Transy is Coaches Pick to Claim Second Consecutive HCAC Volleyball Crown
2011 Composite Volleyball Schedule (click here)
GREENWOOD, IN – The Transylvania University volleyball team has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2011 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship. In a poll of the ten HCAC head coaches, the Pioneers received a total of 96 points and seven first place votes.
The College of Mount St. Joseph placed second in the poll with 84 points and two first place votes, while Hanover College is picked to finish third in the conference standings this fall with 74 points. Bluffton University (71 points), Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (65, one first place vote), Anderson University (50), Defiance College (45), Manchester College (32), Franklin College (22), and Earlham College (11) round out the poll.
The Pioneers are coming off a 26-8 season and 8-1 conference record in 2010, claiming a share of their first conference championship. Transy fell in the HCAC Tournament championship match to Mount St. Joseph, ending their season.
Coach Dale’s Pioneers look to be a formidable opponent once again in a highly competitive HCAC. Transy returns two All-HCAC selections, after losing the conference’s Most Valuable Defensive Player (Sara Sams) to graduation. Senior Rebecca Luking (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) and sophomore Katie Ash (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) return to lead the Pioneers effort after earning All-HCAC honors in 2010.
Luking saw action in 34 matches last year, recording a league-high 1,317 assists while chipping in 258 digs and a team-high 69 service aces. Ash added 351 kills and 424 digs as a freshman, ranking second on the team in both categories.
Mount St. Joseph finished alongside Transy at the top of the standings last season with an 8-1 conference mark and a 22-11 record overall. The Lions will look to contend for their twelfth conference volleyball championship this season behind junior Jaclyn Stenger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) and senior Kat Roedig (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley). Stenger earned First-Team All-HCAC honors last season after leading the Lions to the HCAC Tournament Championship. Stenger led the HCAC in digs (541) last season and also added 31 service aces. Roedig will look to fill the void left by HCAC Most Valuable Player Jamie Grauvogel this fall. Roedig contributed 281 kills, 45 service aces, and 54 blocks as a junior.
Hanover finished fourth last fall with a 5-4 conference record and posted an overall record of 21-12. The Panthers return 2010 First-Team All-HCAC member Abby Merritt (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) to the squad. Merritt blasted a team-high 359 kills and added 295 digs in 33 matches as a junior.
The 2011 volleyball season is scheduled to open on September 1.
Players to Watch
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Anderson |
Taylor Cox |
Senior |
Setter |
Cadiz, Ind./Shenandoah |
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Taylor Stone |
Sophomore |
MH |
Muncie, Ind./Delta |
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Stephanie Weinman |
Junior |
OH |
Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central |
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Allee Donaghy |
Senior |
Libero |
Ossian, Ind./Norwell |
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Bluffton |
Nicole Wood |
Senior |
OH |
Tiffin, Ohio/Hopewell-Loudon |
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Jenna Eshleman |
Senior |
OH |
Landisville, Penn./Hempfield |
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Courtney Zimmerman |
Senior |
MH |
Leesburg, Ohio/Fairfield |
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Heather Schierer |
Junior |
Libero |
Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry |
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Bethany Behnfeldt |
Sophomore |
MH |
Napoleon, Ohio/H.S. |
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Defiance |
Marlea Rolander |
Senior |
MB |
Napoleon, Ohio/H.S. |
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Jessica Tietje |
Senior |
MB |
Deshler, Ohio/Patrick Henry |
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Meghan Hinds |
Senior |
OH |
Portland, Mich./H.S. |
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Chelsea Ludeman |
Sophomore |
RS |
Napoleon, Ohio/H.S. |
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Earlham |
Andrea Thompson |
Senior |
OH |
McCordsville, Ind./Muncie Burris |
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Ashlee Heberger |
Junior |
Setter |
Fairport, NY/H.S. |
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Franklin |
Chelsea Caldwell |
Senior |
Setter |
Fountaintown, Ind./Morristown |
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Whitney Moore |
Senior |
OH |
Shelbyville, Ind./H.S. |
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Hanover |
Abby Merritt |
Senior |
OH |
Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North |
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Sarah Quebe |
Junior |
MH |
Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian |
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Kirsten Brandvik |
Senior |
MH |
Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North |
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Stacey Sorgius |
Sophomore |
Setter |
Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian |
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Manchester |
Amanda Dickman |
Senior |
MH |
Batesville, Ind./Oldenburg Academy |
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Stacie Hoffman |
Junior |
MH |
Claypool, Ind./Tippecanoe Valley |
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Kelsie Fieler |
Sophomore |
OH |
Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills |
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The Mount |
Kat Roedig |
Senior |
MH |
Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley |
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Jaclyn Stenger |
Junior |
Libero |
Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills |
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Rose-Hulman |
Karah Hickman |
Senior |
MH |
Hobart, Ind./H.S. |
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Morgan Williams |
Senior |
MH |
Fenton, Mich./Powers Catholic |
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Anna Lewer |
Junior |
OH |
Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran |
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Leah Pelzel |
Senior |
S/OH |
Loveland, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame |
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Transylvania |
Rebecca Luking |
Senior |
Setter |
Louisville, Ky./Ballard |
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Blayke Herman |
Senior |
OH |
Louisville, Ky./Male |
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Katie Ash |
Sophomore |
OH |
Louisville, Ky./Assumption |
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Meghan Bowers |
Sophomore |
MB |
Louisville, Ky./Presentation |
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Melissa Sexton |
Sophomore |
OH |
Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart |
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