2019 WIAC Volleyball Season Preview

Madison, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse volleyball team is projected to finish third in the 2019 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Preseason Poll released Wednesday, according to the league's head coaches and sports information directors.  UW-Eau Claire, winners of the regular-season and WIAC tournament title last season, is expected to capture the league title.  The Blugolds reached the 2018 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III semifinals.  

UW-Eau Claire is followed in the conference predictions by UW-Whitewater, UW-La Crosse, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout, UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls and UW-Platteville. 

Amber Dunn starts her third year as UW-La Crosse's head coach in 2019, leading the Eagles to a 38-20 (.655) overall and 11-3 (.786) WIAC record in her first two seasons.  She was named the 2017 WIAC Coach of the Year, finishing 22-7 overall and 7-0 in the conference as UW-La Crosse won the regular-season and conference tournament titles.  The Eagles advanced to the 2017 NCAA Division III Regional Semifinals. 

 

UW-La Crosse returns 13 letter winners in 2019 after finishing 16-13 overall and 4-3 in the WIAC a year ago.  Sophomore outside hitter Emma Lawrence of Benton (H.S.) was named to the 2018 All-WIAC First Team while junior defensive specialist/libero Julia Van Fleet of Muskego (H.S.) earned All-WIAC Defensive Team accolades.  Lawrence played in all 29 matches and 109 sets a year ago, leading UW-La Crosse in kills (318, 2.92 per set) and finishing second in points (336.0).  She was third in the WIAC in kills (318), fourth in kills per set (2.92) and ninth in points per set (3.08).  Lawrence recorded at least 10 kills in 20 matches. 

Van Fleet appeared in all 29 matches last season, leading the Eagles in digs (572, 5.30 per set) while finishing second in aces (34, 0.31 per set).  She was fourth in the WIAC in digs per set (5.30) and ninth in aces (0.31).  Van Fleet recorded double-digit digs in 26 matches.  

Senior setter Abbey Fox of Weston (Newman Catholic) along with junior middle blockers Elyse Weber of Tucson, Ariz. (Sabino) and Rhiana Pochman of Grantsburg (H.S.), junior defensive specialist Courtney Conway of La Crescent, Minn. (La Crosse Aquinas) and junior rightside hitter Laine Hoeffel of Woodbury, Minn. (East Ridge) all return in 2019.  Fox played in 26 matches in 2018, leading UW-La Crosse and finishing third in the WIAC in assists (875, 9.11 per set).  She was third on the team in digs (289, 3.01) and fourth in aces (27, 0.28). 

Weber played in two matches a year ago while Pochman appeared in 28 and finished third on the team in total blocks (40.0, 0.41 per set).  She was also fourth in kills (159, 1.64) and points (181.5, 1.87).  Conway was selected to the 2018 All-WIAC Sportsmanship Team after playing in all 29 matches and finishing fifth on the team in digs (211, 2.15). Hoeffel played in nine matches last season.  

Six sophomores return this year, including middle blockers Liz Lansink of Hutchinson, Minn. (H.S.) and Lauren Young of Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley), sophomore setter Emily Jenewein of Minneapolis, Minn. (Southwest), outside hitter Isabelle Jensen of Luck (H.S.), rightside hitter Meghan Paidar of Maple Grove, Minn. (H.S.) and defensive specialist/libero Sophie Quelle of McFarland (H.S.).  Lansink played in 25 matches last season, finishing second on the team in total blocks (52.0, 0.60 per set) while fifth in kills (122, 1.42) and aces (20, 0.23).  Young played in 13 matches in 2018, recording 36 kills, while Jenewein appeared in nine matches and finished second on the team in assists (159, 5.13). 

Jensen was in 13 matches a year ago while Paidar played in 10.  Quelle played in all 29 matches last season, finishing third for UW-La Crosse in aces (30, 0.29 per set) and fourth in digs (287, 2.73). 

UW-La Crosse opens its 2019 season at the Ithaca College (N.Y.) Bomber Invitational on August 30-31.  Click here for the complete 2018 schedule.