RELEASED:  Tuesday, September 2, 2008

UW-Oshkosh Tabbed Women’s Volleyball Preseason Favorite

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is the preseason favorite to win the 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s volleyball championship, according to the league’s sports information directors.

The Titans, ranked No. 15 nationally in the CBS College Sports Network/American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, received three first-place votes in the WIAC ballot.  UW-Oshkosh has won eight conference titles in program history - with the most recent in 2006 - and made 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including three straight.

The Titans are seeking the sixth 30-plus win season in nine years and set a NCAA Division III record a year ago when they won 57 consecutive games.  The streak is the fourth-longest in NCAA history, regardless of division.

UW-Whitewater, the defending conference champion and national runner-up, claimed four first-place selections and is picked to finish second in the nine-team league derby.   The Warhawks, ranked ninth nationally, have secured a league-best 13 first-place trophies and made 16 straight NCAA tournament showings.  The last three appearances have resulted in ‘Final Four’ spots (a national title in 2005, fourth-place finish in 2006 and second-place standing in 2007).

UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse each picked up one first-place vote and are slotted for third and fourth, respectively in the conference pecking order.

The Blugolds have won a pair of league championships - with the most recent in 2006 - and enter the 2008 campaign ranked No. 19 nationally.  UW-Eau Claire reached the NCAA tournament for the ninth time in program chronicles last year and has emerged victorious in 20-plus matches nine straight years.

The Eagles are ranked No. 20 nationally and have secured nine WIAC crowns - with the most recent in 2003.  UW-La Crosse appeared in the NCAA tournament for the 11th time in program history last season and has won 20-plus matches in 13 consecutive years.  Junior outside hitter Brianne Stankus needs 214 kills to become the seventh player in school history to reach 1,000 in a career.

UW-Platteville appeared in the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in program archives a year ago.  Head coach Deb Schulman needs 15 wins to reach 500 in her career and become the fourth coach in WIAC history to achieve the milestone.   The Pioneers have won 20-plus matches in 15 of Schulman’s 20 seasons.

UW-Stevens Point has finished .500 or better in WIAC contests in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program chronicles.  The Pointers must replace Shelly Maus who topped the league in blocks, points and kills a year ago, while finishing as the school’s all-time leader with 1,715 kills and 4,027 attempts.

UW-Superior upended three nationally ranked teams a year ago enroute to the most successful season in school history (.618 winning percentage).  The Yellowjackets claimed three league wins for a sixth-place finish in the WIAC standings - the highest since 1996.   UW-Superior has reached double-digits in wins for three consecutive seasons - the longest streak since 1992-96.

UW-Stout returns one senior in middle hitter Maggie Meixl who compiled a team-leading 96 blocks a year ago.  Head coach Jill Jolliff is the winningest coach in program history with 303 victories and longest tenured with 15 seasons to her credit.

UW-River Falls will play 12 home matches during the 2008 campaign after playing just five home bouts in 2007.  The Falcons will be led by junior outside hitter Kelsey Scheele who led the team with 532 digs and 445 kills in 2007.   Head coach Patti Ford ranks fifth on the conference’s all-time wins list with 402 victories.

2008 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC Sports Information Directors)
                                                2007 Record
1. UW-Oshkosh (3)              6-2, 32-6
2. UW-Whitewater (4)         8-0, 36-5
3. UW-Eau Claire (1)            6-2, 22-11
4. UW-La Crosse (1)            4-4, 24-10
5. UW-Platteville                  3-5, 24-13
6. UW-Stevens Point           4-4, 23-12
7. UW-Superior                     3-5, 21-13
8. UW-Stout                          1-7, 10-18
9. UW-River Falls                 1-7, 8-26
(  )-First-place votes

Team Vitals
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Kim Wudi; 2nd season at UWEC; 22-11
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  10/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Abby Freiborg, Sr., OH (2007-First); Emily Haese, Sr., S (2007-Honorable); Katie Fox, Sr., MB (2007-Honorable)

UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Sheila Perkins; 15th season (21st at UWL); 441-252 (overall) / 339-141 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  7/4
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:   Brianne Stankus, Jr., OH (2006-Honorable, 2007-First); Amber Schoonover, Sr., OH (2007-Honorable)

UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Brian Schaefer; 5th season; 110-23
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/8
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Katie Beining, Jr., OH (2005-Honorable, 2006-Honorable)

UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Deb Schulman; 21st season at UWP; 485-259
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  7/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Lisa Bell, Jr., MH (2007-Honorable); Rachel Chapman, Sr., OH (2007-Honorable)

UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Patti Ford; 17th season at UWRF; 402-197
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/10
Starters Returning/Lost:  6/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Kelsey Scheele, Jr., OH (2007-First)

UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Stacey White; 8th season at UWSP; 111-125
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  7/11
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/4
Returning All-WIAC:  None

UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Jill Jolliff; 16th season at UWS; 303-199
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  8/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Maggie Meixl, Sr., MH (2007-Honorable)

UW-Superior
Head Coach:  Lynne Deadrick; 6th season at UWS; 77-92
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  9/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Chelsie Christofferson, Jr., OH (2007-Honorable)

UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Stacy Boudreau; 7th season (4th at UW-Whitewater); 181-53 (overall) / 111-16 (UWW)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  13/14 
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/8
Returning All-WIAC:  None