Release by Laura Johnson, Sports Information Intern
ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus volleyball team is set to play in the Sandy Schumacher Tournament at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire today and tomorrow. The Gusties enter this weekend’s matches 15-4 overall and 6-1 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after a 3-1 victory over Macalester College on Wednesday. Today the Gusties will play back-to-back matches against No. 21 UW-Oshkosh followed by No. 22 UW-Eau Claire. On Saturday, the Gusties will face UM-Morris and No. 24 Northwestern to wrap up the UW-Eau Claire Tournament.
The Gusties enter today’s match on a two-game winning streak after claiming a four-set victory over Macalester on Wednesday. The individual performances for Gustavus can’t go unnoticed. Brittany Luethmers (So., Prior Lake, Minn.) was a constant presence on the back line with a career-high 37 digs. Nora Holtan (So., Rochester, Minn.) led the offense with a career-high of 60 assists and leads the MIAC averaging 10.07 assists per set. After adding 14 kills against Macalester, Lauren Hanson (So., Redwood Falls, Minn.) leads the Gustie offense with 245 kills (3.45 per set, 4th/MIAC).
UW-Oshkosh most recently shut out UW-Eau Claire 3-0 at the Kolf Sports Center. Carly Lemke led the offense with 12 kills, Tina Elstner had 21 digs, and Lexi Thiel posted 36 assists. Elstner leads the team with 237 kills (3.16 per set) and holds the backline with 212 digs (2.83 per set). Thiel continues to contribute to the offense with 722 assists (9.76 per set). UW-Oshkosh enters this weekend’s matches 17-4 overall.
UW-Eau Claire enters this weekend second in the WIAC and 18-4 overall. The match against UW-Oshkosh resulted in the Blugolds’ first WIAC loss. Madison Surprise led the backline and offense with 15 digs and 21 assists. Heather Sawchuk and Mackenzee Pierog equally contributed to the offense with seven kills each. Sawchuk leads the offense with 315 kills (4.20 per set). Talia Jaskulske is a key contributor to the Blugolds’ defense with 309 digs (4.09 per set). Emma Richter delivers scoring opportunities with 395 assists (6.81 per set).
UM-Morris most recently swept Crown College and Bethany Lutheran College giving it an overall record of 9-10 while remaining undefeated in the UMAC (4-0). Juniors Marissa Ekness and Katie Reitsma were recently honored for achieving career milestones of 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs, respectively. Ekness leads the team offense with 341 kills (4.95 per set). Layne Hermann has been a key contributor to the Cougars’ offense with 675 assists (9.78 per set). On the back line, Katie Reitsma leads the team with 424 digs (6.58 per set).
Northwestern enters this weekend with an overall record of 21-3 and is currently on a seven-game winning streak. Lindsey Peterson leads the offense with 366 kills and averages 4.41 per set. Kaelyn Kilbo is the team’s primary setter averaging 5.33 per set. Jackie Doering leads the defense with 371 digs and averages 4.82 per set.