Cobbers Check In At No.8 On Preseason Poll

MIAC volleyball preview courtesy of Matt Higgins and the MIAC office

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2015 MIAC Conference Preview
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- In recent years, the state of Minnesota has emerged as one of the nation's volleyball hotbeds, and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) is no exception. The 2014 season featured unparalleled strength and balance, and the upcoming 2015 season is expected to provide an equally-entertaining sequel.

Last season, three-fourths of the conference - nine out of 12 teams - finished tied for sixth or better, with all nine in the MIAC Playoff picture on the season's final day. Four teams finished with 20 or more wins, eight were .500 or better overall and all 12 teams won at least eight matches during the 2014 season. To say the league was competitive in 2014 is a massive understatement.

Last season, St. Thomas (24-7) and Augsburg (23-6) shared the conference title for the second season in a row as both finished MIAC play with identical 10-1 records. It marked the eighth-straight season that UST won or shared the regular-season title, and it was the Auggies' second-straight share of the title, their first two in school history. Augsburg won the head-to-head meeting during the regular season and was the top seed in the MIAC Playoffs, but the second-seeded Tommies got their revenge on the road in the championship match to claim a third-straight conference postseason title.

Saint Benedict (21-10, 9-2 MIAC) just a game back in third place. Saint Mary's (20-13) and Bethel (18-10) each went 7-4 in conference play to share fourth place, and Gustavus (11-15) emerged from a four-team tie at 5-6 to claim the sixth and final spot in the MIAC Playoffs. Carleton (18-8), Hamline (13-10) and Concordia (12-12) all were 5-6 in league play also, and just missed out on a trip to the postseason due to tiebreaker criteria.

St. Olaf (9-19) finished 10th in the conference standings with a record of 2-9. St. Catherine won 10 matches (10-17) overall and came in 11th a 1-10 MIAC mark, and Macalester finished 8-20 overall and 0-11 in conference play to round out the 2014 standings.

This season, the MIAC could be even more competitive and wide-open from top-to-bottom, if it's possible. Both St. Thomas and Saint Benedict graduated decorated senior classes, but both teams always seem to reload and remain in the hunt. Meanwhile, Augsburg brings most of its starting lineup back, and Bethel and Saint Mary's are both loaded with talented returners, so the race for the MIAC title - and the six Playoff bids - could be a furious multiple-team fight to the finish.

All 12 teams enter the new season with aspirations of championships, postseason play or upward mobility, and on each campus in the MIAC, that optimism is well-founded.

THE POLLS ARE IN
The 2015 MIAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll is yet another example of the balance and parity throughout the league, as two teams tied atop the ranking with identical point totals. Augsburg and Bethel each received 112 points to share the title of MIAC preseason favorite, with the Royals receiving seven first-place votes to four for the Auggies. St. Thomas received the other first-place vote and 103 points to finish third in the poll.

Saint Benedict checked in at No. 4 with 92 points, with Saint Mary's (84 points) and Gustavus (70 points) rounding out the top six, with the coaches predicting that the same six teams will qualify for the MIAC Playoffs again in 2015. Carleton (58 points) edged Concordia (57 points) by the slimmest of margins for seventh, as coaches expect those two teams to again be in the postseason race as well.

Hamline had 35 points and finished ninth in the poll, and St. Catherine received 29 points to grab the final spot in the top 10. St. Olaf came in 11th with 25 points, and Macalester (15 points) rounded out the final spot in the 2015 coaches' predictions.

The MIAC is typically one of the strongest volleyball conferences in the nation, and it was no surprise to see a trio of teams receive votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll, which was released on Aug. 20. St. Thomas is the highest-ranked MIAC squad at No. 17 with 464 points. Augsburg received 353 points in the poll and is ranked 20th to start the season, and Saint Benedict (12 points) also appeared in the "Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots" section.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Prior to 2013, Augsburg had never won the MIAC championship. Two seasons later, the Auggies have now shared it twice with St. Thomas, and Head Coach Jane Becker's team returns five starters to eye a three-peat. Two-time All-American Ashley Peper returns as one of the MIAC's top hitters and one of Augsburg's most decorated players in school history. All-Region setter Courtney Lemke is back as well, along with senior middle hitter Jessica Liiliquist to give the Auggies a strong, veteran nucleus.

Bethel was fifth a year ago, but has higher expectations in 2015 thanks to all its key players coming back and, with most of them being either juniors or sophomores, the Royals could still be ascending. Junior outside hitter Carlee Hoppe, junior setter Katie Lubben and sophomore middle Kristin Stern all return with All-Conference accolades, and Hoppe (2013) and Stern (2014) were each named MIAC Rookie-of-the-Year in their first seasons.

St. Thomas graduated three-time MIAC Player-of-the-Year Kelly Foley and several other decorated seniors that helped the team win the 2012 National Championship, but Head Coach Thanh Pham is ready to reload. Juniors Whitney Lloyd and Taylor Lewis and senior Kelly Biermann are ready to step in on the front line and keep UST in contention. Saint Benedict also graduated seven seniors, including All-American setter Taya Kockelman, but has All-MIAC hitter Laura Schmitt back, along with senior middle Mary Franz and sophomore defensive specialist Gabi Navarez.

Saint Mary's has most of its nucleus back, led by senior libero Lex Krogstad - an All-MIAC pick a year ago - and senior Macki Fadness and junior Kenzie Lind also return to give the Cardinals a pair of talented outside hitters. Gustavus also lost just one key contributor, with All-MIAC honorees Alyssa Taylor (middle) and Marisa Morgan (setter) both back, along with senior outside hitter Becca Woodstra.

Carleton will be looking to fill some holes on the right side and at setter, but having MIAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year Camille Benson back is a great start for the Knights. Carleton also welcomes back sophomore hitter Lucy Stevens and junior hitter Caroline Duke in 2015. Concordia graduated three key contributors, but has two senior hitters back who have both won All-MIAC accolades in Anna Skow-Anderson and Olivia Wangensteen, and junior setter Mandy Mercil also returns to direct the Cobber offense in 2015.

Hamline graduated defensive star Lynsey Reimer, but brings back top hitter Michelle Mattke, defensive specialist Miquel Green and versatile defender/setter Amelia Jensen as the Pipers try to return to the MIAC Playoffs after a one-year absence. St. Catherine will be looking for a new setter to direct the Wildcat offense in 2015, but that person will have the benefit of a trio of talented hitters to set up. Senior middles Alyssa Besch and Amber Zeiher are both back, and sophomore outside hitter Megan Lindenfelser returns to build on her strong rookie campagin.

St. Olaf will look a little different this season with Head Coach Cindy Book on sabbatical. Walt Weaver takes over for book with Reid Vernon assisting, and the Oles have high hopes in the absence of their longtime coach with senior setter Kersten Bork, junior middle Sophie Schwartz and sophomore hitter Abby Carpenter all back in the fold. Macalester also brings back most of its nucleus in senior defensive specialist Cora Trout and sophomore hitters Clara Baumann and Regan Fruh as the Scots work to improve in 2015.

CIRCLE THESE DATES
Fans don't have much longer to wait - a week, to be exact - as the 2015 will officially serve up its first matches on Tuesday, Sept. 1. After two weeks of nonconference play, MIAC matches will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 1, and the regular season will conclude with a tremendous Halloween schedule on Saturday, Oct. 31. The MIAC Playoffs will follow with quarterfinals on Nov. 3, semifinals on Nov. 5 and the championship set for Saturday, Nov. 7.

Two of the MIAC biggest matchups of the season will bookend conference play, starting with a marquee matchup between No. 17 St. Thomas and (RV) Saint Benedict on the Tommies' home court in St. Paul on the opening day of conference play (Sept. 16) at 7 p.m. The two preseason favorites will save their matchup for last, as No. 20 Augsburg travels to Arden Hills, Minn., to face Bethel in the final match of the season on Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. in a showdown that could have a lot on the line.

The league's other two 2014 Playoff teams will also collide on the season's final in a match that could very well carry postseason implications once again, as Gustavus will host Saint Mary's on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. The two Northfield, Minn. rivals - Carleton and St. Olaf - will also meet on the season's final weekend with the Oles hosting the Knights on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m.

Last season, Concordia and Hamline both just missed out on a trip to the postseason, so their head-to-head meeting could be a make-or-break match for both teams. The Pipers will head to Moorhead, Minn., to face the Cobbers on Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. On Oct. 21, St. Paul, Minn., rivals St. Catherine and Macalester will square off on the Scots' home court at 7 p.m. with both teams hoping to score a big victory for local pride and upward mobility in the 2015 standings.

2015 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.