/27/2013    Concordia-St. Paul L 2-3
9/28/2013    Minnesota State W 3-0
10/4/2013    Upper Iowa 7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Winona State     4 p.m.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks (7-5, 3-2 NSIC)
www.msumavericks.com
Head Coach: Dennis Amundson  • St. Cloud State ‘69 • 9th Season • W-L: 159-99, 71-34 NSIC
Assistant Coaches: Lori Rittenhouse-Wollmuth, Bre Payton 2012 Record: 18-11, 12-8 NSIC (t-6th)
The Minnesota State volleyball team posted a 1-2 record this past weekend moving to 7-5 overall with a mark of 3-2 in conference action, as it fell to the nation’s No.1 and No. 2 teams. The Mavericks began their week with a 3-0 loss at the hands of Concordia-St. Paul before they returned to Taylor Center where they swept St. Cloud State on Friday evening, but couldn’t pull out the upset over the top-ranked team, Minnesota Duluth.
Chandra Honebrink (OH, 5-10, So., Waconia, Minn.) led the Maverick offensive charge as she posted 37 kills (4.11 per set) in the three matches. Honebrink hit .364 posting 37 kills in 77 attempts with only nine attack errors. The 5-10 sophomore recorded 11 kills on 17 attempts with no errors against Concordia-St. Paul, boasting a career-best .647 attack percentage and posted a career-best 18 kills against St. Cloud State, while hitting .471.
Ellie Van De Steeg (S, 5-9, So., Hutchinson, Minn.) paced the Maverick attack with 103 assists (11.4 per set), including a 47 assist effort against St. Cloud State. Van De Steeg also posted 16 digs, four kills and one service ace in the Mavericks three matches this past week.
9/24/2013    Concordia-St. Paul L 0-3     9/27/2013    St. Cloud State W 3-0
9/28/2013    Minnesota Duluth L 0-3
10/4/2013    Bemidji State 7:00 p.m.     10/5/2013    Minnesota, Crookston 4:00 p.m.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Minnesota  State University Moorhead Dragons (10-3, 3-2 NSIC)
www.msumdragons.com
Head Coach: Tammy Kath-Blake • South Dakota ‘89 • 19th Season • W-L: 326-243, 181-129 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Katy Peterson & Kelsey Hennessy • 2012 Record: 17-12, 9-11 NSIC (10th)
Annie Palmquist (OH, 5-10, Jr., Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS) led the Dragons at 2.82 kills per set on the week, hitting .195 in 82 attack attempts. She had a season-high 17 kills during the Dragons’ four-set win at Sioux Falls on Sept. 27. She hit .325 in 40 attack attempts. She also added nine assisted blocks on the week. She is averaging 2.35 kills per set this season.
Kaitlin VanWinkle (MB, 5-11, So., Farmington, Minn./Lakeville South HS) had an impressive week blocking for the Dragons in helping them to a 2-1 mark in NSIC matches. VanWinkle averaged 2.09 blocks per set. She had a season-high nine block assists in MSUM’s four-set win over Sioux Falls on Sept. 27. In a four-set win over Northern State on Tuesday, VanWinkle had six assisted blocks and one solo block, and in a loss at No. 9-ranked Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, also had six assisted blocks and one solo block. She is averaging a team-best 1.27 blocks per set this season.
Casie Baer (S, 5-8, So., Canby, Minn./Canby HS) paced the Dragons’ two-setter attack with 65 assists on the week, including 29 assists in MSUM’s four-set win over Northern State on Sept. 24. She added 22 set assists in the win over USF three days later. Baer also had 25 digs. For the season, Baer is averaging 5.06 assists per set and 1.88 digs per set.
9/24/2013    Northern State W 3-1     9/27/2013    Sioux Falls W 3-1
9/28/2013    Southwest Minnesota State University L 0-3
10/4/2013    Wayne State College 7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Augustana College (SD) 4 p.m.
 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Minot State University Beavers (6-8, 2-3 NSIC)
www.msubeavers.com
Head Coach: Travis Ward • Western Oregon • 2nd Season • W-L: 12-32, 4-21 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Kody DuBarry  • 2012 Record: 6-24, 2-18 NSIC (t-15th)
Minot State took the road last weekend for arguably the toughest trip in the Northern Sun as they battled both Wayne State College and Augustana College. The Beavers could not get things going away from home, as they dropped both matches bringing their record to 6-8 overall and 2-3 in the NSIC. Jen Dixon (Jr. OH, Brandon, Manitoba) continued her stellar season as she recorded 28 kills and 23 kills in the two losses. Dixon was fantastic against the Vikings as she nearly recorded her first even 20-20 game with 19 kills and 17 digs. Mallory Sall (So., OH, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) also had 28 kills on the weekend, including her first 20 kill game of the season against Augustana College. The weekend boiled down to hitting percentage, as the Beavers hit just .059 for the weekend. The MISU schedule doesn’t get any easier moving forward as the Beavers will host two winning teams, University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University, on Oct. 4 & 5 in the Minot State Dome.
9/24/2013    University of Mary W 3-1     9/27/2013    Wayne State College L 0-3
9/28/2013    Augustana College L 1-3
10/4/2013    University of Sioux Falls 7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Southwest Minnesota State 3 p.m.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Northern State University Wolves (10-2, 3-2 NSIC)
www.northernstatewolves.com
Head Coach: Brent Aldridge  • South Dakota ‘92 • 3rd Season • W-L: 42-27, 24-21 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Emily Foster, Sonja Markanovich, Chelsea Chavez  2012 Record: 19-11, 13-7 NSIC (5th)
Kelsey Chambers and Jussy Tuscherer each had 13 kills to lead the Wolves offense in  five set win over USF. It was a huge match for Tuscherer as she set new career-highs in kills, attack percentage (.458) and aces (3). Her 12 digs were also a new career-best for Tuscherer as she picks up her first double-double of the season. Tuscherer reaches double-digit digs for the second consecutive match. Her four block assists set a season-high mark as well.
9/24/2013    MSU Moorhead L 1-3     9/27/2013    Southwest Minnesota State L 0-3
9/28/2013    Sioux Falls W 3-1
10/4/2013    Augustana 7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Wayne State 7 p.m.
 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
University of Sioux Falls Cougars (8-5, 1-4 NSIC)
http://www.usfcougars.com/
Head Coach: Joel McCartney • Graceland College ‘87 • 3rd Season • W-L: 381-203, 6-19 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Andrea McCartney, Alyssa Chambers  2012 Record: 14-16, 5-15 NSIC (13th)
The University of Sioux Falls (8-5, 1-4 NSIC) hit a rough patch last week, dropping three straight conference matches at home after knocking off rival Augustana College the week prior. On Tuesday night and in its second straight five-set match, the Cougars won the first and fourth sets but lost a heartbreaker, 3-2 to No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State University. Set scores were 25-23, 14-25, 22-25, 25-22, 13-15. USF had three players with double-figure kills, led by sophomore Michelle Ritland’s 14 terminations. The Hampton (Iowa) native also tallied a match-best .462 attack clip (14-2-26). Junior Emily Johnson had her second straight double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs while Samantha Lovell added 10 kills in limited action. On Friday, Emily Johnson’s third straight double-double wasn’t enough to lift USF to victory, as the Cougars were upended at home by MSU-Moorhead three sets to one (25-27, 29-27, 25-23, 25-15). Johnson finished with 12 kills and 14 and was one of four Cougars to record double-digit kills. Lovell put down 12 kills while hitting .308 and Kate Hart chipped in 11 terminations to go with seven digs. Ritland had 10 kills. Lovell also put up a team-best six blocks, one solo. Annie Palquist paced the visiting Dragons with 17 kills on 40 swings.  Morgan Gradishar posted a double-dip with 11 kills and 14 digs. The Cougars closed out the week against intrastate rival Northern State, falling in four to the Wolves (25-20, 23-25, 25-15, 25-22). Emily Johnson hit the double-digit kill mark for the 12th time this season but it wasn’t enough, as the Cougars went 1-3 on the week-long homestand. Johnson led all players with 15 terminations, while Michelle Ritland chipped in 10 to finish as the only other Cougar with double-digit kills. Setter Alexa Reed dished 33 assists and also added five kills on seven swings with zero errors to post a .714 attack percentage. Defensively, senior Andrea Odbert had 13 digs, with Abby Folk adding seven. Johnson and Kate Hart both dug out five Wolves attacks. The Cougars will step out of the league loop on Thursday when they travel to Bismarck (N.D.) to face the Jimmies of Jamestown College (15-5). USF will resume NSIC play on Friday at Minot State and wrap up the weekend with an afternoon match at the University of Mary.
9/24/2013    Southwest Minnesota State  L 2-3     9/27/2013    MSU Moorhead     L 1-3
9/28/2013    Northern State L 1-3     10/3/2013    Jamestown 7 p.m.
10/4/2013    Minot State  7 p.m.     10/5/2013     U-Mary  6 p.m.
  •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs (10-3, 5-0 NSIC)
http://www.smsumustangs.com/
Head Coach: Terry Culhane • Southwest Minnesota State ‘78 • 10th Season • W-L: 245-66, 138-31 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Raftyn Rignell, Tyler Boddy, Paul Soupir, Mike Dalager
2012 Record: 30-2, 18-2 NSIC (t-1st)
No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State took three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matches this past week to extend its winning streak to six straight and improved its record to 10-3 overall and 5-0 in the NSIC.
Abbey Thissen’s (RS, 6-0, So., Clara City, Minn. / MACCRAY) .523 hitting percentage led No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State University to sweeps over Northern State and MSU Moorhead this past weekend in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action. The Mustangs also defeated Sioux Falls earlier in the week. Thissen ended the week with 40 kills on 83 attempts for a .301 hitting percentage. On Friday night Thissen had a career versus Northern State as the sophomore set a career-high when she ended the night with a .682 hitting percentage. In the match, Thissen committed just two attack errors while she slammed home 17 kills on 22 attempts. Thissen recorded double-digit kill totals in all three of SMSU’s matches this past week as she tallied 13, 17 and 10 respectively.
Emilee Gutzmer (S, 5-8, So., Jordan, Minn. / Jordan) paced the No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State University offense to three match wins over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents this past week. The Mustang offense averaged 13.27 kills per set as Gutzmer collected 133 assists in total. Gutzmer ended the week with an average of 12.09 assists per set. Gutzmer now has 603 assists on the year.
Rachel Westby (L, 5-8, Sr., Marshall, Minn. / Marshall) played extremely well this week as the senior led No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State University defensively in its three wins over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents this past week. Westby finished the three matches with an average of 5.91 digs per set and 65 total digs. The senior libero tallied almost half of her total digs for the week in the sweep of MSU Moorhead when Westby set a new career-high with 31 digs. It marked the fourth time this season that Westby has matched or set new career highs for digs in a match – her career high for digs coming into the season was 28.  
9/24/2013    University of Sioux Falls W 3-2     9/27/2013    Northern State W 3-0
9/28/2013    MSU Moorhead W 3-0
10/4/2013    University of Mary 7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Minot State 3 p.m.
 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
St. Cloud State University Huskies (8-5, 2-3 NSIC)
www.scsuhuskies.com
Head Coach: Michelle Blaeser • Minnesota State ‘89 • 4th Season • W-L: 38-59, 19-46 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Marci Peniata, Kari Turkowski 2012 Record: 10-18, 6-14 NSIC (12th)
St. Cloud State team had a tough week in NSIC competition as they went 0-3 against three exceptional conference foes. First, the Huskies traveled to Duluth, Minn. to take on the Bulldogs of UMD on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The Huskies fell to the No. 1 ranked Bulldogs in three straight sets. Final scores came in at 13-25, 11-25, and 20-25. With the loss, the Huskies four game winning streak came to an end. Ellie Dietzen (Black Creek, Wis.) led the Huskies with nine kills against the Bulldogs. On Friday, the Huskies traveled to Mankato, Minn. to take on the Mavericks of Minnesota State. The Huskies fell 0-3 with set scores of 21-25, 15-25 and 22-25. Ellie Dietzen (Black Creek, Wis.) and Kaitlin Doughty (Tomahawk, Wis.) led he Huskies with six kills a piece.Brianne Stamer (Hutchinson) posted a team-high 13 digs. Erin Ohlemann (Golden Valley) added 21 assists. On Saturday, SCSU took on the No. 2 ranked Golden Bears of Concordia, St. Paul at Concordia University. The Huskies fell in three straight sets to the Golden Bears with set scores of 14-25, 23-25, and 12-25. St. Cloud State fell to 8-5 overall this season, 2-3 in the NSIC. Dani Domeier (Norwood Young America) led the Huskies with eight kills. Domeier also added seven digs.Ellie Dietzen (Black Creek, Wis.) and Kaitlin Doughty (Tomahawk, Wis.) each posted seven kills.Brianne Stamer (Hutchinson) had a team-high 15 digs. Erin Ohlemann (Golden Valley) finished with 25 assists. The Huskies will return to action next weekend as they host Winona State and Upper Iowa University in Halenbeck Hall. The first serve is slated for 7 p.m. Friday evening on Oct. 4.
9/24/2013    University of Minnesota Duluth L 0-3     9/27/2013    Minnesota State L 0-3
9/28/2013    Concordia University, St. Paul L 0-3
10/4/2013    Winona State University 7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Upper Iowa University 4 p.m.
 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Upper Iowa University Peacocks (6-8, 2-3 NSIC)
www.upperiowaathletics.com
Head Coach: Aaron Nelson  • St. Cloud State ‘99 • 3rd Year • W-L: 37-36, 20-25 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Kasey Uran 2012 Record: 16-13, 10-10 NSIC (9th)
Jennifer Mundt (OH, 5-9, So., Utica, Minn.) had a big week on the attack for Upper Iowa as the Peacocks won two of their three home matches.  Mundt recorded 53 kills (3.53/set) while hitting .309 as UIU defeated Winona State and Minnesota Crookston before dropping the final match of the week to Bemidji State; all three contests went to five sets.
Hailey Brown (S, 5-10, Jr., Elroy, Wis.) paced the Peacock hitters with 135 assists (9.0/set).  Brown added 20 kills, 8 service aces, 31 digs and 6 blocks helping UIU to a 2-1 mark.
The Peacocks wrapped up their homestand with a 2-2 record.  UIU earned five set wins over Winona State and Minnesota Crookston, before the Beavers of Bemidji State rallied for a win in five.    In addition to Mundt’s play, senior Melanie Behnke added 49 kills and freshman Chelsea Berry chipped in 28.  Freshman Kelsey Hinrichs sparked the defense with 50 digs, while fellow newcomer Alisha VanderWoude and junior Haylie Franklin blocked 14 and 13 shots, resepectively.  The Peacocks improved their record to 6-8 overall and 2-3 in the NSIC.  The team will head out on the road this coming weekend for a pair of NSIC duels.  UIU will line up with nationally-ranked Minnesota Duluth on Friday before facing the Huskies of St. Cloud State on Saturday.
9/24/2013    Winona State University  W 3-2     9/27/2013    Minnesota Crookston W 3-2
9/28/2013    Bemidji State University L 2-3
10/4/2013    University of Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m.      10/5/2013    St. Cloud State University 4 p.m.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Wayne State College Wildcats (11-2, 3-2 NSIC)
www.wscwildcats.com
Head Coach: Scott Kneifl • Wayne State College ‘95 • 9th Season • W-L: 213-72, 116-39 NSIC
Assistant Coach: Kim DePew (Edwards) & Korie Lebeda  2012 Record: 22-10, 14-6 NSIC (4th)
#8 Wayne State went 2-1 during the week, rebounding from a rough 3-0 loss to Augustana to start the week followed by a pair of 3-0 sweeps over the weekend against Minot State and Mary.  Senior outside hitter Cori Hobbs had two double doubles over the weekend and finished the week averaging 3.89 kills and 4.00 digs per set.  She had 12 kills and 17 digs against Minot State and 12 kills with 12 digs Saturday against Mary.  Sophomore rightside hitter Liz Gebhardt had a stellar match Saturday against Mary, recording 10 kills in 11 attacks with no errors for a .909 attack percentage.
Sophomore setter Leisa McClintock averaged 10.67 assists per set while sophomore libero Courtney VanGroningen accounted for 4.22 digs per set during the week.
9/24/2013    Augustana L 0-3     9/27/2013    Minot State     W 3-0
9/28/2013    University of Mary W 3-0     
10/4/2013    MSU Moorhead  7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Northern State 7 p.m.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Winona State University Warriors (5-9, 2-3 NSIC)
www.winonastatewarriors.com
Head Coach: Dave Simon • Minneosta State ‘83 • 5th Season • W-L: 52-70, 38-45 NSIC
Assistant Coaches: Selene Teitelbaum, Lea Hartigan 2012 Record: 20-11, 12-8 NSIC (t-6th)
Katie Froehle (OH, Sr., 5-10, Eden Prairie, Minn.) had a great week offensively for Winona State, leading the team with 35 kills in three matches while hitting .224. Froehle averaged 3.18 kills per set, helping the Warriors go 2-1 on the week. The senior had double doubles in two matches, reaching the mark against Upper Iowa and Bemidji State. She had 13 kills and 20 digs against UIU while recording 15 kills and 10 digs against BSU. Froehle ended the week with 38 total digs for an average of 3.45 per set. She also had three aces and six total blocks.
Kathleen Omelina (MH, Jr., 6-3, Racine, Wis.)controlled the net for Winona State this week, totaling 15 total blocks in three Warrior games. Omelina began the week by recording ten total blocks against Upper Iowa while also netting nine kills while hitting .316 against the Peacocks. The junior ended the week with 11 kills and a .381 hitting percentage and four blocks against Minnesota Crookston. Omelina put together 22 kills on the week while hitting .364.
Kaley Jacobson (S, Sr., 5-8, Watertown, Wis.) paced the Warrior offense, passing out 64 assists while averaging 6.40 assists per set in three matches. She began the week with 32 assists against Upper Iowa while adding 13 against Bemidji State and 19 against Minnesota Crookston. The senior also totaled 15 digs and an ace as the Warriors went 2-1 on the week.
9/24/2013    Upper Iowa L 2-3     9/27/2013    Bemidji State     W 3-0
9/28/2013    Minnesota Crookston  W 3-0
10/4/2013    St. Cloud State 7 p.m.     10/5/2013    Minnesota Duluth 4 p.m.


 
Past NSIC Players of the Week
9/9/13
Off: Kate Lange - UMD
Set: Marissa Johnson - Augie
Def: Julie Rainey - UMD

9/16/13
Off: Kayla Koenecke - CU
Set: Amanda Konetchy - CU
Def: Holly Hafemeyer  - Augie

9/23/13
Off: Abbey Thissen - SMSU
Set: Ashley Hinsch - UMD
Def: Whitney Burmeister - SMSU

9/30/13
Off:  Heather Schiller - CU
Set:  Amanda Konetchy - CU (2)
Def:  Kaitlin VanWinkle - MSUM