DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team will begin its 2013 campaign on Friday at the St. Olaf Invitational, facing Macalester College and Carleton College. CSS will then play two matches at the Saint Mary's Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic on Saturday.
Match Schedule
Friday at St. Olaf
St. Scholastica vs. Macalester – Noon
St. Scholastica vs. Carleton – 2 p.m.
Saturday at Saint Mary's
St. Scholastica vs. UW-La Crosse – Noon
St. Scholastica at Saint Mary's – 4 p.m.
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St. Scholastica Saints
2012 Record: 17-13, 11-3 UMAC
Head Coach: Dana Moore |
-The Saints have been picked to finish fourth in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), according to the preseason coaches' poll. CSS has never finished lower than third in the league. The saints have finished in the top two of the conference for the last six seasons.
-A reason why the coaches may have picked the Saints so low is the loss of second team AVCA All-American
Anna Zyvoloski (Sauk Rapids, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS (Minn.-Duluth)), plus
Taylor Tyllia (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) and
Jenny Kienzle (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS). The Saints will return just four players that played at least 80 sets last season.
-The new look Saints do return junior setter
Erika Birkeland (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) as well as hitters
Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State)) and
Kayla Horbacz (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS). Birkeland and Morrin were both honorable mention All-UMAC selection last season.
-Defensively,
Tannyr Heyl (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine HS (Saint Benedict)) and
Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) also return.
-Sophomore middle blocker
Gloria Ohaju (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Central HS), who started to come on late for the Saints last season, is expected to be a regular in the rotation this season.
-Look out for newcomers
Emily Cole (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (UW-Superior)),
Taylor Orhn (Coleraine, Minn./Greenway HS),
Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) and
Alex Barsody (Onamia, Minn./Onamia HS) to see some action as well.
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Macalester College Scots
2012 Record: 7-20, 0-11 MIAC
Head Coach: Annie Doman |
-The Scots, who went winless in the league last season, has been picked to finish last once again in the MIAC this season, according to the preseason coaches' poll.
-The Scots ended last season on a 13-match losing streak.
-The top returner for Macalester is outside hitter Laura Avena, who was an All-MIAC performer last season. Avena led the MIAC in attacks per set and aces per set in 2012.
-Also back for the Scots is setter Anna Munson and outside hitter Hannah Rehak.
Series History: (CSS is 9-8 vs. Macalester)
The Saints have won for of the last five meetings, including a three-set sweep of the Scots in Northfield in 2011.
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Carleton College Knights
2012 Record: 18-10, 6-5 MIAC
Head Coach: Heidi Jaynes |
-The Knights have been picked to finish tied for seventh in the MIAC this season, according to the preseason coaches' poll.
-Carleton finished tied for fifth last season and advanced to the MIAC Tournament semifinals before being defeated in five sets by St. Thomas.
-The 18 wins last season were the most since the 2007 season.
-Key losses for the Knights include AVCA honorable mention middle hitter Jessa Youso and All-MIAC right-side hitter Sarah Nelson. Youso finished with the second-highest hitting percentage in program history.
-Junior setter Alicia Flatt and sophomore libero Camille Benson return. Flatt finished second in the MIAC in assists per set last season, while Benson was fifth in the league in total digs.
Series History: (CSS is 5-5-1 vs. Carleton)
The Saints have won the last two meetings against the Knights, including a five-set win in Northfield in 2011.
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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagles
2012 Record: 13-18, 2-6 WIAC
Head Coach: Lily Hallock |
-La Crosse has been picked to finish eighth in the conference this season, according to the preseason poll.
-The Eagles welcome back seven of their top-eight leaders in kills from the 2012 squad, including junior Crystal Ziegler, who topped the team with 262 kills and 809 attempts. Ziegler was an honorable mention All-WIAC choice last season.
-Senior Kayla Ashland has played in 89 of 90 career matches at UW-La Crosse, recording 602 kills. Ashland has been an honorable mention All-WIAC choice the past two seasons.
-The Eagles will play 12 of their first 13 matches on the road, including the first 10, and will have just five matches at home this season.
Series History: (CSS is 1-3 vs. UW-La Crosse)
-The two teams last met in Saint Peter in 2008, playing two matches with the Saints winning the first in five sets and the Eagles taking the second in four sets.
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Saint Mary's University Cardinals
2012 Record: 14-14, 5-6 MIAC
Head Coach: Mike Lester |
-The Cardinals have been picked to finish ninth in the MIAC this season, according to the preseason coaches' poll.
-Saint Mary's finished tied for seventh last season.
-The Cardinals will be led by first team All-MIAC setter Lexi Assimos.
-Assimos will be setting to junior middle hitter Mary Nordick, who led the team in kills last season.
-Sophomore Lex Krogstad is also back at libero after recording over 500 digs last season.
Series History: (CSS is 1-4 vs. Saint Mary's)
-The lone win for the Saints over Saint Mary's came in 2006 in Winona in four sets.
-The teams last met in 2010.
