Last Team Standing: We’re down to 3

Find out here which team fell out of the running last night.

I’ve also been keeping up with the box scores fairly well, so the Standout Stats page on the right rail should be up to speed nightly in most cases, depending on the availability of updated Web sites.

-Ricky Nelson

Live: #1 Oshkosh vs. #14 Eau Claire Friday

The WIAC could be decided at Kolf Sports Center when No. 1 UW Oshkosh (20-0, 4-0 WIAC) faces No. 14 UW-Eau Claire (14-2, 1-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. But UW-Platteville (9-6, 2-1) may have something to say about the WIAC title. Stay tuned.

Follow the UWO vs. UWEC match live (scoring, audio and video available) from this link. Or go old school and watch it in the stands.

-Ricky Nelson

Poll: Week 4 released

UW Oshkosh picks up a few more first-place votes and remains in the top spot. Now that we’re into the conference schedules, the poll was pretty static. Wash U is fifth and St. Thomas sixth. Carthage drops one spot to eighth. UW-Whitewater moves up two spots and back in the top 10.

UW-Eau Claire is 14th, Concordia (MN) is 17th, Saint Benedict is tied for 19th and Nebraska Wesleyan is 21st. St. Olaf is still receiving votes.

-Ricky Nelson

UMAC announces ‘Dig Pink’ dates

The UMAC announced its “Dig Pink” dates, which promote breast cancer awareness. Read the release here.
10/2 Crown
10/2 Minnesota-Morris
10/2 Presentation
10/7-8 St. Scholastica
10/16 Northwestern
10/28 Bethany Lutheran
10/30 Northland
10/31 Martin Luther

-Ricky Nelson

New pages mean user-friendliness!

Instead of updating them with posts, I made new pages out of the Last Team Standing and the Midwest and Central region conference standings (complete with the biggest matchups of the week). See those at the top of the right rail.

Another new addition is a page with links to live audio, live video and live stats for all Midwest and Central teams that I could find that provide the services (thanks for your hard work, SIDs!).

That’s in addition to the FAQ page, which will be updated when the 2009 Handbook is released. I expect that within the next two weeks.

And there’s the Midwest and Central regions Standout Stats page that has been there all season. To qualify for an entry in on that page, players need 10+ blocks, 20+ kills, 30+ digs or 50+ assists. Check it out to see how your favorite player stacks up with the elite in the two regions.

I hope the layout changes make it easier to find the content you’re looking for. Happy volleyball to all.

-Ricky Nelson

Last Team Standing: One more goes down

We’re down to four unbeatens in the D-III universe. For a look ahead and to see what happened this week, go to the Last Team Standing page.

-Ricky Nelson

Whitewater rebounds with wins over CCIW elite

Two days after dropping a match to No. 1 UW Oshkosh, No. 12 UW-Whitewater (11-4) responded with a sweep over No. 7 Carthage (12-2) and a 3-2 win over Illinois Wesleyan on the opening day of the UW-Whitewater Invitational. IWU (11-4) went into the invite with 10 straight wins and a 2-0 record in the CCIW.

Whitewater plays Heidelberg and Elmhurst today. Carthage plays UW-La Crosse and Iowa Wesleyan.

-Ricky Nelson

Stats: C, MW players and teams in top 50

A lovely companion piece for this lengthy post is the Standout Stats page on the right rail. It’s updated through 9/23.

The following are Midwest/Central players and teams among the top 50 nationally. See the entire NCAA stats leaderboards here. Stats are through 9/20. And it’s confirmed: there are only five remaining unbeatens in all of D-III. I’m tracking them here.

Aces/Set
38. Miranda Reichert, Northland senior, .82
(No teams)

Assists/Set
2. Katelyn Vara, UW Oshkosh senior, 11.44
16. Alyse Karls, UW-Whitewater senior, 10.41
19. Kelly Prunty, St. Olaf junior, 10.35
20. Ali Sikic, UW-Platteville sophomore, 10.35
25. Emily Foster, St. Thomas junior, 10.25
31. Stacy Hassinger, Illinois Wesleyan sophomore, 10.10
36. Drewann Pancratz, Carthage sophomore, 9.89
38. Tara Christensen, Simpson senior, 9.73
41. Ashley Jedlicka, Nebraska Wesleyan sophomore, 9.65
42. Maggie Snyder, Central sophomore, 9.60
43. Nina Lindquist, St. Catherine freshman, 9.54
45. Beth Hanson, St. Benedict senior, 9.49
46. Ryan Lally, North Central (IL) freshman, 9.48
2. Washington, 13.66
9. UW Oshkosh, 12.38
15. St. Olaf, 11.90
19. UW-Platteville, 11.54
20. St. Mary’s, 11.50
22. Luther, 11.47
23. Carthage, 11.43
31. Saint Benedict, 11.27
33. Central, 11.24
T36. UW-Eau Claire, 11.20
40. Nebraska Wesleyan, 11.13
42. Simpson, 11.10
45. Lakeland, 11.03
T46. Minnesota-Morris, 11.00
48. Northwestern, 10.98

Blocks/Set
6. Chelsea Lundgren, Northland senior, 1.36
7. Jacque Ray, UW Oshkosh senior, 1.36
9. Liz Amici, UW-Eau Claire sophomore, 1.29
18. Elise Schmid, Nebraska Wesleyan senior, 1.23
26. Cindy Cavanagh, Carthage sophomore, 1.17
27. Annie Eckhoff, Carleton senior, 1.17
32. Miranda Brannen, Benedictine freshman, 1.15
35. Claire Hermie, Monmouth freshman, 1.15
36. Amy Kujak, St. Mary’s sophomore, 1.13
41. Alyssa Brocco, Fontbonne senior, 1.11
12. UW Oshkosh, 2.58
14. Northwestern, 2.47
15. Carleton, 2.43
20. Hamline, 2.33
T22. Saint Benedict, 2.31
24. Carthage, 2.30
25. Benedictine, 2.30
28. UW-Eau Claire, 2.25
29. Wisconsin Lutheran, 2.24
30. St. Catherine, 2.24
34. Nebraska Wesleyan, 2.22
38. Dominican, 2.19
T41. Martin Luther, 2.14
47. Maranatha, 2.12

Digs/Set
6. Erin Reed, Millikin freshman, 6.74
12. Sara Heim, Ripon senior, 6.46
15. Miranda Reichert, Northland senior, 6.27
T17. Kristin Mortensen, Dubuque sophomore, 6.21
T17. Kaitlin Wachler, St. Thomas freshman, 6.21
21. Mary Parker, Beloit senior, 6.14
22. Erika Goldsmith, Nebraska Wesleyan junior, 6.10
27. Heidi Larsen, Hamline junior, 6.02
28. Chelsea Greiger, Central sophomore, 5.98
30. Christina Cahoon, UW Oshkosh junior, 5.86
31. Megan Simon, Fontbonne senior, 5.86
33. Samantha Brown, U of Chicago freshman, 5.83
40. Channing Merchant, Wartburg senior, 5.63
41. Tara Dean, Rockford junior, 5.60
44. Samantha Pagel, Maranatha junior, 5.52
46. Kathy Collingbourne, Milwaukee School of Engineering, 5.45
48. Dani Tanaka, Augsburg senior, 5.44
T49. Eileen Hickey, Illinois College, 5.41
5. St. Thomas, 22.40
6. Beloit, 22.00
10. Millikin, 20.88
11. Westminster, 20.77
15. Northland, 20.27
16. Dubuque, 20.26
20. Nebraska Wesleyan, 19.71
22. Luther, 19.43
27. U of Chicago, 18.98
32. Coe, 18.80
36. Elmhurst, 18.59
38. Washington, 18.55
41. Carroll, 18.42
44. Rockford, 18.34
45. St. Catherine, 18.32
50. Wheaton, 18.20

Hitting Percentage
3. Laura Dudgeon, Cornell senior, .469
11. Emily Hagen, Illinois Wesleyan senior, .413
23. Caitlin O’Connell, North Park junior, .390
25. Emily Cardwell, North Central (IL) freshman, .387
29. Jill Osborne, St. Thomas junior, .384
37. Torey DeLozier, Maranatha freshman, .371
39. Stephanie Boehm, Concordia (WI) junior, .370
46. Sarah Sulentic, St. Norbert junior, .361
48. Elise Schmid, Nebraska Wesleyan senior, .358
7. North Central, .289
9. Cornell, .287
18. Illinois Wesleyan, .263
20. St. Olaf, .258
25. Washington, .251
29. St. Norbert, .249
32. St. Mary’s, .245
36. Carthage, .238
42. Nebraska Wesleyan, .236
46. Carleton, .234

Kills/Set
3. Torey DeLozier, Maranatha freshman, 4.72
7. Kim Smisek, St. Olaf junior, 4.56
8. Michelle Madeja, Carthage sophomore, 4.50
T13. Kelly Ricketts, Knox sophomore, 4.33
19. Kayla Leyden, Benedictine senior, 4.14
21. Hannah Richards, Principia senior, 4.03
30. Katelin Feyerabend, Greenville junior, 3.85
33. Kelly Lovett, Carleton junior, 3.80
34. Brittanie Paulus, Lakeland senior, 3.79
41. Chelsie Christofferson, UW-Superior senior, 3.74
44. Tasha Simmons, Hamline senior, 3.73
T49. Laura Dudgeon, Cornell senior, 3.67
T49. Jackie Schall, Webster senior, 3.67
2. Washington, 14.80
10. Carthage, 13.24
13. UW Oshkosh, 13.06
14. Central, 13.06
19. St. Mary’s, 12.85
21. St. Olaf, 12.75
22. UW-Whitewater, 12.73
23. Cornell, 12.73
T28. UW-Eau Claire, 12.50
32. Luther, 12.43
33. St. Catherine, 12.42
34. Illinois Wesleyan, 12.41
36. Nebraska Wesleyan, 12.33
T37. Concordia (MN), 12.30
T37. Simpson, 12.30
44. Gustavus, 12.26
46. Hamline, 12.24
48. Saint Benedict, 12.19

Winning Percentage
T1. UW Oshkosh, 1.000
T12. North Central, .923
T17. Carthage, .909
T26. St. Olaf, .857
T32. Washington, .846
T36. St. Thomas, .833
T36. UW-Eau Claire, .833
T36. Nebraska Wesleyan, .833
T36. Illinois Wesleyan, .833

-Ricky Nelson

#1 Oshkosh survives first test

As you probably already saw and/or heard, No. 1 UW Oshkosh downed No. 12 UW-Whitewater, 3-1, in front of a nice crowd at Kolf Sports Center – which was like a sauna, by the way – tonight. Oshkosh (15-0, 3-0 WIAC) won its 23rd consecutive home match and is now in the driver’s seat for the WIAC regular-season title.

The Titans got back on track after getting handled quit easily in Set 3 and being down 8-2 in Set 4. Oshkosh stormed to a 15-14 Set-4 lead, and Whitewater could only get five sideouts the rest of the way.

If you didn’t know, you do now – Oshkosh has a freshman outside hammer named Al Bagin. To me she was the game-changer, along with fellow outside Katie Beining. Those two put on a show in spurts. Not to be outdone, Whitewater outsides Keri Klotzbuecher and Sofia Sanchez had some swings where it was a good thing there were not any Oshkosh players under the ball because they would probably be out for a while.

Besides Set 3, when Whitewater (9-4, 1-2 WIAC) was like a machine, Oshkosh showed why it’s No. 1. Not the best match in terms of ball control, and there were some tentative tips, but the Titans got out of the gym with a no-doubter in the first match with the national bulls-eye on their backs thanks to good net D, the outside swingers and the best libero in the country, Christina Cahoon. Why teams test her passing skills is beyond me.

In summation, it was a nice chapter of a fierce rivalry in which the home team finally won. Both teams displayed why they are national contenders. If the Warhawks can replicate what they did in Set 3, they’ll be at nationals. Their setter, Alyse Karls, was outstanding tonight.

-Ricky Nelson

Last Team Standing: 4 remaining unbeatens

When I started the list, I should have included Vassar and Springfield. But both have since lost.
Scratch LVC and MCLA from the list of six finalists.
By my count (let me know if I missed a team) we’re down to five undefeated teams in all of D-III. Here are the contenders for 2009’s Last Team Standing:

UW Oshkosh (19-0), WIAC
Last week for UWO:
9/23 vs. UW-Whitewater (9-3) Won, 3-1
9/25 vs. Loras (4-6) Won, 3-0
9/25 vs. UW-Stout (8-5) Won, 3-1
9/26 vs. St. Norbert (10-4) Won, 3-1
9/26 vs. Simpson (5-5) Won, 3-0
(9/25-26 matches @ UW-Platteville)
This week for UWO:
9/30 @ UW-Stevens Point (8-10)
10/2 vs. UW-Eau Claire (14-2)
10/3 vs. UW-Superior (9-8)

Texas-Dallas (10-0), ASC
Last week for UT-D:
9/22 vs. U of Dallas (5-7) Won, 3-0
9/25 @ Texas-Tyler (5-5) Won, 3-0
9/26 @ LeTourneau (3-7) Won, 3-0
This week for UT-D:
10/2 vs. McMurry (6-7)
10/3 vs. Hardin-Simmons (8-4)
10/3 vs. Howard Payne (5-8)
(All matches @ UT-Tyler)

Plymouth St. (14-0), LEC
Last week for PSU:
9/22 vs. Rivier (4-7) Won, 3-0
9/26 vs. Western Connecticut (9-3) Won, 3-0
9/26 vs. Southern Maine (0-5) Won, 3-0
This week for PSU:
10/2 vs. UMass Dartmouth (9-2)
10/2 @ Johnson & Wales (7-10)
10/3 vs. Western Connecticut (11-4)
10/3 vs. Suffolk (5-5)
(All matches @ Johnson & Wales Fall Classic)

Coast Guard (11-0), NEWMAC
Last week for USGCA:
9/22 Wellesley (3-2) Won, 3-0
9/26 Lesley (2-7) Won, 3-0
9/26 Bay Path (0-8) Won, 3-0
This week for USGCA:
9/29 vs. MIT (11-4)
10/3 @ Salve Regina (5-9)
10/3 vs. Eastern Connecticut (6-7)

Lebanon Valley (10-1), Commonwealth
Last week for LVC:
9/22 @ Widener (9-5) Lost, 3-1

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (9-1), MASCAC
Last week for MCLA:
9/23 @ Bay Path (0-8) Won, 3-0
9/26 vs. Massachusetts Maritime (0-6) Won, 3-0
9/26 vs. Worcester St. (4-6) Lost, 3-0

-Ricky Nelson