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From the WIAC--

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the four-time defending league champion, is the preseason choice to capture the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s volleyball championship, according to the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Pointers advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championship for the second consecutive year a season ago. They also won the fifth WIAC regular-season championship and second tournament title in program archives. The streak of four straight regular-season crowns is the longest by a WIAC program since UW-Milwaukee from 1980-83.
 
UW-Stevens Point enters the 2015 campaign ranked seventh in a NCAA Division III preseason poll conducted by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and has five returning starters, including senior middle hitter Emma Brunkhorst, who became the program’s first AVCA All-America first team selection last year. In 2014, she was third in the NCAA Division III with 1.36 blocks per set, while leading the WIAC with 3.67 kills per set and 4.55 points per set. Also back is senior libero Hannah Picel, who is the only three-time All-WIAC defensive team selection in program history. A season ago, the Pointers ranked third in the NCAA Division III with 2,651 team digs and sixth with 12.88 assists per set and 19.78 digs per set.
 
UW-Stevens Point has amassed 68 victories the last two seasons, which are the most by a WIAC program since UW-Oshkosh’s 79 wins from 2008-09. Gone from last year’s squad is Alexis Hartman, who claimed conference Player of the Year recognition in 2013 and 2014.
 
The Pointers are followed in the conference predictions by:  UW-Whitewater; UW-Oshkosh; UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stout; UW-River Falls; UW-Platteville; and UW-La Crosse.
 
UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 24 by the AVCA, brings back 15 letterwinners from a season ago when the squad claimed a share of the conference crown – their league-best 15th regular-season title – and made the program’s 23rd straight NCAA appearance. The Warhawks ranked third in the NCAA Division III with 14.01 kills per set in 2014.  Junior outside hitter Lauren Pfeifer led the team with 354 kills and contributed 292 digs and 90 blocks. She was fifth in the WIAC with 3.60 points per set. Gone from last year’s unit is Kelsey Nobilio, who claimed WIAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Warhawks haven’t had a losing season since 1979.
 
UW-Oshkosh has 11 returning letterwinners from the 2014 campaign when the squad accumulated 31 victories and reached the NCAA Division III Championship for the seventh time in 10 years. The 31 wins were the highest total for the program since 39 victories in 2009. Senior libero Mandy Trautmann led the NCAA Division III last year with 833 digs and paced the WIAC with 5.78 digs per set. She also was first in the WIAC with 649 digs in 2013. Senior outside hitter Katelyn Malcheski topped the conference with 476 kills in 2014, while ranking third with 3.74 points per set. The Titans have won 31-plus matches six times in the last 10 years and claimed 11 regular-season league championships.
 
UW-Eau Claire has five returning starters, including senior middle hitter Kelly Riesgraf, who was third in the WIAC with a .298 hitting percentage and fourth with 110 blocks a year ago. Junior outside hitter Katrina Raskie had a team-high 333 kills and was second on the squad with 413 digs. The Blugolds have finished third or higher in the conference standings in seven of eight seasons under head coach Kim Wudi. UW-Eau Claire will play its home matches on a newly remodeled court in McPhee Physical Education Center, while the Oct. 20 match against UW-Stout will be played in Zorn Arena.
 
UW-Stout returns five of its top-six kill leaders and four of its five block leaders from the 2014 squad that won at least 20 matches for the first time since 2004. The Blue Devils also tied for fourth in the league standings for their best finish since placing second in 2004. Senior outside hitter Molly Brion was second on the team with 351 digs and fourth with 194 kills, while sophomore middle hitter Ashley Pratt contributed 203 kills. The Blue Devils will play just five home matches for the second straight year and finish the season with 11 straight matches away from Johnson Fieldhouse.
 
UW-River Falls brings back six starters, including junior libero Lexi Pingel, who ranked fourth in the WIAC with 595 digs a season ago. She already owns 1,068 career digs. Junior setter Raven Klein finished third in the league with 9.95 assists per set. The Falcons will play just five home matches during the 2015 campaign, including one non-conference contest against University of St. Thomas (Minn.) on Sept. 9. Head coach Patti Ford enters her 24th season in charge of the program and owns 524 victories – the fifth-highest mark in conference archives.
 
UW-Platteville has 12 returning letterwinners from last year’s club that compiled a 12-5 record in its final 17 matches after starting 5-12. Junior middle hitter Lidia Frias was third in the WIAC with 117 blocks a season ago and posted a team-best .271 hitting percentage. Head coach Deb Schulman is the longest tenured women’s volleyball in the conference as she enters her 28th season and will coach her 1,000th career game on Sept. 16 against Carroll University (Wis.). She ranks second on the conference’s all-time wins list with 630 victories.
 
UW-La Crosse welcomes back 13 of 15 players who recorded at least one kill in 2014, including senior outside hitter Leah Putzier, who led the team with 218 kills and 33 service aces, while placing second with 219 digs. She also was sixth in the WIAC with 3.36 points per set. Junior middle blocker Jill Entinger led the squad with a .274 hitting percentage and was second with 198 digs. The Eagles play 11 of their first 14 matches on the road in 2015.

2015 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
                                                            2014 Record
1. UW-Stevens Point                       33-5 overall, 7-1 WIAC
2. UW-Whitewater                         26-9, 7-1
3. UW-Oshkosh                                31-8, 5-3
4. UW-Eau Claire                             16-17, 3-5
5. UW-Stout                                     20-10, 4-4
6. UW-River Falls                             13-20, 4-4
7. UW-Platteville                             17-17, 4-4
8. UW-La Crosse                              9-18, 1-7
 
Team Nuggets
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Kim Wudi; 9th season at UWEC; 187-98
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  9/5
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Katrina Raskie, Jr., OH (2014-Honorable); Kelly Riesgraf, Sr., MH (2014-Honorable)
 
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Lily Hallock; 4th season at UWL; 37-51
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  6/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Jill Entinger, Jr., MB (2014-Honorable); Leah Putzier, Sr., OH (2014-Honorable)
 
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Brian Schaefer; 12th season at UWO; 304-99
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/5
Starters Returning/Lost:  6/1
Returning All-WIAC: Brooke Brinkman, Jr., MB (2014-Honorable); Katelyn Malcheski, Sr., OH (2012-Honorable, 2013-First, 2014-First); Mandy Trautmann, Sr., L (2013-Honorable, 2013-Defensive, 2014-First, 2014-Defensive)
 
UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Deb Schulman; 28th season at UWP; 630-360
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Lidia Frias, Jr., MH (2014-First); Allison Jensen, So., OH (2014-Honorable)
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Patti Ford; 24th season at UWRF; 524-312
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/2
Starters Returning/Lost:  6/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Brianna Muetzel, Jr., OH (2014-Honorable); Lexi Pingel, Jr., L (2014-Honorable, 2014-Defensive)
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Abbey Sutherland; 6th season (3rd at UWSP); 112-57 (overall) / 68-10 (at UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC: Emma Brunkhorst, Sr., MH (2013-First, 2014-First); Krista Loos, Jr., OH (2013-Honorable); Hannah Picel, Sr., L (2012-Defensive, 2013-Defensive, 2014-Honorable, 2014-Defensive)
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Laura Evans; 2nd season at UWST; 20-10
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Molly Brion, Sr., OH (2014-Honorable)
 
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Stacy Boudreau; 14th season (11th at UWW); 375-120 (overall) / 305-83 (at UWW)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/4
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/4
Returning All-WIAC:  Alivia Holman, Sr., MH (2011-Honorable, 2013-First); Lauren Pfeifer, Jr., OH (2014-First)