Women's Volleyball 8/23/2017 12:48:00 PM

Volleyball Ranked Fifth in Preseason Coaches Poll

ST. PAUL, Minn. - In 2016, the Bethany Lutheran College volleyball program took fifth, but the coaches' predicted it would be a close race for the final postseason spot as they were fifth with 34 points and just one point ahead of the University of Wisconsin-Superior in sixth. The Vikings will need All-UMAC hitter Megan Rutt (Le Center, Minn.) to put together a solid sophomore campaign after a standout rookie season.

The Vikings look to build upon a 9-17 record (4-4 UMAC) last year. The Vikings will look to the returning experience, along with several young student-athletes to try to steer the Vikings into the UMAC postseason tournament for the second consecutive season.

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

Team Previews
| BLC | CC | CSS | MLC | NC | NCU | UMM | UNW | UWS |

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 Sorensen, 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.

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, 6-22 | 6th |

Top Returners
- Emily VerWay, 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, Sr., L | UMAC Sportsmanship Award | 330 Digs, 3.27 Digs/Set, 55 Assists |
- Brylee Colligan, 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.

To stay current with the volleyball team this season, continue to visit www.blcvikings.com and following @BLCvikings on Twitter.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Jasmine Carlson: S/DS; 5' 5"; Junior

#2 Anna Nelson: DS; 5' 5"; Senior

#1 Megan Rutt: MB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#7 Rachel Sorensen: OH; 5' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Jasmine Carlson
: 5' 5"; Junior
: S/DS

#2 Anna Nelson
: 5' 5"; Senior
: DS

#1 Megan Rutt
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: MB

#7 Rachel Sorensen
: 5' 7"; Senior
: OH