DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team will look to bounce back from a 1-3 start last weekend as it travels to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to take part in the Pizza Hut Classic this weekend.
Where:
Kolf Sports Center – Oshkosh, Wis.
When:
Friday
vs. Concordia (Wis.) – 6 p.m.
vs. St. Norbert – 8 p.m.
Saturday
at UW-Oshkosh – 10 a.m.
vs. #22 Millikin – Noon
Tournament Web Site: http://www.uwoshkoshtitans.com/sports/wvball/2016-17/files/UWOshkoshPizzaHutClassic
Social Media:
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/SaintsVball
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/csssaintsvball
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/css.saints
St. Scholastica Saints
Stats
Record: 1-3, 0-0 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
Last Action: The Saints won their season opener for the seventh straight year, defeating Westminster College (Mo.) 3-1 on Friday, but then fell to Augsburg College, Coe College (Iowa) and the University of Wisconsin-Stout to complete play at the University of Northwestern Labor Day Tournament.
Belden Named to All-Tournament Team: Junior outside hitter
Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) was named to the all-tournament team last weekend … In four matches, Belden averaged 2.50 kills per set recorded seven blocks.
It's not How you Start, but How you Finish: The Saints have lost nine straight matches and were 0-6 last season in which the contest went to a fifth-and-deciding set … CSS lost two five-set matches at this tournament last season against Augsburg and Loras College (Iowa) … The last five-set victory for the Saints was on October 30, 2013 against UW-Superior.
Approaching 1,000: Emily Jansen (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) is 40 set assists shy of 1,000 for her career.
Instant Impact: Freshman
Brooke Schermann (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) is second on the team with 28 kills and 30 digs after last weekend's tournament.
Upcoming Opponents
Concordia (Wis.) Falcons
Record: 3-0
The Falcons are off to a 3-0 start after going unbeaten in Texas last weekend … Concordia finished third in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) last season … The Falcons are picked to finish second in the NACC this season as they return all four all-conference selections from last season led by Kaily Moegenburg, who was a first team choice … Moegenburg has 21 kills in the first three matches.
St. Norbert Green Knights
Record: 2-2
The Green Knights are picked to finish second in the Midwest Conference this season after finishing runner-up to Cornell College (Iowa) each of the last four years … St. Norbert returns sophomore outside hitter Hallie Ferry, who led the conference with 354 kills as a freshman to earn first team all-conference accolades … Also back is senior defensive specialist Aubree Antosch, who finished second in the conference with 508 digs in 2015 on her way to earning second team all-conference honors … Hannah Johnshoy leads the team with 33 kills thru the first four matches.
UW-Oshkosh Titans
Record: 4-2
The Titans went 2-2 down in Atlanta, Georgia over the weekend, playing some of the top teams in the country … They then returned to Wisconsin and defeated Edgewood College (Wis.) and Wheaton College (Ill.) on Tuesday … Oshkosh was ranked No. 25 in the preseason AVCA poll, but are receiving votes this week … Oshkosh shared the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular season title last season and are picked to finish second in the league this year … Oshkosh returns 13 letter winners this season, including senior middle blocker Nerissa Vogt, who received All-WIAC first team honors a year ago … Vogt ended the 2015 season ranked third in the NCAA Division III with 169 blocks and eighth with 1.31 blocks per set … Also back is senior setter Lexi Thiel, who recorded over 1,200 assists last season … Sophomore Tina Elstner leads the team with 79 kills thru six matches.
#22 Millikin Big Blue
Record: 3-1
The Big Blue is ranked No. 22 in this week's AVCA Division III poll … Millikin's lone loss came in five sets against No. 5-ranked Calvin College (Mich.) in the season opener … The Big Blue has been picked to win the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) as they return 13 letter winners including one All-American and five players that earned All-Conference honors last season … Junior Erin Syversen was a second team All-American last season after ranking second in NCAA Division III with 615 kills … Syversen has 58 kills thru four matches this season … Senior defensive specialist Cassidy Kingery had 637 digs and 43 service aces last season as she was a First Team All-CCIW choice.
Series Histories:
-First meeting vs. Concordia (Wis.)
-CSS is tied with St. Norbert 2-2
-UW-Oshkosh leads CSS 3-1
-Millikin leads CSS 2-0
Last Meetings: The Saints have won the last two meetings against St. Norbert, including a 3-1 triumph at last year's Pizza Hut Classic … St. Scholastica last met UW-Oshkosh in Eau Claire during the 2014 season and fell in four sets … This will be first meeting between the two programs in Oshkosh … The Saints last met Millikin in 2007, which resulted in a Big Blue sweep.
Looking Ahead: The Saints will have the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Preview Tournament in Morris, Minn. Action begins on Friday, September 16.
