Women's Volleyball

UW-Eau Claire Tabbed Women’s Volleyball Favorite

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the defending NCAA Division III champion and conference champion, has been selected to secure the 2022 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s volleyball title, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Blugolds, who enter the season ranked first in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division III Coaches Preseason Poll, won their first national championship a season ago. UW-Eau Claire also claimed the conference regular-season title for the seventh time in program archives and tournament crown for the third time.
 
UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 16 in the AVCA projections, is slotted for second in the WIAC standings. The Warhawks have collected 17 conference regular-season championships and 16 tournament first-place finishes.
 
The remaining order in the conference predictions features: UW-Stevens Point; UW-Oshkosh; UW-La Crosse; UW-River Falls; UW-Platteville; and UW-Stout.
 
The 2022 season welcomes a pair of new head coaches to the conference with Dipen Patel assuming the lead spot at UW-River Falls and Ben Staupe taking charge at UW-Stout. Patel was most recently the lead assistant coach at UW-La Crosse since 2019, while Staupe spent the last four years as the head coach at Western Illinois University.
 
The 2022 campaign will begin Sept. 1 when UW-Stout faces Texas Lutheran University in San Antonio, Texas. Conference matches will commence Sept. 13. The top-six teams in the league standings will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s). The event will be held Nov. 1, 3, and 5, with all matches hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic NCAA bid.
 
2022 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 
2021 Record
1. UW-Eau Claire 35-3 overall, 7-0 WIAC
2. UW-Whitewater 27-3, 6-1
3. UW-Stevens Point 26-8, 4-3
4. UW-Oshkosh 19-12, 4-3
5. UW-La Crosse 20-11, 4-3
6. UW-River Falls 15-14, 1-6
7. UW-Platteville 13-16, 1-6
8. UW-Stout 14-13, 1-6
 
 
Team Capsules
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Kim Wudi; 15th season at UWEC; 342-146
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/9
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/4
Returning All-WIAC:  Arianna Barrett, Sr., PIN (2018-First, 2019-First, 2021-First); Charlie Nelson, So., S (2021-First); Jordan Witzel, Sr., PIN (2021-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Ava Aldag, Jr., PIN; Sheridan Dettmann, Sr., DS; Sarah Kuchcik, Sr., PIN; Maren Saunders, Sr., MH
 
 
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Amber Needham; 7th season (5th at UWL); 107-87 (overall) / 74-45 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/11
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Anna Rossner, Sr., MB (2021-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Megan Adams, Sr., S; Sydney Fedderly, Sr., OH/OPP; Gabrialla Johnson, Sr., OH; Brianne Korducki, Sr., OH
 
 
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Jon Ellmann; 5th season at UWO; 77-52
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/4
Starters Returning/Lost:  7/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Amelia Hust, So., L (2021-Honorable); Riley Kindt, So., OH (2021-First); Carissa Sundholm, Jr., OH (2021-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Olivia Breunig, So., S; Abby Fregien, So., L/DS; Kalli Mau, So., S; Madyson Pearson, So., OH
 
 
UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Samantha Birkicht; 5th season at UWP; 53-67
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/5
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:  None
 
Notable Returning Players:  Emma Carlson, So., OH; Abby Feldmann, Jr., S; Shea Lauria, So., L; Sam Rossetti, Sr., S
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Dipen Patel; 1st season at UWRF; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Sami Hilley, Jr., MB (2021-Honorable); Katie Koerper, Sr., OH (2019-First, 2021-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Sarah Langlois, Sr., MB; Kameri Meredith, Jr., OH; Lauren Shields, Jr., OH; Brooke Voigt, Sr., L
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Lyndsay Kooi; 4th season at UWSP; 72-33
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  13/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Grace Michalske, So., S (2021-Honorable); Emma Peterson, Sr., DS/L (2021-Defensive); Ashley Kopp, So., OH (2021-First/Newcomer of the Year)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Katie Albrecht, Sr., DS/L; Kelsie Belfiori, Sr., DS/L; Sydney Mosinksi, So., MB
 
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Ben Staupe; 4th season (1st at UWST); 16-88 (overall) / 0-0 (UWST)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  10/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Sidney Hoverman, Jr., OH (2021-Honorable); Lydia Kneubuehl, Jr., MH (2019-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Jessica Barr, Sr., MH/OH; Caroline Braun, Sr., OH; Anna Hansen, Jr., MH; Staci Meyer, Sr., S
 
 
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Stacy Boudreau; 20th season (17th at UWW); 531-161 (overall) / 461-124 (UWW)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/4
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Morgan Jensen, Sr., DS (2019-First, All-Defensive; 2021-First/Defensive Player of the Year, All-Defensive); Erin McNeil, Sr., OH (2018-First, 2021-First); Jenna Weinfurt, Jr., OH (2021-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Kirsten Anderson, Jr., MH; Baylie Hansen, Jr., RS; Hailey Mackenthun, Sr., DS; KellyAnn Sotiros, Sr., S
 
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