—an ecclectic news roundup of the #1 Women’s sport in Minnesota, the USA, & the World—
US Women Qualify for Olympics
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 16, 2007) – The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team finished the 2007 FIVB World Cup with a 9-2 record and bronze medal, but the final place on the medal stand took a back seat after the Americans earned a ticket to the 2008 Olympic Games on the second to last day of the tournament.
The FIVB Volleyball World Cup, held every four years in the preceding year to the Olympics, is the first of three Olympic qualification steps for Beijing 2008. The top three teams at the World Cup qualify for the 2008 Olympics. The FIVB World Cup is a 12-team event with a round-robin playing format of 11 matches in 15 days.
“I am very excited and proud of my players,” said Team USA middle blocker Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.). “We fought very hard for each other. It is always difficult to qualify for the Olympics from the World Cup because it is the best teams. (The Olympic Games berth) alleviates some of the stress we would have had playing in the NORCECA qualification or after that. Now we can go to our professional leagues. Our teams are happy, everyone is happy!”
The U.S. started off the tournament with an 8-0 record heading into the fourth and final stage held in Nagoya. Team USA rebounded from a Nov. 14 loss to Serbia by defeating Japan in straight sets on Nov. 15 to assure itself a spot on the medal stand and berth in the Olympics. On the final day of the event, the Americans lost to gold-medalist Italy. Brazil finished with the silver with a 9-2 record, despite the U.S. winning the head-to-head match on Nov. 7.
For Cassie Busse (U of MN, Prior Lake, Minn.), who is attempting to make her first Olympic Games roster, the Olympic qualification was not just the World Cup itself. It started many months ago to reach this point.
“It is such an amazing feeling,” Busse said. “After a long season of working hard, we can finally see the fruits of our labor. All are hard work paid off.”
Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (Honolulu) and Lindsey Berg (U of MN, Honolulu) shared the setting duties during the tournament. Ah Mow-Santos ranked ninth in assist average, while Berg was 13th. By combining the two setters’ assist averages, it would ranked third in the tournament.
US Men Qualify for Olympics
ANAHEIM, Calif. (Jan. 11, 2008) -- The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-20) victory over Puerto Rico on Friday at the 2008 NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifying Championship in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The U.S. Men won the tournament with a 5-0 record and without dropping a set.
USA Volleyball Women's & Girls High Performance Tryouts
Friday April 18th, 4-8pm, Minneapolis Convention Center
Thursday April 24th, 4-8pm, Minneapolis Convention Center
2008-2009 Age Definitions:
Women's Junior - born in 1990 and 1991
Girls' Youth - born in 1992 and 1993
Girls' USA Select - born in 1994, 1995 and after.
For more information and to sign up visit www.usavolleyball.org/HighPerformance/08tryoutschedule.asp
Brook Dieter Named to AVCA Honorable Mention All-Mideast Team
Minnesota freshman outside hitter Brook Dieter (Bloomington, Minn.) received Honorable Mention AVCA All-Mideast honors according to an announcement made on Dec. 4 2007. Dieter becomes the first Golden Gopher freshman to collect All-Region honors of any type since Paula Gentil received First-Team honors in 2002. Katrien DeDecker also received Second-Team All-Mideast Region honors as a freshman in 1993, while Andrea Gonzalez was named All-Midwest by a publication named Midwest Volleyball as a freshman in 1985. This season, Dieter received Big Ten Player of the Week honors three times (Sept. 3, 17, and Nov. 12). That total tied Big Ten Player of the Year Christa Harmotto for the most player of the week honors this season. Dieter, who was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team along with teammate Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.), also joined Megan Hodge (Penn Sta te in 2006), Nicole Fawcett (Penn State in 2005) and Stacey Gordon (Ohio State in 2003) as one of only four freshman in conference history to receive Big Ten Player of the Week honors three times in a season.
Minnesota Senior MB Jessy Jones named to the All Big Ten Team
Freshmen Brook Dieter and Lauren Gibbemeyer were named to the All Big Ten freshman team. Kelly Roysland was named as candidate for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
Concordia-St. Paul wins NCAA Championship
Dec. 1, 2007 –Topeka, Kansas – The Concordia University volleyball team won their first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship, defeating #15 Western Washington in four games, 30-26, 23-30, 30-19, 31-29 at Lee Arena on the campus of Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Concordia stopped the Vikings' streak of 21 consecutive wins, as the Golden Bears closed the year on a six match win streak.
2008 NCAA Division II Final Rankings
#1 Concordia-St. Paul
#5 Minnesota Duluth
#12 Southwest Minnesota State
#21 Minnesota State-Mankato
Minnesota Duluth's Vicky Braegelmann Named Division II AVCA National Player of the Year
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 28, 2007) – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is pleased to announce that University of Minnesota Duluth senior right side/opposite hitter Vicky Braegelmann has been named 2007 Division II AVCA National Player of the Year. Braegelmann becomes just the third back-to-back winner of this award at the Division II level, as she shared the honor with Li YiZhi of Lock Haven University a year ago.
Braegelmann, a native of Albany, Minn., was dominant in leading Minnesota Duluth to another stellar season in 2007, as they posted a 29-2 overall record. The Bulldogs were ranked in the top four in the CSTV/AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll all season, including two weeks as the nation’s top team. In her four seasons on the Duluth campus, Braegelmann’s Bulldog teams went 114-16, for an incredible .877 winning percentage, including two trips to the national semifinals.
2007 AVCA Division II First-Team All-America
Vicky Braegelmann, a 6-0 right side/opposite for the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a senior from Albany, Minn. The three-time North Central Conference (NCC) Player of the Year is among the nation’s leaders in kills per game and hitting percentage, and set the school record for career kills in 2007. The 2006 Division II AVCA Co-National Player of the Year is now a four-time AVCA First-Team All-American, only the second player to accomplish that feat in the history of the AVCA Division II All-America program.
Erin Contons, a 5-10 outside hitter for Southwest Minnesota State University, is a senior from Apple Valley, Minn. The first Mustang to be named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Player of the Year was among the national leaders in kills per game at 4.6, while also averaging 3.75 digs per game, and holds the school record for career kills, kills per game and attack attempts, while ranking second in digs. Contons is a third-time AVCA All-American, having garnered second-team honors in 2005 and 2006.
Maggie McNamara, a 5-9 setter for Concordia University-St. Paul, is a sophomore from Zumbrota, Minn. McNamara leads the nation in assists per game with 14.38, and leads her team to the national quarterfinals to square off with California University of Pennsylvania. McNamara, the only sophomore on the first-team, is a second-time AVCA All-American, having been named to the second-team in her freshman season.
Kari Wolford, a 5-11 outside hitter for the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a senior from Avon, Minn. Wolford, a member of the First-Team All-NCC, averaged nearly four kills, four digs and four points per game this season, leading the Bulldogs to the North Central Regional finals. Wolford is now a two-time AVCA All-American, having earned second-team distinctions in 2006.
2007 AVCA Division II Second-Team All-America
Katie Gangelhoff, a 5-8 setter for the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a junior from South St. Paul, Minn. Gangelhoff, who was selected to the All-NCC Team for the second year in a row, helped lead the Bulldogs to a 28-1 overall record, an undefeated 12-0 first place conference finish and the NCAA North Central Regional Final. Ranked nationally in the top three in assists, Gangelhoff is a two-time AVCA All-America honoree, having earned second team honor in 2006.
2007 AVCA Division II Third-Team All-America
Ashley Nachreiner, a 6-0 outside hitter for Minnesota State University, Mankato, is a junior from Round Rock, Texas. A two-time All-NCC selection, and the 2005 NCC freshman of the year, Nachreiner helped lead the Mavericks to a 19-9 record this season and a trip to the NCAA North Central region quarterfinals. Ranked atop the conference in points per game (4.91) and third in kills per game (4.11), Nachreiner has earned AVCA All-America honors for the first time.
Maria Steinhagen, a 5-10 middle blocker for Concordia University-St. Paul, is a junior from Alexandria, Minn. Steinhagen, who is a two-time NSIC selection, has helped guide the Golden Bears to a 33-4 overall record, a 17-1 NSIC mark, and to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. Ranked second in the NSIC in hitting percentage (.313) and sixth in kills per game (3.59), Steinhagen is a first-time AVCA All-American.
2007 AVCA Division II National Freshman of the Year
Emily Palkert, a 5-11 middle blocker for Concordia University-St. Paul, is from Excelsior, Minn. Palkert, the NSIC Freshman of the Year, is among the nation’s leaders in kills (3.98) and blocks per game (1.26), and set a school record with 34 kills in a match earlier this season.
2007 AVCA DIVISION II HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICA
Emily Palkert, (Concordia-St. Paul, MB, Fr.)
Mary Slinger (Concordia-St. Paul, DS/Lib., So.)
Sarah Wyffels (Minnesota Duluth, MB, So.)
The fifth-year head coach led the Golden Bears to a 36-4 final record and their first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship.
12/4/2007 -LEXINGTON, KY– The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce that Concordia University-St. Paul head women’s volleyball coach Brady Starkey has been selected has the 2007 Division II AVCA National Coach of the Year.
In just his fifth season as Concordia-St. Paul head coach, Starkey has led the Golden Bears program to national prominence, most recently adding the 2007 NCAA Division II national championship - the school’s first in history - to the squad’s ever-growing list of post season hardware. Along the road to glory, the Golden Bears upended then-No. 1 Minnesota Duluth 3-1 on the Bulldogs’ home court to earn their third NCAA quarterfinal appearance in the past five years. After knocking off California (Pa.) and West Texas A&M, Starkey’s squad defeated Western Washington in four games in the final.
University/College Division III
2007 NCAA Division III Final Rankings
#11 University of St. Thomas
#21 Bethel
#23 Concordia-Moorhead
2007 AVCA Division III First-Team All-America
Katherine McCaffrey, a 6-1 middle blocker for the University of St. Thomas, is a junior from Fort Collins, Colo. The All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) honoree ranked in the top five in NCAA Division III in hitting at .404 and was in the top 10 in blocks per game with 1.49, while leading her team to the NCAA Central Regional final. This marks the first All-America honor for McCaffrey.
2007 AVCA Division III Second-Team All-America
Liz Glesne, a 5-11 outside hitter for Bethel University, is a senior from Underwood, Minn. The MIAC Most Valuable Player set a school record and ranked in the top 20 nationally in kills per game with 4.8, and set the school record and finished second in conference history for career kills with 1,984. Glesne is an AVCA All-American for the first time in 2007.
Other News
Lauren Wagner, former standout player from Cretin-Derham Hall is transferring from DI Fairfield, CT to the University of St. Thomas where she will play for Thanh Pham and enroll in the St. Thomas engineering school.
Central Lakes College (Brainerd, MN) defeats
Ridgewater College (Willmar, MN) November 17th
for the 2007 NJCAA Division III National Championship
Carolyn Bell is in her first season as RCTC's head volleyball coach, but has 10 years coaching experience from the beginner to the elite level. Prior to coming to Rochester Community Technical College to coach, Carolyn had coached the Southern Minnesota Volleyball junior olympic volleyball elite program for seven years and served as the club's coaching director for three years. Carolyn also played four years of college volleyball in New York where she earned most valuable player and was named to the NCAA All-Star Team in 1995. Carolyn earned a Masters degree in counseling psychology from the State University of New York at Brockport and a Masters degree in exercise and sport science with an emphasis in sport psychology and coaching from Ithaca College.
RCTC's Jean Musgjerd will be on sabatical during the 2007-2008 academic school year. Jean was in her 14th season as Head Volleyball Coach and 11th season as Head Softball Coach. Jean also currently is women's Athletic Director and the NJCAA Region XIII Director.
Lisa Axel, former Ms. MN Volleyball from Buffalo HS and standout 4 year defensive specialist for the University of Minnesota (2004 graduate) is entering her 3rd year as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Metropolitan State College in Denver. Lisa reports, “We do have one player originally from Minnesota on our roster. Her name is Anna Mapes formerly Anna Hackbarth who played at Chaska back when I was in High School. She is 29 and has two years of eligibility left. She has lived in Colorado for the past couple years and was the Assistant coach at Ft. Lewis College in Durango, CO and realized that she could still go back to school and play Division II volleyball. We are always looking for players from Minnesota.”
Jamie Skadeland continues her fast ascent. Skadeland has been named the 2008 head coach of the Colorado School of Mines. She was appointed assistant coach in 2007 and was a graduate assistant coach at Minnesota State-Mankato in 2006. Jamie hired Heather Roberts, former University of Missouri-Rolla assistant and Bemidji State graduate assistant coach as her assistant.
Joe Lind of Eagan, MN and former assistant at North Dakota State University is entering his 2nd season as the Sam Houston State University TX (DI) 1st assistant.
Beach News
LAS VEGAS: The Associated Press, 2/24/08. Sean Rosenthal and (former University of Minnesota star) Nicole Branagh each went undefeated to win titles on the final stop of the Association of Volleyball Professionals' indoor tour Saturday night. Branagh won the women's title by winning the fourth and final match with April Ross over Elaine Youngs and Jenny Johnson Jordan 16-14. The victory was Branagh's first on the Tour. Her .538 hitting percentage was second behind Youngs' .724, but Branagh led all four players with two aces. Both Rosenthal and Branagh earned $4,250 for their first-place efforts.
High School
Jordan High’s Brittany Chambers Finishes 12th in Nation in Kills, 57th in Aces
Brittany Chambers finished her 2007 high school junior season with a staggering 598 kills. Chambers, the PrepVolleyball.com 2006 National Sophomore of the Year tallied an average of 6.5 kills per game over approximately 92 games according to Maxspreps.com. Chambers’ feat was even more impressive considering the great discrepancy, state-by-state in number of games/matches that a student-athlete is allowed to play. A great example is first place finisher, senior Molly Coldrep of Notre Dame Prep in Michigan, who recorded 1027 kills at a 6.3 per game average over the course of 163 games, possibly 80% more than MSHSL rules allow in MN. Others making the list were #48 Megan Carlson of Andover, #60 Anna Zyvoloski of St. Cloud Cathedral, #63 Chelsea Fogarty of Belle Plaine, #67 Jessica Granquist of Blaine, #86 Leah Dietel of Jordan, #93 Tori Dixon of Burnsville.
Brittany Chambers was also Minnesota’s service ace leader, ranking #57 nationally, the only Minnesotan to make the top 100 list.
Minnesota Prep Block Party
Senior Jordyn Van Ryswyk of Glenville-Emmons recorded 182 blocks to finish with a #25 national ranking for 2007 blocks. Right behind her with 181 and #27 ranking was freshman Katie Habeck of Farmington. Others on the list are #55 Brittany Stoekel of St. Francis, #61 Carolyn Newstrom of S. St. Paul, #77 Sarah Hendricks of Cretin-Derham Hall.
Diggin’ It
Kirstee Rotty of Farmington and Alissa Ryan of Mankato West finished #21  nationally in digs in 2007. Also turning in stellar performances were #29 Jessica Granquist of Blaine, #31 Kelli Boraas of Zumbrota-Mazeppa, #44 Brianna Berger of LeSueur-Henderson, #46 Jennifer Henke of Rosemount, #54 Megan Carlson of Andover, #62 Grace Sanders of Lakeville South, #73 Carissa Metzer of St. Francis, #97 Brianna Olson of Osseo.
Willing to Assist in ‘07
National rankings for assists were turned in by #26 Amanda Dietel of Jordan, #72 Katie Wells of Spring Lake Park, #73 Taylor Schuelke of Rosemount, #78 Hayley Buchanan of Eden Prairie, #81 Justina Rudzitas of Meadow Creek Christian, #89 Marcie Flygarie of Minnesota Valley Lutheran, #93 Jessica Menden of Shakopee,
Final 2007 State Tournament Results
Class AAA
1. Shakapee
2. Andover
3. Lakeville North
4. Woodbury
5. Owatonna
6. Blaine
7. Hopkins, tie
7. St. Michael-Albertville, tie
Class AA
1. Marshall
2. St. Cloud Cathedral
3. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton
4. Stewartville
5. Jordan
6. Hibbing
7. Delano, tie
7. Visitation, tie
Class A
1. Bethlehem Academy
2. Windom Area
3. Mayer Lutheran
4. Chisholm
5. Wheaton
6. Northern Frazee
7. G-F-W, tie
7. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, tie
ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 10, 2007 – Following are the 2007 Minnesota State Girls Volleyball All-Tournament Teams, presented by Wells-Fargo and the Minnesota State High School League. The team was selected by a panel of coaches attending the tournament.
Class A |
POSITION |
NAME |
|
|
|
*Northern Freeze |
Middle Hitter |
Alycia Dahl |
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa |
Middle Hitter |
Heidi Lensing |
Mayer Lutheran |
Setter |
Malea Noennig |
Wheaton |
Outside Hitter |
Whitney Boom |
Windom Area |
Outside Hitter |
Malori Paplow |
Windom Area |
Setter |
Megan Ysker |
Windom Area |
Middle Hitter |
Casey Christensen |
*Bethlehem Academy |
Setter |
Karianne Nass |
*Bethlehem Academy |
Middle Hitter |
Holly Hafemeyer |
*Bethlehem Academy |
Setter |
Liz Schlobohm |
Class AA |
POSITION |
NAME |
|
|
|
Jordan |
Outside Hitter |
Brittany Chambers |
Jordan |
Middle Hitter |
Leah Dietel |
Stewartville |
Outside Hitter |
Julie Rainey |
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton |
Setter |
Jennifer Lopez |
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton |
Middle Hitter |
Jenna Green |
Marshall |
Setter |
Kayla Wallerich |
Marshall |
Outside Hitter |
Rachel Westby |
Marshall |
Middle Hitter |
Anna Full |
St. Cloud Cathedral |
Outside Hitter |
Anna Zyvoloski |
St. Cloud Cathedral |
Defense Specialist |
Alex Lenzen |
Class AAA |
POSITION |
NAME |
|
|
|
Owatonna |
Outside Hitter |
Alli Rice |
Blaine |
Outside Hitter |
Jessica Granquist |
Lakeville North |
Middle Hitter |
Kelsey Brandl |
Lakeville North |
Libero |
Taylor Fieldsted |
Lakeville North |
Outside Hitter |
Amy Braun |
Andover |
Outside Hitter |
Megan Carlson |
Andover |
Outside Hitter |
Lauren Cipperly |
Shakopee |
Outside Hitter |
Maggie Geske |
Shakopee |
Outside Hitter |
Ashley Wittman |
Shakopee |
Setter |
Jessica Menden |
Signings
Player |
High School |
College/University |
Courtney Bitter |
Bemidji |
Bemidji State |
Stephanie Brown |
Rosemount |
Minnesota Duluth |
Nicole Buysse |
Pipestone |
Minnesota State University-Moorhead |
Devin Diedrich |
Braham |
Southwest Minnesota State |
Maggie Geske |
Shakopee |
Southwest Minnesota State |
Kimberly Hacker |
Hutchinson |
Bemidji State |
Alyssa Johnson |
Blaine |
Southwest Minnesota State |
Hannah Johnson |
Greenway |
Minnesota Duluth |
Katie Kimman |
Pierz Healy |
St. Cloud State |
Erikka Korpi |
Maple Grove |
Bemidji State |
Melissa McNeely |
Lakeville South |
Bemidji State |
Chelsea Nagle |
Fillmore Central |
St. Cloud State |
Alli Rice |
Owatonna |
Minnesota State-Mankato |
Laura Slinger |
Bethlehem Academy |
Bemidji State |
Brittany Stamer |
Hutchinson |
Minnesota State-Mankato |
Courteney Steinhauser |
New Ulm |
Minnesota State-Mankato |
Jill Storlie |
Byron |
Minnesota State-Mankato |
Tournaments and Matches Wanted for High School
Minneapolis South HS varsity, JV, and 9th grade teams are looking for tournaments for fall of '08. The 9th grade team is also looking for matches. Preference is a venue within 40 miles. Contact the varsity coach or repy to MVN (Minnesota Volleyball News) via this email and we will forward your request to the school.
Coaches: Please email news/signings from your teams to:
MinnesotaVolleyballNews@comcast.net.
Camps
S.P.I.K.E.™ Performance Camps is once again inviting high school and club coaches to observe its summer camps at the National Volleyball Center in Rochester and at Monticello High School. Depending on the camp activities going on when they are there, coaches may also be able to visit with camp coaches. Coaches must first notify the camp director.
Adult
Beach Sand Clinic
S.P.I.K.E.™ Performance Camps is presenting a Beach/Sand Clinic for adult men and women May 17th and 18th at Drac’s Pub in Inver Grove Heights. Coaches will be AVP professional Jen Bowman and sand/indoor coaching veteran Kevin Nelson. Cost is $95 per player. See www.spikecamps.com for more information.
Commentary
Could the reduction in points per set from 30 to 25 in the collegiate game in an attempt to reduce what is perceived as a lack of intensity in the middle parts of some sets end up hurting the game? Research when rally scoring was adopted indicated that games should actually be in the 40 point range to allow for the possibility of comebacks. The research showed that once either team reaches certain milestones in points and/or point spread, the outcome of the set is remarkably predictable. Shortening the game to 25 points may make that exciting comeback even more unusual. If a team jumped to an early lead and the opposing team knew there just weren’t enough points for a comeback, wouldn’t that seem to be a recipe for a dull game? A team that starts slow will be in trouble. Some may argue that coaches will have avoid such starts. But what coach doesn’t already do that? If the first 5-10 points become even more crucial, will coaches make it their priority to recruit an athlete they hope will be a dominant lead-off server to forge that critical lead? Will we see teams with one-out-of-four specialty servers making an impact and the others riding the bench for four years as seems to happen now with Liberos?
Back Issues (more to follow)
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