The team working through a warm-up drill.
Head Coach Kari Eckheart (left) watching practice with assistants Mickey Haller (center) and Jen Thelemann (right).
Head Coach Kari Eckheart welcomed 20 players to campus on Wednesday, August 19 to begin pre-season practices for the 2009 season. The Gusties open regular season play with a contest against St. Olaf College at home on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 pm. Eckheart will build her squad around 11 letterwinners including senior captains Meghan Gehring and Tara Kramer.
Other returning letterwinners include sophomore Olivia Warren, sophomore Angela Ahrendt, junior Nicki Ainsworth, junior Samantha Broderius, sophomore Malea Noennig, junior Jenny Ewert, junior Janey Helland, and sophomores Katie Ness and Abby Roff.
The Gusties turned in one of the finest seasons in the program’s history last year posting a mark of 26-5 overall and finishing second in the MIAC with a mark of 9-2. The squad also earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.