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--From WIAC--

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has been selected to win the 2016 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s volleyball championship, based on a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Warhawks have captured a league-high 15 conference regular-season titles and made 24 consecutive NCAA Division III championship appearances. UW-Whitewater secured the WIAC tournament title last season and brings back six starters from that unit, including senior outside hitter Lauren Pfeifer, a two-time All-WIAC first team selection. She also claimed All-America Third Team honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) a season ago. The Warhawks enter the 2016 campaign ranked No. 14 nationally in the AVCA NCAA Division III Preseason Poll.
 
UW-Whitewater is followed in the WIAC projections by: UW-Oshkosh; UW-Stevens Point; UW-La Crosse; UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stout; UW-Platteville; and UW-River Falls.
 
UW-Oshkosh, ranked No. 25 by the AVCA, and UW-La Crosse shared last year’s regular-season championship. The Titans’ title was the 12th in program history, while the Eagles won their 10th crown – and first since 2003. Both teams welcome the return of senior middle blockers, who claimed All-America Honorable Mention accolades a season ago in Nerissa Vogt and Jill Entinger, respectively.
 
UW-Stevens Point also earned a spot in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 – placing No. 15.
 
The 2016 season welcomes a new head coach to the league as Jon Stenman assumes the top spot at UW-Platteville, replacing Deb Schulman who led the program for 28 seasons and accumulated the second-most victories in WIAC history with 641. Stenman was an assistant coach with the Pioneers last year and has previous head coaching experience at Dickinson State University (N.D.), Centenary College (La.) and Coker College (S.C.).
 
The six-team conference tournament will feature a new format this year with each match being played at the higher seeded team throughout the event and the elimination of a third-place match. Since 1998, the semifinals, third-place match and championship match were played at the No. 1 seed. The winner of the WIAC tournament receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.

2016 Preseason Predictions
Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
                                                                2015 Record
1. UW-Whitewater                          31-5 overall, 5-2 WIAC
2. UW-Oshkosh                                26-9, 6-1
3. UW-Stevens Point                      27-9, 4-3
4. UW-La Crosse                               20-10, 6-1
5. UW-Eau Claire                              27-10, 4-3
6. UW-Stout                                       16-18, 2-5
7. UW-Platteville                              11-20, 0-7
8. UW-River Falls                              14-21, 1-6
 
Team Snippets
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Kim Wudi; 10th season at UWEC; 214-108
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Talia Jaskulske, Jr., DS (2015-Defensive); Katrina Raskie, Sr., OH (2015-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Keagan Kinsella, Sr., MH; Emily Miller, Jr., MH; Mackenzee Pierog, Sr., OH; Kasey Schumacher, Jr., DS

UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Lily Hallock; 5th season at UWL; 57-61
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/5
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Jill Entinger, Sr., MB (2014-Honorable, 2015-First); Stephanie Henk, Jr., OH (2015-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Ashley Entinger, Sr., OH; Maddie Entinger, Jr., S; Jessica Jablonski, Jr., MB; Paige Schmidt, Jr., S

UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Brian Schaefer; 13th season at UWO; 330-108
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  13/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Brooke Brinkman, Sr., OH (2014-Honorable); Nerissa Vogt, Sr., MB (2015-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Tina Elstner, So., OH; Carly Lemke, So., MB; Lexi Thiel, Sr., S; Brianna Witter, So., OH

UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Jon Stenman; 8th season (1st at UWP); 33-178 (overall) / 0-0 (at UWP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/4
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Lidia Frias, Sr., MH (2014-First, 2015-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Grace Austin, So., S/DS; Lindsey Decker, Sr., L; Allison Jensen, Jr., OH; Amber Williams, Sr., OH

UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Patti Ford; 25th season at UWRF; 538-333
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  6/11
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/5
Returning All-WIAC:  None
 
Notable Returning Players:  Raven Klein, Sr., S; Amara Meyer, Jr., MH

UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Abbey Sutherland; 7th season (4th at UWSP); 139-66 (overall) / 95-19 (at UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/2
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Kelly Cefalu, Sr., OH (2015-Honorable); Brittany Laffin, So., S (2015-Honorable); Gabby Thomas, Sr., OH (2015-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Ellen Drewry, Jr., MB; Marie Krengel, Sr., DS; Bri Piepenbrok, Sr., DS/L

UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Laura Evans; 3rd season at UWST; 36-28
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  7/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/4
Returning All-WIAC:  Ashley Pratt, Jr., MH (2015-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Emily Bialka, So., S; Becky Bradshaw, Jr., OH; Olivia Jung, Sr., OH; Kennedy Strain, So., MH

UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Stacy Boudreau; 15th season (12th at UWW); 406-125 (overall) / 336-88 (at UWW)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/4
Starters Returning/Lost:  6/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Staci Hasler, Sr., S (2015-First); Lauren Pfeifer, Sr., OH (2014-First, 2015-First); Brittany Robinson, So., DS (2015-Defensive)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Sydney Racky, Jr., OH; Jessica Sabey, Sr., OH; Courtney Wagner, Jr., MH; Tessa Weber, Sr., DS