|
|
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Brian Schaefer
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Volleyball
Ph: 920-424-1392
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WISCONSIN VOLLEYBALL CONFERENCE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD THIS WEEKEND IN LA CROSSE
La Crosse, WI (April 3, 2008) - The Wisconsin Volleyball Conference will conclude its regular season schedule and hold its 16th annual WVC State Championship this weekend (April 4-5) in La Crosse. A total of 11 different colleges and universities will be competing for two separate WVC men's volleyball titles.
Lakeland College and UW-Oshkosh currently sit tied in the WVC standings with identical 11-1 records going into the championship. UW-Whitewater follows in third at 8-4, UW-La Crosse in fourth at 7-4, UW-Platteville in fifth at 5-6, Marquette University in sixth at 4-8, Carthage College in seventh at 3-9, UW-Stout in eighth at 3-8 and UW-Stevens Point in ninth at 0-11.
Lakeland College is the returning 2007 regular season and tournament WVC champions, their first titles in team history. The Muskies, who claimed a national runner-up finish last year, are led by left side hitter Matt Martin, the reigning WVC most valuable player.
Lakeland College is strong across the net, returning WVC First Team middle blockers Jared Rohland and Avdo Omerbegovic and Honorable Mention outside hitter Joe Julkowski Last season, Martin and Rohland were named NIRSA Division I First-Team All-American and setter Matt Clemens received a second-team nod. Martin was also named an All-American Honorable Mention selection in 2006.
UW-Oshkosh, the two-time defending NIRSA Division I national champions, look to improve on their conference leading sixth WVC state championship. The Titans claimed titles in 1997-2000, 2004 and 2006 and are led by returning WVC First Team selections John Erickson (right side hitter), Danny Hessling (middle blocker) and Nathan Sederberg (left side hitter). Aaron Wayne, the 2006 WVC Libero of the Year patrols the back court for the Titans.
After reaching the title game of the NIRSA Division I national championship for the third consecutive time last season, Erickson was named an Honorable Mention All-American and Wayne was named the National Libero of the Year. In 2006, both Sederberg and Wayne were named to the All-American Second-Team squad.
Marquette University looks to regain its' hold on the WVC state championship after winning the NIRSA Division I national title in 2005 after sweeping both the WVC regular season and state tournament titles.
Known for their tenacious defense, the Golden Eagles are led first by the net play of middle blocker Matt Lane, a WVC First-Team honoree last season. Marquette University's offensive is anchored by outside hitters Rick Meyer and Mike Russ and right side hitter John Gasteiner. The Golden Eagles are three-time WVC State Champions, also winning the title in 1996 and 2002.
UW-Whitewater, returning to the national tournament this season after a one-year hiatus, looks to first capture its third WVC State Championship. The Warhawks have returned to the national scene with a strong core of upperclassmen leadership led by 2006 WVC First Team left side hitter Tim Seidel and 2007 WVC Honorable Mention left side hitter Mike Ziegel.
UW-Whitewater, who last won WVC championships in 1993 and 1994, rely on the hitting of 2007 WVC Freshmen of the Year and First Team middle blocker Derek Walters and right side hitter Steve Sikora. Libero Steve Tobin possesses great ball control on defense and in serve receive for the Warhawks.
UW-La Crosse hopes to ride the momentum of hosting the WVC State Championship to a title this season after
winning their only crown in Mitchell Hall in 2001. Left side hitter Charlie Veldre, a 2007 NIRSA Division II All-American Honorable Mention and WVC First-Team selection is the heart and soul of the Eagles' team.
Newcomer Eric Neuens runs UW-La Crosse's offense from the setting position with experienced players Alex Cloutier (right side hitter) and J.D. Shaw (libero) guiding the team on offense and defense, respectively.
UW-Platteville, who won the 1995 WVC State Championship, has played a lot of volleyball this season getting ready for a shot at the title. Helping the Pioneers pick up five conference wins this seasons are middle blocker Mike Annable, left side hitter Dan Eldred and libero Dan Louchbaum. In a five-game win over Marquette University Louchbaum scooped up 44 digs.
Carthage College, which returns to the WVC Division I after a three-year hiatus has relied on youth this season. Freshmen middle blocker Mike Habura, freshmen left side hitter Mike Greffly and sophomore left side hitter Keith Motycka are the team leaders for the Red Men.
UW-Stout, in only its second season in the WVC has racked up three wins in conference, including beating UW-Platteville for the first time in school history. The Blue Devils rely on the services of setter Jake Butler and freshmen right side hitter Scott Evers.
UW-Stevens Point will be looking for its first conference win of the season after narrow defeats to UW-Stout and UW-Platteville. Loren Miller runs the Pointers' offense from the setting position.
The WVC has developed into the most dominating league in the nation, winning the last three NIRSA Division I national titles and having five out of six teams in the finals during those years. The NIRSA Division II also consistently has WVC teams in the hunt for the national championship with UW-La Crosse finishing 9th last season and UW-Stevens Point 3rd in 2005.
In 2008, Lakeland College, Marquette University, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater will represent the WVC in the NIRSA Division I tournament and Carthage College, UW-La Crosse, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout will compete in the NIRSA Division II.
The WVC also has a junior varsity division led by six-time regular season and five-time WVC State Championship UW-Oshkosh. The Titans have placed third or better the last three years at the NIRSA Division III national championship and are led by the NIRSA Division III Libero of the Year Jim Hall.
Northland Baptist Bible College, Lakeland College II and Marquette University II expect to present the stiffest challenge for the Titans. Other teams in the WVC junior varsity state championship are Northland Baptist Bible College II, UW-Fox Valley, UW-Platteville II, UW-Oshkosh III and UW-Whitewater II.
Friday and early Saturday action will finish off the WVC regular season schedule with playoffs starting at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. The junior varsity championship is slated for 3:30 p.m. and the men's Division I title decided at 5:30 p.m. The WVC will also host eight women's club teams from around Wisconsin with their state championship game slated for 4:30 p.m.
|
|
|
|
|
