DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica volleyball team, who was picked to win the conference in the preseason, will begin Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action this weekend at Presentation College Friday and Minnesota-Morris Saturday.
Game Times:
Friday vs. Presentation – 7 p.m.
Saturday vs. Minnesota-Morris – 1 p.m.
GameDay Media:
Live Video vs. Minnesota-Morris Only
Last Action:
The Saints went 2-2 at the College of St. Benedict Holiday Inn-Vitational last weekend. The Saints defeated St. Catherine University in five sets and swept Minnesota-Morris. The two losses came against host, St. Ben's in four sets, and against 16th-ranked St. Olaf College in four sets. #Nikki Hughes# was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts.
St. Scholastica Saints (11-4)
The 11-4 start by the Saints is the best since the 2001 season when Coach Moore's squad started 12-4 and went to finish 24-9 … The Saints swept the UMAC Volleyball Players of the Week awards this week with #Paige Hardy# capturing Offensive Player of Week for the second straight week, #Sarah Kurtovich# taking the Setter of the Week for the second consecutive week, and
Nikki Hughes (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern HS) being named the Defensive Player of the Week … The Saints have made quick work of teams so far this season, going 6-1 in three-set matches.
Presentation Saints (0-9)
The Saints are still in search of their first victory this season … In seven those matches they have been swept … Presentation returns three experienced players from the 2009 season including senior Amanda Feist and sophomores Kelsey Schmidt and Amber Sandoz … Feist had 109 kills with 33 blocks and 20 aces last year, while Schmidt tallied 518 assists and 181 digs to her name … Helping the Saints this season will be incoming freshman Brynn Olson, whose Arlington, S.D. team finished as the state runner-up in 2009 … Newcomer Tina Boldt is another Arlington product, who earned high all-conference honors during her high school career.
Last Meeting: (All-time Series: 19-0)
The Saints had a season-high 61 digs in 3-1 over Presentation at Reif Gymnasium last season.
Paige Hardy (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS) led the way with a season-high 23 kills.
Minnesota-Morris Cougars (6-7)
The Cougars played at the same tournament as the Saints last weekend and went 0-4 including a loss to CSS … The Cougars have made trips to the east coast this season, playing in Massachusetts and New Hampshire … The Cougars have been a streaky team, losing their first three matches, then winning six in a row, and now have lost their last four … Morris returns all of its starters from the end of last season … The returning experience will be invaluable for the Cougars this fall, as 19 of the 20 players on the roster are in just their first or second season with the program, 17 of which are freshmen and sophomores … Two of those young players are Stephanie Schmiesing and Allie Humphrey, who each return after all-conference freshman seasons … They combine with Megan Theis, another All-UMAC performer, as the core up front for the Cougars this fall … Returning to run the offense in 2010 will be junior Natalie Thomas, who piled up 670 assists last season … With better than seven assists per set, Thomas finished third in the UMAC and was one of just four players with over 400 assists in conference games.
Last Meeting: (All-Time Series: 14-2)
The Saints swept Morris at last weekend's St. Ben's Holiday Inn-Vitational. #Anna Zyvoloski# led the Saints with 12 kills.
