For Immediate Release
Monday, Oct. 20, 2014
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release
NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#14 Anna Schlaak
OH, 5-9, Jr.,
New Richland, Minn. NRHEG HS
Concordia-St. Paul
Schlaak led the NSIC with 4.30 kills per set (43) in three wins, including victories against No. 20 Augustana and No. 12 Wayne State. Schlaak hit .301 for the week and had at least 12 kills and hit at least .256 in each match. She recorded two double-doubles with 16 kills and 19 digs versus Winona State as well as 12 kills and 21 digs while hitting .375 against WSC. She also led the Golden Bears with 40 digs (4.00 per set) on the week.
NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#3 Whitney Burmeister
L, 5-9, Jr.,
Lakefield, Minn.
Jackson Country Central HS
Southwest Minnesota State
Burmeister led the NSIC in digs last week ash she recorded 72 digs for a 6.5 dig per set average as the Mustangs went 3-0, including a four set win over No. 12 Wayne State. Burmeister best match was in a 3-1 win at Upper Iowa where she tallied a season-high and career-high 30 digs. She leads the Mustangs with 316 digs and a 4.27 dig/set average this season.
NSIC Setter of the Week
#15 Kasey Williams
S, 5-8, Jr.,
Cross Plains, Wis.
Middleton HS
Concordia-St. Paul
Williams led the Golden Bears to a 3-0 week, including sweeps of No. 20 Augustana and No. 12 Wayne State. Williams led the NSIC with 14.40 assists per set (144) and added 2.60 digs per set (26) last week. She had at least 45 assists in each match with a weekend best 51 and 12 digs against #20 Augustana. She added four kills, three blocks and two service aces as the Golden Bears hit .349 on the week.
2014 NSIC Volleyball Weekly Notes
Augustana Vikings (14-7, 7-6 NSIC)
www.goaugie.com
Ashley Buckley • Penn State ‘05
7th Season
2013 Record: 22-8, 14-6 NSIC (t-4th)
#9 Courtney Ysker (OH, 5-9, Sr, Windom, Minn., Windom Area)
- Led the team with 11 kills against CU
- Recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 16 kills and 13 digs in five-set loss against MSU
- 3.86 kills per set
- 2.89 digs per set
#2 Marissa Johnson (S, 5-8, Fr, Omaha,Neb./Harry A Burke)
- Team-best 23 assists against CU (10/17)
- Recorded 11th double- double of the season with 27 assists and 12 digs against MSU
- 7.55 assists per set
- Leads team with 604 total assists on the season
#7 Tahlyr Banks (DS, 5-7, Fr, Omaha, Neb. /Gross Catholic)
- Recorded 8 digs against CU
- Team-best 28 digs against MSU
- 4.79 digs per set
Bemidji State Beavers (4-17, 2-11 NSIC)
www.bsubeavers.com
Wayne Chadwick • Wisconsin-Whitewater ‘88
5th Season
2013 Record: 6-22, 2-18 NSIC (15th)
#9 Jessica Yost (OH, 6-3, So., Bemidji, Minn.)
- Paced the squad with 35 kills (3.50 kills/set) last week
- Led the team with .272 hitting percentage
- Registered fourth double-double of the season with 20 kills and 13 digs versus Northern State
- Also notched a pair of service aces and five blocks
#3 Courtney Volkmann (S, 5-7, Sr., Wadena, Minn.)
- Collected 96 assists (9.60 assists per set) in last week’s action
- Posted her fourth 40 assist match of the season with 41 assists against Northern State
- Finished with 13 kills (1.30 kills/set) and 20 digs (2.00 digs/set)
#2 Kayla DeJong (DS, 5-8, Jr., Jefferson, Wis.)
- Led the team with 36 digs (3.60 digs/set) last week
- Finished second on the team with three service aces
- Dished out eight assists in last week’s action
Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears (18-3, 11-2 NSIC)
www.cugoldenbears.com/
Brady Starkey • Metropolitan State ‘02
11th Season
2013 Record: 35-3, 19-1 NSIC (1st)
#14 Anna Schlaak (OH, 5-9, Jr., New Richland, Minn. / NRHEG HS)
-led the Golden Bears with 43 kills (4.30 per set) in their three wins, including two over ranked opponents
-hit .301 for the week
-had at least 12 kills and hit at least .256 in each match
-had two double-doubles with 16 kills and 19 digs vs WSU as well as 12 kills and 21 digs vs WSC
-led the team with 40 digs (4.00 per set) on the week
-had a .961 receive percentage
#15 Kasey Williams (S, 5-8, Jr., Cross Plains, Wis. / Middleton HS)
-had 144 assists (14.40 per set) in CU’s three wins over WSU, Augie and WSC
-had at least 45 assists in each match
-had 26 digs (2.60 per set)
-had 51 assists and 12 digs against #20 Augustana
-collected four kills, three blocks and two service aces
-CU knocked off Winona State in four sets on Tuesday before sweeping #20 Augustana and #12 Wayne State
-hit .349 as a team compared to .190 for their opponents
-had 26.0 blocks in the three wins
University of Mary Marauders (4-18, 1-12 NSIC)
www.goumary.com
Thais Franca
1st Season
2013 Record: 4-23, 1-19 NSIC (16th)
#22 Kelsey Boyd (OH, 6-1, Sr., Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Regina University) -Led the Marauder offense with 29 kills (2.9/set) on 82 attacks -Earned a double double vs. St. Cloud State with 17 kills and 15 digs, both are season highs -Finished the three game week with 19 digs, one ace, four block assists
#3 Janell Finkbeiner (S, 5-8, So., Ramsey, Minn., Elk River HS)
-Finished with 63 assists over three games (6.3/set) -Added one ace and 12 digs -Recorded her third game with at least 30 assists against St. Cloud State with 33
#2 Alex Brown (DS, 5-4, So., Coon Rapids, Minn., Blaine HS)
-Finished the three game week with 54 digs, anchored the back line all week -Added one ace, six assists and a kill -Registered her fourth game with at least 20 digs against St. Cloud State with 28 -Two digs shy of tying her season high
-U-Mary snapped a 12 game/34 set losing streak with a 3-1 win over St. Cloud State
-Will host Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State during Alumni Weekend -U-Mary is 4-9 all-time vs. Crookston, 2-4 at home, lost the only match in 2013 at Crookston -U-Mary is 7-6 all-time vs. Bemidji, 5-1 at home, lost the only match in 2013 at Bemidji
Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (9-12, 3-10 NSIC)
www.goldeneaglesports.com
Lee Anderson • University of Ottawa ‘98
8th Season
2013 Record: 15-14, 10-10 NSIC (t-7th)
Brittany Looker (Sr., OH, Rochester, Minn.) - Had 24 kills in an epic match against Northern State in which the Golden Eagles lost 3-2 to the Wolves. Looker tallied nine kills versus MSU Moorhead Saturday. Looker is averaging 4.31 kills per set so far this season.
Mary Mikutowski (Sr., Lib., Stillwater, Minn.) averaged 5.0 digs per set last weekend including 25 digs in three sets against MSU Moorhead in a 3-0 loss in which she averaged 8.3 digs per set in the match. Mikutowski has appeared to take over the libero duties with her play in the last five matches after the Mikutowski shared duties with Casey Cashman and Becca Vandenheuvel at the start of the season. Mikutowski is averaging 5.53 digs per set in the last five matches for the Golden Eagles.
Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (20-1, 13-0 NSIC)
www.umdbulldogs.com
Jim Boos • UW–Oshkosh ‘94
13th Season
2013 Record: 33-3, 18-2 NSIC (2nd)
#15 Sydnie Mauch (MB, 6-1, So., Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd H.S.)
- Led the Bulldogs to a trio of three-set sweeps offensively with a .562 hitting percentage and just five errors on the week
- Finished with the second-most kills on UMD with 32, averaging 3.56 per set
- Collected 21 kills to just two errors over the weekend against U-Mary and Minot State while adding six blocks to her offensive numbers, including three on Saturday vs. the Beavers
#9 Julie Rainey (Lib, 5-9, Sr., Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville H.S.)
- Averaged 6.22 digs per set in three, three-set sweeps, totaling 56 on the week
- Collected three service aces and seven assists to go with her defensive numbers
- put together her best match of the week with 22 defensive saves on Tuesday against Bemidji State
#8 Ashley Hinsch (S, 5-10, Jr., Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa H.S.)
- continued to post gaudy numbers from an assist standpoint, averaging 3.11 per set with 118 total in three, three-set sweeps for the Bulldogs
- added six kills on 11 swings (.455 attack percentage), four service aces, 12 digs, and seven blocks, including two solo to her setting numbers
- posted 45 assists, four kills, and five blocks on Saturday afternoon against Minot State
Minnesota State Mavericks (13-7, 9-4 NSIC)
www.msumavericks.com
Dennis Amundson • St. Cloud State ‘69
10th Season
2013 Record: 13-15, 8-12 NSIC (t-9th)
Chandra Honebrink (OH, 5-11, Senior, Waconia, Minn. / Waconia
- 52 kills; 4.00 k/s
- 6 total blocks
- 33 digs
- Recorded a career-high with 25 kills on Saturday against #20 Augustana
Haley Fogarty (DS, 5-8, So., Belle Plaine, Minn./ Belle Plaine)
- 64 digs; 4.92 dig/s
- 9 assists
- 1 service ace
- 2 kills
Ellie Van De Steeg (S, 5-9, Jr., Hutchinson, Minn./ Hutchinson)
- 144 assists; 11.0 a/s
- 6 kills
- 1 service aces
- 42 digs
- 4 total blocks
- Posted 60 assists against #20 Augustana on Saturday
MSU beat Upper Iowa on Tuesday before splitting the a pair of matches on the weekend. The Mavericks lost to #12 Wayne State on Friday and beat #20 Augustana on Saturday in five sets.
Minnesota State will travel west this upcoming weekend to take on Sioux Falls on Friday and Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday.
MSU Moorhead Dragons (9-12, 4-9 NSIC)
www.msumdragons.com
Tammy Kath-Blake • South Dakota ‘89
20th Season
2013 Record: 15-13, 8-12 NSIC (t-9th)
Maggie Gruber (MB/RS, 6-2, Sr., Belgrade, Minn./Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa HS)
-28 kills in three matches
-11 kills to lead the Dragons in the win over Mary
-Also added eight total blocks over the week
Kaitlin VanWinkle (MB, 5-11, Jr., Farmington, Minn./Lakeville South HS)
-Had five total blocks in each of the Dragons three matches last week (15 for the week)
-33 kills, .355 hitting percentage in 76 attack attempts
-One service ace and four digs
Sam Sullivan (S, 5-11, Sr., Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury HS)
-47 assists to help MSUM to a 2-1 record over the week
-Lead the Dragons with 21 assists in road victory over Minnesota Crookston
-Added 28 digs over the week
Minot State Beavers (5-16, 3-10 NSIC)
www.msubeavers.com
Travis Ward • Western Oregon
3rd Season
2013 Record: 12-18, 7-13 NSIC (13th)
- After a heartbreaking five-set loss to Northern State on Tuesday, Oct. 14 early in the week, the Minot State volleyball team got back on the winning side of things this past weekend after a short three-game losing streak. On Friday, Oct. 17, the Beavers played St. Cloud State to a three games sweep, the Beavers first three game sweep since their first game of the season against Black Hills State College. Minot State was unable to build a winning streak though as they ran into the No. 2 ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Saturday afternoon. The Beavers held a 21-20 lead in the first set of play but were unable to close and ultimate lost the set, followed by the match 3-0.
- #14 Mallory Sall (OH, 6-0, Jr., Port Coquitlam, British Columbia/Riverside Secondary) recorded an impressive weekend for the Beavers as she tallied double-digit kills in both matches. Sall recorded a game-high 13 kills in the Beavers’ loss to Minnesota-Duluth, while she recorded 12 kills in the team’s win at St. Cloud State.
- #6 Rachel Fagerburg (OH, 5-10, Fr., Tempe, Ariz./McClintock) had one of her best performances for the Beavers in her freshman season when Minot State defeated St. Cloud State Friday night. Not only did Fagerburg record double-digit kills (10), the freshman standout recorded a game-high .474 hitting percentage. The game marked Fagerburg’s highest individual hitting percentage this season.
- #8 Tarah Dabovich (MH, 6-2, Jr., Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon) recorded an impressive individual performance herself when the Beavers defeated St. Cloud State. The junior middle hitter recorded 10 kills and a strong hitting percentage of .353, good for second on the team.
- Before continuing NSIC play, Minot State will take a quick break and play host to former Dakota Athletic Conference rival Dickinson State on Tuesday, Oct. 21. This upcoming weekend, Northern Sun play will resume at home for the Beavers as they welcome Bemidji State and Minnesota-Crookston to the Minot State Dome.
Northern State Wolves (15-6, 8-5 NSIC)
www.northernstatewolves.com
Brent Aldridge • South Dakota ‘92
4th Season
2013 Record: 22-8, 14-6 NSIC (t-4th)
Kelsey Chambers, Jr., OH, Jordan, Minn.
Chambers had a big week for the Wolves in their 3-0 week as she led the squad with 60 kills (4.29 per set) and a .319 attack percentage. Chambers also averaged 2.5 digs per set and also had a pair of aces on the week. Chambers set a new career-best in kills in consecutive matches during the week. The All-American was truly dominant in NSU’s win over Minnesota, Crookston as she registered a career-best 26 kills and hit .447 in the win. Chambers also had a double-double in all three matches.
Holly Vancura, Fr., OH, Barnesville, Minn.
Vancura continues to improve as she fills in for the injured Drew Smith. Vancura averaged 11.21 assists per set (157 total) throughout Northern’s 3-0 week. Vancura also led the Wolves with three aces and chipped in with eight total blocks. Vancura also averaged 2.86 digs per set as she had three double-doubles on the week. As a team, NSU hit .281 for the week.
Sioux Falls Cougars (13-10, 7-6 NSIC)
www.usfcougars.com
Joel McCartney • Graceland College ‘87
4th Season
2013 Record: 19-12, 10-10 NSIC (t-7th)
#8 Emily Johnson (OH, 5-11, Sr., Platte, S.D./Platte-Geddes HS)
- led team with 48 kills, 3.69 per set
- posted 20 kills and 17 digs in win over No. 20 Augustana
- Recorded a second double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs against Winona State
- Finished week with 36 digs, 2.77 per set
- Added three block assists to total 50.5 points in five matches
#9 Kayla Crane (S, 5-9, Fr., Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS)
- led team with 114 assists, 8.77 per set
- set career-highs with 51 assists and 21 digs in upset of No. 20 Augustana
- Added 31 assists in each of next two games,
- Tallied six error-free kills over the week for .429 attack percentage
- Added two block assists and three service aces
#5 Abby Folk (L, 5-9,So., Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS)
- Recorded 58 digs over the weekend, 4.46 per set
- Assisted on 13 kills and added two service aces
- Scooped up 23 digs in five-set victory over No. 20 Augustana
University of Sioux Falls went 2-1 last week, notching wins over No. 20 Augustana and Upper Iowa on the road. Kayla Crane posted a 20-20 game, dishing out 51 assists and picking up 21 digs as the Cougars topped the Vikings on their home floor. Sioux Falls’ four-match winning streak was snapped in a four-set loss to Winona State, but a balanced attack took down Upper Iowa the next afternoon.
SMSU Mustangs (16-5, 11-2 NSIC)
www.smsumustangs.com
Terry Culhane • Southwest Minnesota State ‘78 11th Season
2013 Record: 24-8, 17-3 NSIC (3rd)
#7 Eisha Oden (RFr., OH/MB, 5-11, Marshalltown, Iowa / Marshalltown)
-Hit a team-high .371 in the trio of matches last week
-Put up 16 total blocks for a 1.45 block/set average in matches
-Tallied 42 total kills on 89 swings last week
-Hit a new season-high and career-high 16 kills versus Upper Iowa
-Averaged a .435 hitting average versus Winona State with 11 kills
-Week-high and career-high 8 blocks versus No. 12 Wayne State (Neb.)
-Ranks fourth on the team in kills with 181 total
-Leads the team in blocks with 70 and 1.08 block/set average
-Leads conference in blocks per game with 1.27 blocks
-Helps team lead the conference in blocks with 2.66 per game
#6 Megan Larson (S, 5-9, Fr. Minneota, Min. / Minneota)
-Recorded three-straight double-doubles last week
-Has total six double-doubles so far this season
-Week-best 25 assists and 16 digs versus No. 12 Wayne State Tuesday
-Added four blocks in the week matches
-Posted a 8.45 assist/set average in trio of last weeks games
-Leads team with 514 assists and 6.95 assist/set average
-Helps team place second in the conference in assists with 13.78 per game
#3 Whitney Burmeister (L, 5-9, Jr., Lakefield, Minn. / Jackson Country Central)
-Recorded 72 digs over last weeks matches
-Tallied a season-high and career-high 30 digs versus Upper Iowa
-Leads team with 316 digs and a 4.27 dig/set average
Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team will return to the PE Gym and play host to No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul Friday night at 7 p.m. before hosting Minnesota State on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
St. Cloud State Huskies (7-14, 1-12 NSIC)
www.scsuhuskies.com
Marci Taumalolo • Minnesota ‘07
1st Season
2013 Record: 14-14, 8-12 NSIC (t-9th)
- Brianne Stamer (Hutchinson, Minn.) is now 4th on SCSU’s career records with a total of 1263 digs. Stamer is still ranked second in the NSIC in digs with 363, averaging 5.17 digs per set.
- Erin Ohlemann (Golden Valley, Minn.) ranks seventh on SCSU’s career records with a total of 2411 assists. Ohlemann ranks sixth in the NSIC for assists, totaling 702 on the season and averaging 10.08 assists per set.
- Kaitlin Doughty (Tomahawk, Wis.) leads the Huskies in kills with 186 on the season, averaging 2.62 kills per set.
- SCSU averages a .221 attack percentage as a team.
Upper Iowa Peacocks (10-11, 5-8 NSIC)
www.upperiowaathletics.com
Aaron Nelson • St. Cloud State ‘99
4th Year
2013 Record: 8-22, 4-16 NSIC (14th)
- The Peacocks went 0-3 in three NSIC decisions; all matches were four sets
- UIU lost at Minnesota State before dropping home matches to #6 Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls
- Jennifer Mundt led the offense with 39 kills, while Tyann Caspers added 22 and Hailey Brown had 18
- Brown paced the offense with 61 assists and Jenna Hermsen added 52 assists
- UIU got 60 digs (5/set) from Amanda Weiss to lead the back line
- Brown led the team in blocks as well with 13 (1.08/set) while Haylie Franklin added 11 (.92/set)
- Upper Iowa will travel to Augustana College and Wayne State College this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25
Wayne State Wildcats (17-4, 10-3 NSIC)
www.wscwildcats.com
Scott Kneifl • Wayne State College ‘95
10th Season
2013 Record: 22-10, 12-8 NSIC (6th)
#8 Katie Hughes, 5-11 Jr. OH Seward, Neb. (Seward HS)
- averaged 4.00 kills and 4.00 digs per set in three matches last week
- had three double-doubles, raising season total to 11
- recorded 16 kills with 11 digs in 3-1 win at Minnesota State Friday and had 15 kills with 23 digs in 3-1 loss to #6 SMSU Tuesday
#7 Leisa McClintock 5-7 Jr. Setter Sioux City, Iowa (Bishop Heelan HS)
- averaged 9.82 assists and 1.27 digs per set in three matches
- credited with 41 assists, six digs and two blocks vs. SMSU
- had 31 set assists with six digs and one ace vs. Minnesota State Friday
#10 Alyssa Frauendorfer 6-0 Soph. MH Humphrey, Neb. (Humphrey HS)
- averaged 0.91 blocks and 2.45 kills per set in three matches last week
- had four solo blocks in 3-1 win at Minnesota State
- had 13 kills while hitting .393 vs. Concordia-St. Paul Saturday
Winona State Warriors (14-5, 9-4 NSIC)
www.winonastatewarriors.com
Joe Getzin • George Williams ‘86
1st Season
2013 Record: 11-18, 8-12 NSIC (t-9th)
The Winona State volleyball team had a busy week, playing three matches last week – including two against top ten teams. The Warriors fell to No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul 3-1 Tuesday and were led by Taylor Goar and Kylea Roeglin who each had 10 kills apiece.
The Warriors returned home to beat Sioux Falls 3-1 Saturday again, getting double-doubles from three players – Taylor Goar, McKenna Larsen and Danielle Rampart.
WSU concluded the weekend with a 3-0 loss to No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State, getting 11 kills and 16 digs from Danielle Rampart.
The Warriors (14-5, 9-4 NSIC) hit the road this weekend for a pair of matchups at Wayne State and Augustana.
Past NSIC Players of the Week
9/8/14
Off: Brittany Looker, UMC
Def: Tahlyr Banks, Augie
Set: Hailey Brown, UIU
9/15/14
Off: Monica Turner, UMD
Def: Brianne Stamer, SCSU
Set: Ashley Hinsch, UMD
9/22/14
Off: Monica Turner, UMD (2)
Def: Julie Rainey, UMD
Set: Ashley Hinsch, UMD (2)
9/29/14
Off: Riley Hanson, CU
Def: Julie Rainey, UMD (2)
Set: Ashley Hinsch, UMD (3)
10/6/14
Off: Jennifer Mundt, UIU
Def: Julie Rainey, UMD (3)
Set: Leigh McClinton, WSC
10/13/14
Off: Mariah Scharf, UMD
Def: Amanda Weiss, UIU
Set: Ashley Hinsch, UMD (4)
10/20/14
Off: Anna Schlaak, CU
Def: Whitney Burmeister, SMSU
Set: Kasey Williams, CU
The 2014 NSIC regular season champion will be determined by the 20-game conference schedule. The top eight teams will play in the single elimination
NSIC/US Bank Volleyball Tournament on November 11, 14-15. Quarterfinals will be hosted on campus by the top four seeds while the semifinals and championship will be hosted by the highest remaining seed following the first round of play.
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