Cobbers Tagged For Third In MIAC Preseason Poll

MIAC volleyball preview courtesy of Matt Higgins and the MIAC office

Complete MIAC preview - http://miacathletics.com/news_links/2013-14_previews/082713a_VB_Preview_2013

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The 2012 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) was literally a banner year for the conference, as the University of St. Thomas captured the league's first-ever NCAA Division III National Championship. Saint Benedict joined UST in the NCAA regional championship following an entertaining MIAC regular season and postseason tournament, that solidified the conference's spot as one of the nation's best. As the 2013 season opener draws near, expectations continue to soar for the MIAC and its 12 teams.

After establishing themselves as the conference's elite a year ago, the Tommies and Blazers again carry national expectations into the new season. Head Coach Thanh Pham and UST - which went an incredible 40-1 en route to the 2012 championship - open as Division III's No. 1-ranked team. Saint Benedict and Head Coach Nicole Hess, 29-6 in 2012, start the season ranked No. 19 in the nation.

However, the league as a whole was incredibly good, which helped UST and CSB as they entered postseason play. Three-fourths of the conference - eight of the 12 teams - finished .500 or better in 2012, and all but one school recorded at least 10 wins overall. In conference play, the same number (8-of-12) won at least five games. St. Thomas was a perfect 11-0 to win the MIAC title, and the 10-1 Blazers only lost to the Tommies, but only three games separated the next eight teams in the standings, a testament to the conference's strength and depth.

Many of those teams hope to take the next step and challenge the Tommies and Blazers for MIAC supremacy in 2013. Third-place Concordia (13-11, 7-4 MIAC) and St. Olaf (11-21, 7-4 MIAC) both return talented teams, as does fifth-place Carleton (18-10, 6-5 MIAC) after giving UST  a tremendous scare in an unforgettable MIAC Playoff semifinal match. Bethel (19-13, 6-5) was also a Playoff team a year ago, and Augsburg, Saint Mary's, St. Catherine and Gustavus were all in the hunt for conference tournament bids in the season's final week.

With four NCAA Playoff teams in 2011 and the national champion in 2012, the MIAC volleyball horizon has never been brighter. Countless talented student-athletes return to build on their success a year ago, and the start of the new season can't arrive fast enough.

TOMMIES TAKE TOP SPOT
After its near-perfect season in 2012, and its 13-0 record vs. MIAC opponents in the regular season and conference tournament, it's no surprise to see St. Thomas atop the 2013 MIAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Tommies were a unanmious No. 1 selection, finishing with 11 first-place votes and 121 points, as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. Saint Benedict received the other first place vote, and was a solid second-place with 111 points.

Concordia nearly cracked 100 points as well, finishing third with 98, and the coaches predict Gustavus will take a step forward in 2013, as the Gusties received 74 points to finish fourth and lead a group of five teams separated by just 10 points. Bethel's 69 points was good for fifth. Augsburg was just a point behind the Royals in sixth with 68 and the two Northfield, Minn., rivals - Carleton and St. Olaf - tied for seventh with 64 points apiece.

Saint Mary's wasn't far behind in ninth, with the Cardinals receiving 56 points. St. Catherine received 35 points to finish 10th in the preseason poll, while Hamline (17) edged Macalester (15) for 11th place to round out the final two spots.

WHAT'S NEW?
There will be one new face on the bench this season as Hamline welcomes Becky Egan for her first season as the Pipers' new head coach. Egan replaces Audrey Ludwig, who departed for a Division I assistant coaching position at the University of Maryland. Egan was a standout student-athlete at the Division I level for the University of Minnesota. Egan worked as an assistant coach for Division III Concordia-St. Paul from 2000-01 and was the head coach at Eastview High School from 2002-12.

St. Olaf's Cindy Book and Concordia's Tim Mosser remain the deans of the MIAC coaching circle as both enter their 21st season at their respective schools. Saint Mary's Mike Lester (16 years), Carleton's Heidi Janyes (15 years), Bethel's Gretchen Hunt (13 years) and Pham (11 years) have all spent at least 10 years at their current post as well. The rest of the coaches - except Egan - entering their fourth year after the league turned over half its coaches in 2010.

WHO'S BACK?
Who's back for the defending MIAC and national champs? Almost everyone. The list of talented MIAC returners certainly starts at St. Thomas with reigning MIAC Player-of-the-Year and All-American Kelly Foley, who leads the Tommies dominant front line entering her junior season. Fellow attacker Paige Brimeyer is also back after an All-American season in 2012, and outside hitter Jill Greefield - also a junior - was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the national tournament. In fact, the only significant loss from Pham's squad is All-American libero Kaiti Wachter, who graduated with nearly 3,000 career digs (2,950).

However, Saint Benedict returns its core intact as well, starting with All-MIAC, All-Region and Honorable Mention All-American senior outside hitter Lexi Alm. Taya Kockelman joined Alm on those same honor squads in 2012 after leading the MIAC with 470 assists from her setter position. Junior hitter Lexi Rinde was also an All-MIAC selection in 2012 and another reason for optimism in St. Joseph.

Concordia graduated a ton of talent in 2011 after winning MIAC regular-season and postseason titles, but reloaded last season starting with MIAC Rookie-of-the-Year Olivia Wangensteen, who led the MIAC with 169 kills in conference play. Fellow hitter Kynndyl Ross was named All-MIAC, and outside Angie Waller also returns to lead the Cobbers this season.

Gustavus has a trio of talented underclassmen back to lead its team in 2013. Outside hitter Becca Woodstra (264 kills) and setter Kendra Weege (642 assists) had breakout seasons as first-year players a year ago, and junior libero Paige Breneman led the Gusties with 476 digs in 2012.

Bethel was one of the few MIAC teams to be hit hard by graduation, as MIAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year Val Smith and star hitters Caitie Helle and Amy Baumetz all finished their careers. However, junior setter Cierra Nickel emerged a season ago as one of the league's best, and senior Nicole Acatz is back to lead the hitters for Head Coach Gretchen Hunt's squad.

Augsburg will benefit from the talent and experience of senior Emily McCourt. The two-time All-MIAC selection at setter is one of the best in the league, and climbing the Auggie career record books. She'll be setting to senior Colleen Ourada, who is back after an injury cut her 2012 season short, as well as All-MIAC sophomore Ashley Peper.

Carleton also said goodbye to talented seniors Jessa Youso and Sarah Nielsen, but hope juniors Alicia Flatt (setter) and Karen Halls (middle hitter) and sophomore Camille Benson (libero) can help the team build on its outstanding 2012 season and Playoff run. The other Northfield school, St. Olaf, also graduated All-MIAC duo Ari Carlson and Melissa Burch, but have high hopes for returners Maggie Prunty (middle blocker) and Kersten Bork (setter) to lead the Oles back to the postseason.

Saint Mary's has its star player back, as setter Lexi Assimos racked up 816 assists en route to All-MIAC honors in 2012. She'll set to junior Mary Nordick with Lex Krogstad leading the way on defense. St. Catherine graduated All-MIAC libero Nicole Pothen and top hitter Brittni Wangerin, but has a pair of talented junior setters back in Ashley Kahlow and Jordyn Wentland, and hopes for a breakout season from sophomore Amber Zeiher.

Egan has plenty of experience back to start her Hamline career, starting with senior Sam Greeney-Hamlin, who led the Pipers with 235 kills in 2012. Juniors Stephanie Kaup (219 kills) and Lynsey Reimer (475 digs) are also back to bolster Hamline's hopes. Macalester welcomes back its star hitter, All-MIAC honoree Laura Avena, who averaged 3.9 kills per set last season. Setter Anna Munson and hitter Hannah Rehak also return for the Scots in 2013.

CIRCLES THESE DATES
Fans don't have long to wait for the first MIAC volleyball action of the 2013 season. Most of the MIAC teams make their debut Friday, with St. Olaf and Carleton co-hosting a tournament in Northfield and Saint Mary's and Saint Benedict also hosting tournaments on their campuses.

MIAC play begins Wednesday, Sept. 14, with all 12 teams in action that night. The conference season runs through Saturday, Nov. 2, with the three rounds of the 2013 MIAC Playoffs to follow on Nov. 5, 7 and 9.

Three of the league's most intriguing matchups of 2013 will take place on Oct. 2. The league's top two teams in the coaches' poll square off in a match that decided the conference title a year ago, as St. Thomas visits Saint Benedict for a 7 p.m. match. Augsburg also travels to Bethel for a 7 p.m. match that evening as the two Twin Cities rivals battle for Playoff positioning in 2013. Macalester also travels up Snelling Ave. in St. Paul that night to meet Hamline at 7 p.m. in a matchup of programs that hope to be on the rise this season.

MIAC volleyball fans should also circle Oct. 18 on their calendars with a pair of exciting 7 p.m. matches on the schedule. Gustavus travels to Concordia that night for a match that could have huge postseason implications between the teams picked fourth and third, respectively, in the coaches' poll.  Meanwhile, Saint Mary's will visit St. Catherine that night as well, as both teams hope to improve in 2013 and return to the postseason.

Finally, the 'Battle of Northfield' will occur on Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. St. Olaf visits cross-town rival Carleton with more than just bragging rights on the line. The two met in a spirited MIAC Playoff match a year ago, and they tied for the No. 7 spot in the 2013 coaches' poll, so a Playoff spot, or seeding, could certainly hinge on this rivalry matchup.

A CLOSER LOOK
The rest of the 2013 MIAC Volleyball Preview contains complete results from the 2013 Preseason Coaches' Poll, MIAC Playoff details, helpful links and a preview for each team submitted by their sports information director. The new MIAC web site - www.miacathletics.com - will be an outstanding source for MIAC volleyball news, schedules, scores, stats and more throughout the 2013 season.

Visit the MIAC scoreboard on game days to follow all the action, and download the MIAC mobile app to have all the information with you anywhere you travel. Also, connect to the conference on its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages for updates and interaction all season long.

2013 MIAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (11 for first, 10 for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with vote totals listed and first-place votes shown in parentheses.