2012 Elmhurst Regional Guide

Also see the 2012 St. Thomas Regional Guide

5 To Watch
Kelly Pang, Washington-St. Louis senior libero
Megan Reynolds, Elmhurst junior middle
Leanna Lillge, Wisconsin-Whitewater junior outside
Maren Loe, Chicago freshman outside
Candice Cuppini, Benedictine junior outside

Random Factoid
Five of the eight Elmhurst Regional teams – Washington-St. Louis, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Elmhurst, Benedictine, Mount St. Joseph – have double-digit NCAA tournament wins in their histories, compiling a combined 184-81 record. Twenty-three other programs in this year’s field have 10 or more NCAA Tournament wins.

Predicted Elmhurst Regional final
Washington-St. Louis over Elmhurst

Predictions for the other regionals
St. Thomas Regional: Saint Benedict over St. Thomas
Calvin Regional: Calvin over Hope
Cal Lutheran Regional: Cal Lutheran over Chapman
Christopher Newport Regional: Emory over Christopher Newport
Connecticut College Regional: Bowdoin over UMass Boston
Salisbury Regional: Eastern over Salisbury
Clarkson Regional: Cortland over Middlebury

Printable National Bracket
Interactive National Bracket
Digital D-III Volleyball Championship program

The Schedule at R.A. Faganel Hall in Elmhurst, Ill.
NOV. 9 (times central)
12:30 p.m. #4 Chicago (28-10) vs. #5 Benedictine (30-4)
3:00 p.m. #1 Washington-St. Louis (29-3) vs. #8 Mount St. Joseph (14-14)
5:30 p.m. #3 Wisconsin-Whitewater (25-11) vs. #6 Thomas More (26-5)
8:00 p.m. #2 Elmhurst (29-7) vs. #7 Webster (24-9)
NOV. 10
4:30 p.m. #1 Washington-St. Louis (30-3) vs. #4 Chicago (29-10)
7:00 p.m. #2 Elmhurst (30-7) vs. #3 Wisconsin-Whitewater (26-11)
NOV. 11
4:00 p.m. #1 Washington-St. Louis (31-3) vs. #2 Elmhurst (31-7)

ELMHURST REGIONAL TEAM CAPSULES

No. 1 seed Washington University-St. Louis (29-3, No. 2 in Central Region, No. 3 AVCA)
Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Nickname: Bears
Colors: Red, green
Enrollment: 7,283
Founded: 1853
Key Wins: DePauw (3-0), Cornell (3-0), Dominican (3-0), UW-Whitewater (3-0), Elmhurst (3-1), Otterbein (3-1), Concordia-Moorhead (3-0), Wittenberg (3-2), Calvin (3-2), Heidelberg (3-0), Rochester (3-0)(3-0), Webster (3-0), New York (3-0), Emory (3-2), Juniata (3-1), Chicago (3-1).
Losses: Hope (3-2), Chicago (3-2), Emory (3-1).
All-Conference Players (UAA): Senior OH Drew Hargrave (1st), senior L Kelly Pang (1st), senior S Marilee Fisher (1st), junior OH Meghan Byrne (2nd), junior MH Emily Tulloch (HM).
All-Region Players (Central): Drew Hargrave (1st), Kelly Pang (1st), Marilee Fisher (1st).

Team Stats
Kills/Set: 13.58
Hitting Percentage: .257
Assists/Set: 12.33
Blocks/Set: 1.68
Digs/Set: 18.33
Aces/Set: 1.89

Team Leaders
Kills: Drew Hargrave 388, Meghan Byrne 227, Emily Tulloch 214
Blocks: Jackie Nelligan 68, E. Tulloch 58, D. Hargrave 31
Assists: Marilee Fisher 957, Cassie Wang 150, Allison Zastrow 122
Digs: Kelly Pang 640, Tanya Marvi 318, M. Fisher 183
Aces: K. Pang 43, M. Fisher 28, A. Zastrow 26

No. 2 seed Elmhurst College (29-7, No. 1 in Midwest Region, No. 9 AVCA)
Location: Elmhurst, Ill.
Nickname: Bluejays
Colors: Blue, white
Enrollment: 3,400
Founded: 1871
Key Wins: Chicago (3-2)(3-1), Concordia-Moorhead (3-0), Millikin (3-1)(3-0), Carthage (3-2), Williams (3-0), Randolph-Macon (3-2), Wartburg (3-2), Cornell (3-0), Calvin (3-0), UW-Stevens Point (3-0), Wartburg (3-0), UW-Eau Claire (3-0).
Losses: Washington-St. Louis (3-1), Otterbein (3-0), UW-Whitewater (3-2)(3-2), Emory (3-1), Dominican (3-1), Hope (3-2).
All-Conference Players (CCIW): Junior MH Megan Reynolds (Player of the Year), senior OH Antonéya Veasy Smith (1st), junior MH Kaitlyn Wilks (1st), senior S Erin Thill (2nd), sophomore OH Sam Szarmach (2nd), junior RS Marci Novak (2nd), HC Julie Hall (Coach of the Year).
All-Region Players (Midwest): Megan Reynolds (1st), Kaitlyn Wilks (1st), Antonéya Veasy Smith (HM), Julie Hall (Coach of the Year).

Team Stats
Kills/Set: 12.89
Hitting Percentage: .242
Assists/Set: 11.85
Blocks/Set: 2.42
Digs/Set: 15.95
Aces/Set: 1.64

Team Leaders
Kills: Megan Reynolds 377, Antonéya Veasy Smith 336, Sam Szarmach 299
Blocks: M. Reynolds 157, Kaitlyn Wilks 85, Marci Novak 60
Assists: Erin Thill 915, Katie Rueffer 498, M. Novak 71
Digs: Hannah Lessen 404, M. Novak 357, Perrie Morgan 282
Aces: E. Thill 50, S. Szarmach 35, M. Novak 26

No. 3 seed Wisconsin-Whitewater (25-11, No. 2 in Midwest Region, No. 20 AVCA)
Location: Whitewater, Wis.
Nickname: Warhawks
Colors: Purple, white
Enrollment: 10,230
Founded: 1868
Key Wins: Concordia-Moorhead (3-0), Elmhurst (3-2)(3-2), UW-Eau Claire (3-2), Cornell (3-1), Millikin (3-2), UW-Stevens Point (3-1), Dominican (3-1).
Losses: Washington-St. Louis (3-0), Otterbein (3-2), St. Thomas (3-0), UW-Stevens Point (3-0), UW-La Crosse (3-2), Wartburg (3-2), UW-Platteville (3-1), Hope (3-0), Calvin (3-1), Edgewood (3-1), UW-Eau Claire (3-1).
All-Conference Players (WIAC): Junior OH Leanna Lillge (1st), sophomore L Kelsey Nobilio (1st, All-Defensive Team), sophomore MB Kristen Ruchti (1st), sophomore S Kim Frei (HM).
All-Region Players (Midwest): Leanna Lillge (1st), Kelsey Nobilio (1st).

Team Stats
Kills/Set: 13.51
Hitting Percentage: .201
Assists/Set: 12.53
Blocks/Set: 1.82
Digs/Set: 18.60
Aces/Set: 1.49

Team Leaders
Kills: Leanna Lillge 487, Kristen Ruchti 250, Brittney Langley 239
Blocks: K. Ruchti 115, Ariel Johnston 82, B. Langley 67
Assists: Kim Frei 1156, Heidi Buss 307, Kelsey Nobilio 93
Digs: K. Nobilio 774, L. Lillge 348, Chelsea Mutton 340
Aces: L. Lillge 34, K. Frei 28, two tied with 24

No. 4 seed University of Chicago (28-10, No. 5 in Midwest Region, No. 15 AVCA)
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Nickname: Maroons
Colors: Maroon, white
Enrollment: 5,134
Founded: 1890
Key Wins: Carthage (3-1), Mount Union (3-2), Benedictine (3-1), New York (3-1), Washington-St. Louis (3-2), Rochester (3-0), UW-Eau Claire (3-1).
Losses: Elmhurst (3-2)(3-1), Hope (3-0), Carthage (3-2), Heidelberg (3-2), Emory (3-0), Dominican (3-1), Millikin (3-2), Benedictine (3-1), Washington-St. Louis (3-1).
All-Conference Players (UAA): Senior MB Caroline Brander (1st), junior S Nikki DelZenero (1st), freshman OH Maren Loe (2nd), sophomore L Eirene Kim (2nd), senior MB Katie Trela (HM), junior RS Katie Huntington (HM), HC Vanessa Walby and AC’s Katie Pommier/Thom Guzi (Coaching Staff of the Year).
All-Region Players (Midwest): (None).

Team Stats
Kills/Set: 11.66
Hitting Percentage: .183
Assists/Set: 11.08
Blocks/Set: 1.81
Digs/Set: 15.89
Aces/Set: 1.71

Team Leaders
Kills: Maren Loe 421, Morgan Barry 278, Caroline Brander 264
Blocks: Katie Trela 94, C. Brander 80, M. Loe 68
Assists: Nikki DelZenero 1333, Eirene Kim 119, Ragine Graves 84
Digs: E. Kim 743, N. DelZenero 357, Samantha Brown 321
Aces: N. DelZenero 47, M. Loe 42, C. Brander 39

No. 5 seed Benedictine University (30-4, NR in Midwest Region, NR AVCA)
Location: Lisle, Ill.
Nickname: Eagles
Colors: Red, white
Enrollment: 3,825
Founded: 1887
Key Wins: Webster (3-0), MIT (3-0), Dominican (3-1)(3-2), Chicago (3-1).
Losses: Millikin (3-2), Chicago (3-1), Edgewood (3-2), UW-Stevens Point (3-0).
All-Conference Players (NAC): Junior OH Candice Cuppini (1st), junior S Abby Sattler (1st), junior MH Nicole Adams (1st), senior L Kara Zuro (2nd).
All-Region Players (Midwest): Nicole Adams (1st), Candice Cuppini (HM), Abby Sattler (HM).

Team Stats
Kills/Set: 12.36
Hitting Percentage: .208
Assists/Set: 11.49
Blocks/Set: 1.88
Digs/Set: 17.80
Aces/Set: 1.75

Team Leaders
Kills: Candice Cuppini 443, Nicole Adams 329, Molly Kovacich 224
Blocks: N. Adams 111, Mailani Burton 84, C. Cuppini 56
Assists: Abby Sattler 1201, M. Kovacich 87, Hannah Shepherd 27
Digs: Kara Zuro 408, M. Kovacich 345, A. Sattler 329
Aces: Jacki Kaluzny 46, Meagan Kmieciak 39, two tied with 29

No. 6 seed Thomas More College (26-5, NR in Great Lakes Region, NR AVCA)
Location: Crestview Hills, Ky.
Nickname: Saints
Colors: Blue, white
Enrollment: 1,390
Founded: 1921
Key Wins: Maryville (3-0), Mount St. Joseph (3-0).
Losses: Otterbein (3-1), Mount Union (3-1), Transylvania (3-1), Heidelberg (3-2), Thiel (3-2).
All-Conference Players (PAC): Senior S Tori Verville (Player of the Year), junior MH Tyler Deaton (1st), sophomore L Kelsey Castiglioni (2nd), senior OH Hannah Lietz (2nd), freshman MH Jessica Knaley (HM, Freshman of the Year), sophomore OH Felicity Britt (HM), HC John Spinney (Coach of the Year).
All-Region Players (Great Lakes): Tori Verville (HM).

Team Stats
Kills/Set: 13.54
Hitting Percentage: .217
Assists/Set: 11.85
Blocks/Set: 1.21
Digs/Set: 18.61
Aces/Set: 1.91

Team Leaders
Kills: Karsen Cronin 289, Jessica Knaley 233, Tyler Deaton 207
Blocks: J. Knaley 55, T. Deaton 49, Felicity Britt 29
Assists: Tori Verville 988, Natalie Lietz 147, Kelsey Castiglioni 43
Digs: K. Castiglioni 636, Christina Brackett-Newport 309, T. Verville 260
Aces: K. Castiglioni 46, Brittany Rohrkasse 45, C. Brackett-Newport 29

No. 7 seed Webster University (24-9, NR in Central Region, NR AVCA)
Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Nickname: Gorloks
Colors: Midnight blue, gold, white
Enrollment: 2,700
Founded: 1915
Key Wins: (None).
Losses: Benedictine (3-0), Defiance (3-0), Millikin (3-1)(3-1), Rose-Hulman (3-1), DePauw (3-0), Greenville (3-0), Washington-St. Louis (3-0), Hanover (3-2).
All-Conference Players (SLIAC): Sophomore OH Jenny Howard (Player of the Year), sophomore MH Sam Kersting (1st), sophomore OH Jordan Vehlewald (2nd), sophomore S Allie O’Toole (2nd), junior L Liz Abraham (HM), sophomore MH Emily Ratkewicz (HM), HC Merry Graf (Coach of the Year).
All-Region Players (Central): Sam Kersting (1st).

Team Stats
Kills/Set: 12.10
Hitting Percentage: .231
Assists/Set: 11.13
Blocks/Set: 2.46
Digs/Set: 14.97
Aces/Set: 1.49

Team Leaders
Kills: Sam Kersting 285, Jenny Howard 253, Jordan Vehlewald 188
Blocks: S. Kersting 130, Emily Ratkewicz 93, Lindsey Taylor 71
Assists: Allie O’Toole 585, Sami Murray 460, Victoria Jewell 43
Digs: J. Vehlewald 349, Liz Abraham 314, Megan Morrison 283
Aces: J. Vehlewald 33, A. O’Toole 32, S. Murray 20

No. 8 seed College of Mount St. Joseph (14-14, NR in Great Lakes Region, NR AVCA)
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Nickname: Lions
Colors: Blue, gold
Enrollment: 1,889
Founded: 1920
Key Wins: (None).
Losses: Otterbein (3-2)(3-0), Maryville (3-1), Heidelberg (3-0), Thomas More (3-0), Alma (3-2), Ohio Northern (3-0)(3-1), Wittenberg (3-1), Baldwin-Wallace (3-0), Indiana East (3-0), Rose-Hulman (3-0), DePauw (3-0), Centre (3-0).
All-Conference Players (HCAC): Junior MH Nicole Sherpensky (1st), junior OH Bethani Ritter (1st), senior L Jaclyn Stenger (1st), senior DS Michelle Woods (HM).
All-Region Players (Great Lakes): Nicole Sherpensky (HM).

Team Stats
Kills/Set: 11.68
Hitting Percentage: .143
Assists/Set: 10.55
Blocks/Set: 1.63
Digs/Set: 12.82
Aces/Set: 1.46

Team Leaders
Kills: Nicole Sherpensky 312, Bethani Ritter 271, Hannah Vanarsdall 260
Blocks: N. Sherpensky 97, Stephanie Chisholm 61, H. Vanarsdall 42
Assists: Janelle Davis 657, Melanie Monahan 323, Jaclyn Stenger 40
Digs: J. Stenger 385, Michelle Woods 206, J. Davis 165
Aces: B. Ritter 24, M. Woods 21, J. Davis 20

-Ricky Nelson