2013 St. Thomas Regional Guide

Also see the Elmhurst Regional Guide and the Calvin Regional Guide.

8 To Watch
Kelly Foley, St. Thomas junior middle
Taya Kockelman, Saint Benedict junior setter
Alexis Hartman, Wisconsin-Stevens Point junior setter
Ashley Peper, Augsburg sophomore opposite
Samantha North, Pacific Lutheran junior setter
Ramey Sieck, Wartburg senior setter
Kathleen O’Connor, Cornell senior outside
Krista Stoltz, Northwestern senior setter

Random Factoid
Most of the teams are very familiar with each other. For example, first-round opponents St. Thomas and Northwestern are eight miles apart. UNW played UW-Stevens Point thrice this year. UWSP played Saint Benedict. CSB played Augsburg. AC played Wartburg. WC played Cornell. And there were several other matches among those seven.

As for the West Region’s Pacific Lutheran, PLU is 1,638 miles from St. Thomas. The Lutes have never played five of the teams at the regional, but they are undefeated since 1980 against the other two — a whopping 1-0 against both Saint Benedict (2009) and UW-Stevens Point (2007).

Predicted St. Thomas Regional Final
St. Thomas over Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Predictions For The Other Regionals
Elmhurst Regional: Hope over Elmhurst
Calvin Regional: Calvin over Wittenberg
Trinity (Texas) Regional: Cal Lutheran over Trinity (Texas)
Emory Regional: Emory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Juniata Regional: Juniata over Eastern
Clarkson Regional: Clarkson over Richard Stockton
Williams Regional: Springfield over Roger Williams

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

The Schedule at Schoenecker Arena in Saint Paul, Minn.
NOV. 14 (times central)
12:30 p.m. #2 Saint Benedict (26-3) 3 vs. #7 Cornell (28-3) 0
3:00 p.m. #3 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (31-4) 3 vs. #6 Wartburg (26-11) 2
5:30 p.m. #4 Augsburg (28-4) 3 vs. #5 Pacific Lutheran (19-5) 1
8:00 p.m. #1 St. Thomas (28-2) 3 vs. #8 Northwestern (23-12) 1
NOV. 15
4:30 p.m. #2 Saint Benedict (27-3) 1 vs. #3 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (32-4) 3
7:00 p.m. #1 St. Thomas (29-2) 3 vs. #4 Augsburg (29-4) 1
NOV. 16
7:00 p.m. #1 St. Thomas (30-2) 1 vs. #3 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (33-4) 3

ST. THOMAS REGIONAL TEAM CAPSULES

No. 1 seed University of St. Thomas 28-2 (No. 1 Central; No. 4 AVCA)
Team Page Roster Schedule Stats
Location: Saint Paul, Minn.
Nickname: Tommies
Colors: Purple, gray
Enrollment: 6,336
Founded: 1885
Famous Alum: Ron Fowler, MLB co-owner
Key wins: Johns Hopkins (3-0); Wittenberg (3-1); UW-Eau Claire (3-0)(3-0); UW-Stevens Point (3-0); Wartburg (3-2)(3-0); Chicago (3-0); Saint Benedict (3-0)(3-2); Coe (3-0); Elmhurst (3-1); Augsburg (3-1); Northwestern (3-0).
Losses: Emory (2-3); Concordia-Moorhead (2-3).
All-Conference Players (MIAC): Junior middle Kelly Foley (Player of the Year); senior libero McKenna Reagan (1st, Co-Defensive Player of the Year); junior outside Jill Greenfield (1st); junior opposite Sara Atkinson (1st); senior middle Paige Brimeyer (1st).
All-Region Players (Central): Junior middle Kelly Foley (1st); senior libero McKenna Reagan (1st); junior outside Jill Greenfield (1st); junior opposite Sara Atkinson (1st); senior middle Paige Brimeyer (HM).

Team Leaders
Kills: Kelly Foley 332; Jill Greenfield 309; Sara Atkinson 224
Blocks: K. Foley 113, Mackenzie Piechowski 103; Paige Brimeyer 78
Assists: Maddie Reese 615; Katie Maher 540; McKenna Reagan 69
Digs: M. Reagan 529; J. Greenfield 367; Nicole Potts 251
Aces: M. Reese 23; J. Greenfield 21; N. Potts 21

Team Stats (national rank)
Hitting Percentage: .265 (11)
Kills/Set: 13.80 (4)
Blocks/Set: 2.57 (5)
Assists/Set: 12.80 (6)
Digs/Set: 16.54 (103)
Aces/Set: 1.12 (250+)

No. 2 seed College of Saint Benedict 26-3 (No. 4 Central; No. 6 AVCA)
Team Page Roster Schedule Stats
Location: St. Joseph, Minn.
Nickname: Blazers
Colors: Red, white
Enrollment: 2,049
Founded: 1913
Famous Alum: Elizabeth Hayden, former District Court judge
Key wins: UW-Stevens Point (3-0); Northwestern (3-0)(3-1); UW-Eau Claire (3-0)(3-1); Concordia-Moorhead (3-0); Augsburg (3-1).
Losses: Augsburg (0-3); St. Thomas (0-3)(2-3).
All-Conference Players (MIAC): Junior setter Taya Kockelman (1st); junior outside Lexi Rinde (1st); senior outside Lexi Alm (1st).
All-Region Players (Central): Junior setter Taya Kockelman (1st); junior outside Lexi Rinde (1st); senior outside Lexi Alm (1st).

Team Leaders
Kills: Lexi Rinde 328; Lexi Alm 300; Sophie Stangl 208
Blocks: Mary Franz 90; S. Stangl 56; Taya Kockelman 50
Assists: T. Kockelman 1066; Kathryn Gaydos 49; Chelsea Rachel 41
Digs: C. Rachel 349; Victoria Nass 332; L. Alm 330
Aces: L. Alm 54; C. Rachel 40; V. Nass 37

Team Stats (national rank)
Hitting Percentage: .244 (27)
Kills/Set: 14.21 (1)
Blocks/Set: 1.73 (107)
Assists/Set: 13.34 (1)
Digs/Set: 17.49 (59)
Aces/Set: 2.27 (68)

No. 3 seed University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 31-4 (No. 2 Midwest; No. 19 AVCA)
Team Page Roster Schedule Stats
Location: Stevens Point, Wis.
Nickname: Pointers
Colors: Purple, gold
Enrollment: 9,500
Founded: 1894
Famous Alum: Jordan Zimmermann, MLB player
Key wins: Concordia-Moorhead (3-0); Northwestern (3-1)(3-0)(3-1); Wartburg (3-2); UW-Whitewater (3-2)(3-1); UW-Eau Claire (3-0).
Losses: Saint Benedict (0-3); Augsburg (1-3); St. Thomas (0-3); UW-River Falls (2-3).
All-Conference Players (WIAC): Junior setter Alexis Hartman (Player of the Year); senior middle Allison Davis (1st): sophomore middle Emma Brunkhorst (1st); freshman outside Krista Loos (HM); sophomore libero Hannah Picel (All-Defensive Team); HC Abbey Sutherland (Coach of the Year).
All-Region Players (Midwest): Junior setter Alexis Hartman (1st); sophomore middle Emma Brunkhorst (1st); senior middle Allison Davis (HM).

Team Leaders
Kills: Emma Brunkhorst 424; Krista Loos 344; Allison Davis 291
Blocks: A. Davis 160; E. Brunkhorst 131; Alexis Hartman 88
Assists: A. Hartman 1309; Hannah Picel 75; Sarah Wildish 20
Digs: H. Picel 538; Marie Krengel 300; A. Hartman 267
Aces: A. Hartman 31; A. Davis 27; M. Krengel 25

Team Stats (national rank)
Hitting Percentage: .252 (20)
Kills/Set: 13.12 (24)
Blocks/Set: 2.69 (3)
Assists/Set: 12.07 (23)
Digs/Set: 15.67 (188)
Aces/Set: 1.20 (250+)

No. 4 seed Augsburg College 28-4 (No. 3 Central; No. 13 AVCA)
Team Page Roster Schedule Stats
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Nickname: Auggies
Colors: Maroon, gray
Enrollment: 3,822
Founded: 1869
Famous Alum: Lute Olson, former college basketball coach
Key wins: UMass Boston (3-1); UW-Stevens Point (3-1); Wartburg (3-0); Saint Benedict (3-0); UW-Eau Claire (3-0); Concordia-Moorhead (3-0).
Losses: Colorado College (2-3); UW-Eau Claire (1-3); St. Thomas (1-3); Saint Benedict (1-3).
All-Conference Players (MIAC): Sophomore opposite Ashley Peper (1st); senior outside Colleen Ourada (1st); senior setter Emily McCourt (1st); HC Jane Becker (Coach of the Year).
All-Region Players (Central): Sophomore opposite Ashley Peper (1st); senior outside Colleen Ourada (1st); senior setter Emily McCourt (1st); HC Jane Becker (Coach of the Year).

Team Leaders
Kills: Ashley Peper 476; Colleen Ourada 401; Taylor Trautman 183
Blocks: T. Trautman 81; C. Ourada 65; A. Peper 50
Assists: Emily McCourt 1180; Courtney Lemke 71; A. Peper 46
Digs: Katelyn Berens 531; C. Ourada 285; Mackensie Menke 279
Aces: E. McCourt 25; C. Ourada 24; two tied with 20

Team Stats (national rank)
Hitting Percentage: .251 (23)
Kills/Set: 14.05 (2)
Blocks/Set: 1.89 (62)
Assists/Set: 13.03 (4)
Digs/Set: 17.29 (66)
Aces/Set: 1.20 (250+)

No. 5 seed Pacific Lutheran University 19-5 (No. 4 West; No. 15 AVCA)
Team Page Roster Schedule Stats
Location: Tacoma, Wash.
Nickname: Lutes
Colors: Black, gold
Enrollment: 3,195
Founded: 1890
Famous Alum: Marv Harshman, former college basketball coach
Key wins: Wittenberg (3-0); Ohio Northern (3-0); Concordia-Moorhead (3-2); Puget Sound (3-1).
Losses: Calvin (2-3); Wartburg (0-3); Puget Sound (1-3)(2-3); Washington-St. Louis (3-2).
All-Conference Players (NWC): Junior setter Samantha North (Player of the Year); junior libero Amber Aguiar (1st, Libero of the Year); senior middle Bethany Huston (2nd); senior outside Haley Urdahl (HM); junior middle Amy Wooton (HM); HC Kevin Aoki (Coach of the Year).
All-Region Players (West): Junior setter Samantha North (1st); senior middle Bethany Huston (1st); junior libero Amber Aguiar (HM); junior middle Amy Wooton (HM).

Team Leaders
Kills: Lucy Capron  215; Haley Urdahl 213; Bethany Huston 207
Blocks: B. Huston 89; Amy Wooten 64; Allison Wood 41
Assists: Samantha North 947; Amber Aguiar 67; L. Capron 17
Digs: A. Aguiar  576; L. Capron 322; H. Urdahl 298
Aces: L. Capron 39; H. Urdahl  36; Aubrey Larion 27

Team Stats (national rank)
Hitting Percentage: .182 (150)
Kills/Set: 12.57 (51)
Blocks/Set: 1.90 (65)
Assists/Set: 11.71 (40)
Digs/Set: 19.20 (14)
Aces/Set: 2.01 (144)

No. 6 seed Wartburg College 26-11 (No. 6 Central; RV AVCA)
Team Page Roster Schedule Stats
Location: Waverly, Iowa
Nickname: Knights
Colors: Orange, black
Enrollment: 1,775
Founded: 1852
Famous Alum: Don Denkinger, former MLB umpire
Key wins: Pacific Lutheran (3-0); Dominican (3-0); Concordia-Moorhead (3-1); Coe (3-1)(3-0).
Losses: Calvin (1-3); Puget Sound (1-3); UW-La Crosse (2-3); St. Thomas (2-3)(0-3); Augsburg (0-3); UW-Stevens Point (2-3); Elmhurst (1-3); UW-Whitewater (1-3); Carthage (1-3); Cornell (1-3).
All-Conference Players (IIAC): Senior setter Ramey Sieck (Most Valuable Player); senior outside Maddie Forsyth (1st); junior middle Bailey Wilson (1st); senior middle Kelly Niemann (1st); co-HC Jennifer Walker and Doug Frazell (Co-Coaches of the Year).
All-Region Players (Central): Senior setter Ramey Sieck (1st); junior middle Bailey Wilson (1st).

Team Leaders
Kills: Maddie Forsyth 399; Bailey Wilson 353; Kelly Niemann 323
Blocks: B. Wilson 101; K. Niemann 74; Ramey Sieck 64
Assists: R. Sieck 1206; Marissa Shinstine 76; Jaime Farley 44
Digs: M. Shinstine 529; R. Sieck 377; J. Farley 285
Aces: K. Bown 73; R. Sieck 46; B. Wilson 33

Team Stats (national rank)
Hitting Percentage: .225 (49)
Kills/Set: 12.54 (59)
Blocks/Set: 1.98 (52)
Assists/Set: 10.99 (92)
Digs/Set: 16.77 (93)
Aces/Set: 1.85 (206)

No. 7 seed Cornell College 28-3 (No. 6 Midwest; No. 20 AVCA)
Team Page Roster Schedule Stats
Location: Mount Vernon, Iowa
Nickname: Rams
Colors: Purple, white
Enrollment: 1,197
Founded: 1853
Famous Alum: William Taylor, former FDIC chairman
Key wins: Randolph-Macon (3-0); Wartburg (3-1).
Losses: Washington-St. Louis (1-3); Coe (2-3); Emory (2-3).
All-Conference Players (MWC): Senior outside Kathleen O’Connor (Player of the Year); junior libero Kylea Weber (1st); junior middle Taylor Dicus (1st); junior middle Katie Sickelka (2nd); HC Jeff Meeker (Coach of the Year).
All-Region Players (Midwest): Senior outside Kathleen O’Connor (1st); junior libero Kylea Weber (1st); junior middle Taylor Dicus (HM).

Team Leaders
Kills: Kathleen O’Connor 429; Taylor Dicus 273; Jessica Noble 169
Blocks: T. Dicus 124; K. O’Connor 71; Katie Sickelka 65
Assists: Kelsey Gailot 523; Katherine Devlin 478; Sabrina Hargis 105
Digs: Kylea Weber 607; K. O’Connor 375; J. Noble 252
Aces: K. Devlin 46; K. O’Connor 43; K. Weber 38

Team Stats (national rank)
Hitting Percentage: .231 (40)
Kills/Set: 12.88 (34)
Blocks/Set: 2.24 (18)
Assists/Set: 11.70 (95)
Digs/Set: 18.11 (38)
Aces/Set: 2.17 (83)

No. 8 seed University of Northwestern 23-12 (NR Central; NR AVCA)
Team Page Roster Schedule Stats
Location: Roseville, Minn.
Nickname: Eagles
Colors: Purple, gold
Enrollment: 2,981
Founded: 1902
Famous Alum: Henry Charles Smith, music conductor
Key wins: Millikin (3-2); UW-Eau Claire (3-2); Concordia-Moorhead (3-0).
Losses: Concordia-Moorhead (2-3); Saint Benedict (0-3)(1-3); UW-Stevens Point (1-3)(0-3)(1-3); Bethel (0-3); Gustavus Adolphus (2-3); UW-Eau Claire (0-3); UW-Whitewater (1-3); Minnesota Morris (2-3); St. Thomas (0-3).
All-Conference Players (UMAC): Senior setter Krista Stoltz (Player of the Year); junior middle Cari Miller (1st); sophomore outside Kendra Korporal (1st); senior libero Lexi Bertsch (1st, Defensive Player of the Year); junior outside Lizzy Potratz (HM); sophomore middle Faith Vander Galien (HM); junior outside Hallie Mueth (HM).
All-Region Players (Central): Senior setter Krista Stoltz (HM).

Team Leaders
Kills: Cari Miller 301; Kendra Korporal 289; Lizzy Potratz 276
Blocks: C. Miller 144; Faith Vander Galien 71; L. Potratz 63
Assists: Krista Stoltz 1398; L. Potratz 43; Lexi Bertsch 27
Digs: L. Bertsch 591; L. Potratz 345; K. Korporal 269
Aces: K. Stoltz 30; Hallie Mueth 29; C. Miller 29

Team Stats (national rank)
Hitting Percentage: .221 (53)
Kills/Set: 13.36 (23)
Blocks/Set: 2.19 (24)
Assists/Set: 12.47 (19)
Digs/Set: 16.19 (160)
Aces/Set: 1.33 (250+)

-Ricky Nelson