Volleyball Picked Third in UMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

ST. PAUL, Minn.---The College of St. Scholastica repeats this season as the coaches' choice for third and will need its incoming talent to step up on a young team in order to qualify for the postseason tournament. Veteran coach Dana Moore will rely on senior Honorable Mention selection Christaia Houser (Esko, Minn./Homeschool) who was one of the conference's top blockers a season ago picking up 80 total.

| Poll | Matchups | Team Previews |

The University of Northwestern comes in as the preseason favorite. The Eagles locked up their ninth regular season UMAC title in the last 10 years in 2016 going a perfect 8-0 before finishing with a 34-5 overall mark. The Eagles' dynasty under National Coach of the Year Beth Wilmeth has captured the last five UMAC postseason championships and has made seven-consecutive NCAA appearances. With a returning plethora of talent, the Eagles are set for another exciting season as and tallied 64 points with eight first-place votes for a unanimous first in the conference poll.

The Eagles enter the 2017 season ranked No. 4 in Division III after winning the NCAA regional on their home court last year before defeating Eastern University in a thrilling 3-2 victory to become the first-ever UMAC program in any sport to advance to the national semifinals. Repeating that success, though, may be a challenge, but the return of National Player of the Year in Lindsey Peterson for her final season should help the Eagles make another run.

Intriguing Matchups
The UMAC volleyball schedule will have a new look in 2017 with all nine schools playing each other twice counting toward the league standings. There will be four sets of triangular tournaments with each UMAC institution hosting at least once. Triangular dates include Sept. 16, 19, 22/23 and 27. All teams will then play each other school once throughout the remainder of the season.

No. 4 Northwestern will face its toughest challenge during the conference season matching up against Minnesota Morris in the triangular opener at Northland on Sept. 16, before hosting the Cougars on Wednesday, Oct. 11. The Cougars will look to hold their spot in the top two but will need to fight off a traditionally-strong St. Scholastica squad in triangular play Sept. 27 before the two meet again Friday, Oct. 13 in Morris.

Martin Luther has become a staple in the UMAC tournament, but will need to fight off Bethany Lutheran and Wisconsin-Superior to maintain that hold. The Knights host the Yellowjackets in the Sept. 27 triangular, but travel north for the single contest Oct. 14. The Yellowjackets also host the Vikings in the single-game matchup, while the Vikings host the Yellowjackets in triangular play Sept. 16.

Complete UMAC Schedule

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 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 (Esko, Minn./Homeschool), Sr., MB | 2016 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 80 Total Blocks, .280 attack pct., 125 kills |
- Emily Bounds (Hill City, Minn./Hill City HS), Jr., RS | 105 kills, .219 attack pct.
- Espi Austvold (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer HS), 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.

Need to Know
The Yellowjackets ranked third in assists per set (10.19) and kills (10.90) in the UMAC in 2016.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Espi Austvold: S; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#17 Emily Bounds: OH/RS; 5' 11"; Junior

#18 Christaia Houser: MB; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#2 Espi Austvold
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: S

#17 Emily Bounds
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH/RS

#18 Christaia Houser
: 5' 10"; Senior
: MB

Players Mentioned

#2 Espi Austvold

#17 Emily Bounds

#18 Christaia Houser

Players Mentioned

#2 Espi Austvold

#17 Emily Bounds

#18 Christaia Houser