2016 Statistics | 2016 UMAC Statistics | 2017 Preseason Coaches' Poll

ST. PAUL (August 23, 2017) - The Yellowjackets received 33 votes to take the sixth-overall spot in the UMAC Volleyball Coaches' Poll. Superior finished with an 8-22 record last season, for sixth place, and despite only eight wins, they put up good numbers in the UMAC, ranking third in assists per set (10.19) and kills (10.90) in 2016.

They Yellowjackets sit between Bethany Lutheran and North Central. The Vikings edged out the Yellowjackets by one vote to take the fifth spot, while the Rams recieved 16 votes for the seventh position.

Last season, junior Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley H.S.) led the Yellowjackets with an All-UMAC performance in which she tallied 897 assists (8.71/game), 286 digs, and 46 kills. VerWay's 897 sets placed her second in the UMAC behind Minnesota-Morris' Layne Herrmann.  

Sophomore Brylee Colligan (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji H.S.) was the team's second best hitter, behind now graduated Alexis Landherr (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti H.S.), with 301 kills for sixth best in the UMAC, and was efficient on defense, adding 242 digs on the season.

Senior Mackenzie Dahlin (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna H.S.) also returns for the Yellowjackets, who served as the one of the best liberos in the UMAC. Dahlin accounted for a fifth (330) of the team's digs, and had a season-high 24 digs at UW-Stout on Oct. 10 and then matched that total against St. Thomas on Oct. 15. The defensive specialist also received the UMAC All-Sportsmanship award last season.

The top two spots in the poll belong to University of Northwestern and Minnesota Morris. Northwestern has won nine the last ten UMAC titles, going 8-0 and made a run to the NCAA DIII Final Four last season; they are currently ranked No. 4 in the AVCA Poll. Morris returns three All-UMAC selections, who helped guide the Cougars to a UMAC Championship loss against Northwestern last season.

Yellowjacket volleyball kicks off on the road Friday Sept. 1 against Wisconsin Lutheran in the Beloit College Tournament.

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2017 UMAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Northwestern – 64 points (8 First Place Votes)
2. Minnesota Morris – 56 (1 First Place Vote)
3. St. Scholastica – 50 points
4. Martin Luther – 42 points
5. Bethany Lutheran – 34 points
6. Wisconsin-Superior – 33 points
7. North Central – 16 points
8. Northland – 15 points
9. Crown – 14 points

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Team Previews

Bethany Lutheran College

John Olmanson | 5th Season |
 
2016 Season
4-4 UMAC, 9-17 | 5th |
Postseason: Lost to Martin Luther College 3-2 in the Opening Round of the UMAC Postseason Tournament.
 
Top Returners
- Megan Rutt, So., OH | All Conference | 262 Kills, 49 Total Blocks
- Jasmine Carlson, Jr., S | All Conference Honorable Mention | 682 Assists, 215 Digs
- Anna Nelson, Sr., DS/L | 335 Digs
- Rachel Sorenson, Sr., OH | 171 Kills, 134 Digs
 

College of St. Scholastica

Dane Moore | 21st Season |
 
2016 Season
6-2 UMAC, 12-16 | 3rd |
Postseason: Lost in UMAC Tournament Semifinals to Minnesota Morris 3-0
 
Top Returners
- Christaia Houser, Sr., MB | 2016 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 80 Total Blocks, .280 attack pct., 125 kills |
- Emily Bounds, Jr., RS | 105 kills, .219 attack pct.
- Espi Austvold, So., S | 308 assists, 23 service aces, 116 digs |
 
Need to Know
The Saints finished in the top 25 of NCAA Division III last year in team grade point average.
 

Crown College

Danielle Hall | 4th season |
 
2016 Season
0-8 UMAC, 3-23 | 9th |
 
Top Returners
- Kelsey Roschen, Sr., S | 513 assists, 5.97 a/set, .57 k/set |
- Christine Anderson, Jr, MB | 129 points, 114 kills, 1.46 k/set |
- Alayna Kohler, Sr., OH | .57 k/set, 13 SA, 62.5 points |
 
Need to Know
New additions to the front row will help aid the loss of multiple front row players, and the addition of some new setters will aid the heavy load Roschen has been carrying the last couple years. 
 

Martin Luther College

Rebecca Cox | 9th Season |
 
2016 Season
5-3 UMAC, 11-22 | 4th |
 
Top Returners
- Kira Grev, Sr., OH | First Team All-UMAC 2014, 2015, 2016 | 2.64 k/s, 2.74 d/s, 0.43 b/s |
- Jade St. Germaine, Sr., OH | First Team All-UMAC 2016, HM All-UMAC 2015 | 3.07 k/s, 371 total kills, 0.47 b/s |
- Rylee Weisensel, Sr., MH | HM All-UMAC 2016 | 1.50 k/s, 0.79 b/s, .220 pct |
 
Need to Know
Kira Grev enters this season with 917 career kills, seventh-most in program history
 

North Central University

Faith Vander Galien | 1st Season |
 
2016 Season
2-6 UMAC, 12-16 | 7th |
 
Top Returners
- Katie Strand, Sr., MH| 1.99 k/s, 44 blocks |
- Ashly Kelzer, Sr., MH | 1.47 k/s, |
- Maddie Stocker, Jr., L | 4.15 d/s |
 

Northland College

Kim Falkenhagen | 5th Season |
 
2016 Seasom
1-7 UMAC, 3-25 | 8th |
 
Top Returners
- Camille Eastburn, Sr., OH | Honorable Mention All-Conference, Team Captain, 4-year starter/ 3.96 k/s
- Hannah Hitchcock, Jr., S | UMAC Individual Sportsmanship Award, 2X Captain, 3-year starter
- Adrianna Galitieri, Jr., L | 5.17 digs/set
 
Need to Know
Outside hitter Bethany Best will return from a season ending injury for her final year.
 

University of Minnesota Morris

Lauren Torvi | 2nd season |
 
2016 Season
7-1 UMAC, 16-15 | 2nd |
Postseason:  Lost in UMAC championship to Northwestern
 
Top Returners
- Marissa Ekness, Sr., OH | 2016 All-UMAC First Team, 2015 All-UMAC First Team, 2014 All-UMAC HM | 2016 AVCA All-American HM, 2016 AVCA All-Region | 503 kills, 4.75 k/s, 39 aces, 348 digs, 3.28 d/s |
- Katie Reitsma, Sr., L | 2016 UMAC Def. POY, 2016 All-UMAC First Team, 2015 All-UMAC First Team | 661 digs, 6.36 d/s, 27 aces |
- Layne Herrmann, So., S | 2016 UMAC Rookie of Year, 2016 All-UMAC First Team | 1059 assists, 9/90 a/s, 31 aces, 242 digs, 2/26 d/s |
 
Need to Know
The Cougars have reached the UMAC championship match four straight seasons.
 

University of Northwestern

Beth Wilmeth | 14th Season|
 
2016 Season
8-0 UMAC, 34-5 Overall | 1st |
Postseason: 2016 UMAC Postseason Champions (Win vs. Martin Luther 3-0; Win vs. Minnesota Morris, 3-0); Advanced to NCAA National Semi-Final (Win vs. St. Norbert, 3-0; Win vs. #15 UW-Lacrosse, 3-0; Win vs. #1 California Lutheran, 3-2; Win vs. #13 Eastern 3-2; Loss to #2 Calvin 0-3)
 
Top Returners
- Lindsey Peterson, Sr., OH | 2016, 2015 UMAC POY; 2015 Defensive POY; 2016, 2015, 2014 All-UMAC; 2014 ROY | 2016 AVCA National Player of the Year; 2016 AVCA First-Team All-American, 2015 AVCA All-American HM | 4.73 k/s, 4.43 d/s, 33 aces, 67 blocks |
- Leesa Malone, Sr., S | 2016 All-UMAC | 5.15 asst/s, 1.33 k/s, 102 blocks |
- Jackie Doering, Sr., L | 2016 All-UMAC, 2015 All-UMAC HM | 2016 AVCA All-Region HM | 5.09 d/s |
 
Need to Know
In 2016, the Eagles earned their seventh-straight trip to the NCAA tournament, finishing at the NCAA Final 4 for the first time in program history. Head Coach Beth Wilmeth was named the 2016 AVCA National Coach of the Year, and Lindsey Peterson was named the 2016 AVCA National Player of the Year.
 

University of Wisconsin-Superior

Lynne Deadrick | 15th Season |
 
2016 Season
3-5 UMAC, 8-22 | 6th |
 
Top Returners
- Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley H.S.), Jr., S | All-UMAC 2016, 2017; 2016 UMAC Rookie of the Year | UMAC All-Academic Team, Multiple Setter of the Week awards in 2016 | 897 Assists, 8.71 Assists/Set, 286 Digs |
- Mackenzie Dahlin (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna H.S.), Sr., L | UMAC Sportsmanship Award | 330 Digs, 3.27 Digs/Set, 55 Assists |
- Brylee Colligan (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji H.S.), So., OH | UMAC All-Academic Team | 301 Kills, 2.95 Kills/Set, 242 Digs |
 
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets ranked third in assists per set (10.19) and kills (10.90) in the UMAC in 2016.