ST. PETER, Minn. – For the sixth time in program history and the first time since 2008, the Gustavus volleyball team is making an appearance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. The Gusties (27-2) received the No. 2 seed in the Whitewater, Wis. regional and are set to face the No. 7 seed University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (26-9) at 3 p.m. Thursday at Russell Arena.
Live online coverage of tomorrow’s match begins at 3 p.m.
GUSTAVUS LINKS: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
UW-EAU CLAIRE LINKS: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
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CRACKING THE NATIONAL POLL
For the first time since 2009 Gustavus has cracked the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 Poll. The most recent poll was released yesterday and the Gusties come in at No. 21 with a total of 253 points. Washington University-St. Louis is the No. 1 team in the nation with 1,555 points. Gustavus’s opponent, UW-Eau Claire, received 32 points, which is seven spots out of the Top 25.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
After going through the MIAC regular season schedule without a blemish at 11-0, Gustavus proved it was the best team in the league with a straight-set victory over Saint Mary’s University in the MIAC semifinals and then earned the conference playoff title with a four-set win over Bethel University.
UW-Eau Claire finished its WIAC regular season schedule with a 4-3 record and entered the league playoffs as the No. 4 seed. The Blugolds faced No. 5 seed UW-Stevens Point in the first round and were upset in five sets. Despite the early exit, UW-Eau Claire earned an at-large bid into the national tournament.
COMPATIBLE OPPONENTS
Although Gustavus and UW-Eau Claire have not faced each other this year, the two teams have faced many of the same teams. Here is a rundown of opponents both the Gusties and Blugolds have faced, and the results.
UW-Platteville: Gustavus lost 3-1, UW-Eau Claire won 3-0
UW-Stout: Gustavus won 3-2, UW-Eau Claire won 3-1
St. Olaf: Gustavus won 3-0, UW-Eau Claire won 3-1
Augsburg: Gustavus won 3-1, UW-Eau Claire lost 3-2
St. Thomas: Gustavus won 3-0, UW-Eau Claire won 3-0
Concordia: Gustavus won 3-2, UW-Eau Claire won 3-1, UW-Eau Clarie won 3-1
Saint Benedict: Gustavus won 3-2, UW-Eau Claire win 3-1
Saint Mary’s: Gustavus won 3-0, Gustavus won 3-0, Eau Claire lost 3-1
SCOUTING THE GUSTIES
Gustavus is currently riding a program record 27-match win streak and boasts four members on this year’s All-MIAC Team, including MIAC Coach-of-the-Year Rachelle Sherden. Middle hitter Alyssa Taylor (Sr., Trimont, Minn.) was named the MIAC Player-of-the-Year, while setter Nora Holtan (Fy., Rochester, Minn.) was awarded the MIAC Rookie-of-the-Year honor. Taylor leads the Gusties with a 3.08 kills per set average, a .346 attack percentage and a 1.13 blocks per set average. Holtan has handled the bulk of the setting responsibilities with an average of 8.92 assists per set and a .480 assist percentage. She has directed the Gusties to a team attack rate of .236 and leads the team with 31 service aces.
Joining Taylor and Holtan on the All-Conference Team are libero Brittany Luethmers (Fy., Prior Lake, Minn.) and right side hitter Taylor Trautman (Jr., Hutchinson, Minn.). Luethmers leads the Gusties on the back line, averaging 4.81 digs per set and has a receiving percentage of .955. The rookie libero also has 28 service aces, which are second most on the team. Trautman is a true all-around player as she averages 2.48 kills per set, including a .225 attack rate with 26 aces, 190 digs (1.90 per set) and 43 total blocks (0.43 per set).
SCOUTING THE BLUGOLDS
UW-Eau Claire has two players on its roster that were awarded WIAC All-Conference – Katrina Raskie (Jr., Weston, Wis.) and Jenna Smits (Sr., Green Bay, Wis.). Raskie, an outside hitter, finished the season as the Blugolds overall kill leader with 289 total, averaging 2.58 per set. Smits, a setter, averaged 10.54 assists per set and tallied 39 aces. Talia Jaskulske (So., Maplewood, Minn.) earned a spot on the WIAC All-Defensive Team, boasting an average of 4.85 digs per set.
Kelly Riesgraf (Sr., Chaska, Minn.) is the team’s leading defender at the net as she averages 0.81 blocks per set. Keagan Kinsella (Jr., Chanhassen, Minn.) is not far behind averaging 0.71 blocks per set. Second to Raskie in kills is Hannah Theisen (Sr., Rochester, Minn.), who averages 2.55 kills per set.
THE SERIES
Thursday’s match is the 18th meeting between the Gustavus and UW-Eau Claire volleyball programs. UW-Eau Claire leads the all-time series 11-6. The last meeting between the Gusties and Blugolds was on Sept. 5, 2014 in the Augsburg Tournament as the Blugolds won in straight sets 25-21, 25-13 and 25-17. Raskie posted a double-double with 10 kills and 17 digs for UW-Eau Claire, while Smits distributed 28 assists and dug out 13 attacks. Taylor paced the Gustie attack with seven kills. She also had three blocks. Gustavus last defeated UW-Eau Claire on Sept. 7, 2013 as the Gusties won in four sets at the Augsburg Tournament. In Gustavus’s last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008, UW-Eau Claire was also the opponent as the Blugolds knocked off the Gusties in straight sets in the opening round.
tough loss every team has their moments at the final tourney and Eau Claire had a few more than the Gusties this time around,
Certainly proud of all the accomplishments what a year to remember