UNO Prepares for UMKC
Oct 18, 2011 | General, Volleyball
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The UNO volleyball team (4-21) returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 19, facing UMKC for a second time this season. The match is set for 6:30 p.m. start at Swinney Recreation Center in Kansas City, Mo., with live stats and live video available on OMavs.com.
Nebraska Omaha last took the court on Oct. 15 at Washburn, where the Lady Blues took a 3-1 win. Senior setter Emily Myers finished with 33 set assists and 16 digs for the night, marking her ninth double-double of the season. Myers' assist total moved her up to second all-time in school history for career assists, as she now has 4,008 over four years as a starter. Junior Natalie Ebke also had her team-leading 12th double-double of the year, totaling 18 kills and 11 digs. As a team, UNO outblocked WU seven to five, which was the 14th time in 2011 that the Mavs have outblocked an opponent.
UNO, which is in its first year as a reclassifying Division I institution, is guided by Head Coach Rose Shires, who is in her 22nd year at the helm of the Maverick program. In 2010, UNO finished with a record of 17-15 and had two All-MIAA honorees in third-team pick Kayla Uhing and honorable mention selection Ebke. Uhing has since rejoined the Mavericks as a student assistant in 2011, and Ebke is one of 10 returning letterwinners this year.
Scouting the UMKC Kangaroos
UMKC enters Wednesday's match with a record of 7-14 (1-10 Summit League). The Kangaroos picked up their first conference win with a 3-1 victory over Southern Utah on Sunday, snapping a seven-game losing streak. UNO leads the all-time series with UMKC, 4-2-1, but the 'Roos last took a 3-2 win on Sept. 21 in Omaha.
Mavericks Reclassify to Division I
Nebraska Omaha announced in March 2011 its plan to reclassify from NCAA Division II to Division I, beginning with the 2011-12 school year. UNO, which was previously a member of the MIAA, accepted an invitation to join The Summit League and will compete as a full-fledged member with a regular-season conference schedule in 2012-13.
Myers Reaches No. 2 On Career Assists Chart
Senior setter Emily Myers entered last weekend's roadtrip to Emporia State and Washburn ranked fourth in school history for career assists. With a combined 63 assists over the two matches, Myers moved up to No. 2 all-time, as she now has 4,008 assists to her credit as a four-year starter.
UNO's All-Time Assists Leaders
Player – Years -- Leaders
Amy Steffel -- 1993-96 -- 5,482
Emily Myers -- 2008-present -- 4,008
Pam Largen -- 1988-91 -- 3,984
Kylie Lebeda -- 2000-03 -- 3,951
Bethany Tygert -- 1997-2000 -- 3,380
Digging In
Senior Angie Reicks became UNO's all-time career digs leader on Oct. 1, passing former Maverick Kevin Campbell's 17-year-old record of 1,782 digs. Reicks, a native of Bellevue, Neb., entered the year ranked fifth in school history, and she now tops the charts with 1,865 in four seasons.
In addition, Reicks holds the school record for most digs in a match, as she totaled 46 against Central Missouri as a sophomore in 2009.
UNO's All-Time Digs Leaders
Player -- Years -- Digs
Angie Reicks -- 2008-present -- 1,865
Kevin Campbell -- 1991-94 -- 1,782
Tracy Ankeny -- 1997-00 -- 1,691
Amy Gradoville -- 1987-90 -- 1,604
Laura Monahan -- 1990-93 -- 1,524
Hanssen Hits Career High in Blocks, Moves Into Program Top 20
Senior middle blocker Brittany Hanssen led the Mavericks' effort to outblock Bradley 12-9 on Aug. 26, putting up a career-high eight blocks against the Braves. For the weekend, the Grand Island, Neb., native averaged 1.36 blocks per set, totaling 15 over three matches. Over her first three years at UNO, Hanssen had tied her previous career high of seven blocks on four occasions.
This season, Hanssen has averaged a team-leading 0.96 blocks per set, and she has eight matches with five or more stops. Against UMKC (Sept. 21), Hanssen achieved the first double-double of her career, totaling a career-best 10 blocks with 10 kills. She also recently broke into UNO's all-time career blocks list, now ranking 16th with 333 total blocks and needing just five more to advance to the top 15 in program history. Hanssen is also 10th with 316 block assists as a Maverick.
Earlier this month, Hanssen was named to the Lady Blues Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 1.12 blocks, 1.94 kills, 1.06 digs and 0.31 service aces per set. She led UNO in total blocks (18) and aces (five) over the four matches.
2011 Schedule Features Mix of Division I, Division II Talent
UNO's schedule for the 2011 season includes a slate of regional road matches and a mix of Division I teams and top Division II squads. Eight 2010 NCAA Tournament qualifiers highlight the list -- Wichita State and North Dakota State for Division I and Seattle Pacific, Central Missouri, Emporia State, Abilene Christian, Washburn and Nebraska-Kearney for Division II. UCM made an appearance in the national semifinals, while SPU, UNK and WU played through their regional semifinals.
In addition, five squads -- UCM (No. 2), WU (No. 5), UNK (No. 6), SPU (No. 13), ESU (No. 18) and ACU (No. 23) -- were included in the AVCA Division II Preseason Poll, and Wichita State received votes in the Division I poll.
Ebke Is Double Trouble
Junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke leads the Mavericks for double-doubles this season, as she has 12 to her credit. Ekbe posted a career-high 21-kill, 19-dig performance against Dallas Baptist (Oct. 1) at the Lady Blues Classic. Last Friday at Emporia State, she chipped in 10 kills and 15 digs, followed by a 17-kill, 11-dig effort at Washburn the following night. Ebke, who hails from Lincoln, Neb., has averaged 3.01 kills, 2.91 digs and 0.22 service aces per set.
Healthy Mach Granted Medical Redshirt by NCAA
Junior middle blocker Lizzy Mach was granted a medical redshirt year by the NCAA this summer, as she sat out the majority of the 2010 season with an ACL injury. After being named third-team All-MIAA in 2009, she suffered the season-ending knee injury just 11 matches in last year. As a sophomore in 2009, Mach averaged 2.11 kills, 0.60 blocks and 0.45 digs per set while ranking fourth on the team with 274 kills.
For her first year back in action, Mach has averaged 1.88 kills and 0.65 blocks per set. The Wahoo, Neb., native totaled a season-high 16 kills against Dallas Baptist (Oct. 1) and has reached double-figure kills on six occasions, including back-to-back matches at the Lady Blues Classic. At the net against UMKC on Sept. 21, Mach had a season-high seven blocks, helping the Mavs to their highest total team blocks mark (15.5) of the year.
Shires Enters 22nd Year as Winningest Coach in School History
Head Coach Rose Shires is the all-time winningest coach in 41 years of UNO volleyball history. In her 22nd year at the helm of the Maverick program, Shires owns a career record of 428-265 (.618), with the most wins of the five coaches who have served at Nebraska Omaha.
The 1996 AVCA National Coach of the Year and a two-time conference coach of the year, Shires has enjoyed tremendous success as UNO's guide. The 1996 campaign saw her lead UNO to a national championship as well as its first North Central Conference championship since 1987, followed by an Elite Eight appearance in 1997. In NCAA Tournament play, Shires' squads have combined for 11 appearances and a 10-10 postseason mark.
Shires is assisted by Associate Head Coach Karen Povondra, who is in her 22nd season with UNO, and Assistant Coach Tanya Cate, who is in her second year on the Maverick staff.
Kids Growing Up In the Heartland
The 2011 UNO roster is loaded with local talent, as 14 of the 17 players listed hail from nine Nebraska towns. Two pairs of student-athletes also come from the same high school programs -- senior middle blocker Brittany Hanssen and freshman setter Bailey Baxter are both products of Grand Island Central Catholic, while junior middle blocker Lizzy Mach and freshman middle blocker Alyssa Stanek both played at Bishop Neumann in Wahoo.
UNO Welcomes Seven Freshmen to Roster
In its first year as a Division I program, UNO has welcomed seven freshmen to campus -- setter Bailey Baxter (Grand Island, Neb.), outside hitter Kimberly Bailey (Lincoln, Neb.), defensive specialist Rachelle Kruml (Ord, Neb.) and middle blockers Valerie Hecht (Bern, Kan.), Alyssa Stanek (Ceresco, Neb.), Jessy Schroedter (Fremont, Neb.) and Diane Banderas (Lincoln, Neb.). Armed with multiple all-state awards and four players who participated in the Nebraska High School All-Star Game (Bailey, Baxter, Banderas, Stanek), the group of newcomers will provide a solid foundation as UNO prepares for Summit League competition in the coming years.
At the CEFCU Classic in Peoria, Ill., Schroedter was the lone Maverick newcomer to see game action. She appeared in six sets over two matches on Aug. 26, totaling five kills, three blocks and two digs. At last weekend's Colorado Premier Challenge, Schroedter totaled seven kills and four blocks over three matches.
The UNO Showcase saw Kruml earn playing time in two sets against Northern State.
2011 UNO NEWCOMERS
Kimberly Bailey -- Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln North Star)
Third-team Super State, Second-team all-state (2010)
Diane Banderas -- Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Southwest)
All-state honorable mention (2010)
Bailey Baxter -- Grand Island, Neb. (Central Catholic)
Two-time all-state selection (2009-10)
Valerie Hecht -- Bern, Kan. (Bern)
Two-time all-state (2009-10)
Rachelle Kruml -- Ord, Neb. (Ord)
Two-time all-state honorable mention (2009-10)
Jessy Schroedter -- Fremont, Neb. (Archbishop Bergan)
All-state honorable mention (2010)
Alyssa Stanek -- Ceresco, Neb. (Bishop Neumann)
Two-time all-state (2009-10)
All-Conference Honorees Lead Mavs in 2011
UNO returns four players to its 2011 roster who have earned all-conference honors -- junior middle blocker Lizzy Mach, senior setter Emily Myers, senior libero Angie Reicks and junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke. Reicks garnered second-team All-MIAA status in 2009, while Mach and Myers were selected to the third team. Ebke was an honorable mention pick in 2010.
UNO has had 46 players combine for 78 All-MIAA or All-NCC accolades. In year one of their transition to Division I and full membership in The Summit League, the Mavericks will be ineligible for all-league recognition this season.
2010-11 Squad Earns 12th Straight AVCA Academic Award
The UNO volleyball earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Team Academic Award for the 12th straight year, the AVCA announced in July. As a team, the Mavericks recorded a 3.68 grade-point average during the 2010-11 academic year to claim the honor, which was their 12th straight and 15th overall.
The annual AVCA award honors collegiate and high school volleyball programs that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Up Next for the Mavs
UNO returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 25, traveling to Nebraska-Kearney for a rematch with the in-state Lopers. Gametime is set for 7 p.m. in Kearney, Neb.
Live Video
Live Stats
The UNO volleyball team (4-21) returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 19, facing UMKC for a second time this season. The match is set for 6:30 p.m. start at Swinney Recreation Center in Kansas City, Mo., with live stats and live video available on OMavs.com.
Nebraska Omaha last took the court on Oct. 15 at Washburn, where the Lady Blues took a 3-1 win. Senior setter Emily Myers finished with 33 set assists and 16 digs for the night, marking her ninth double-double of the season. Myers' assist total moved her up to second all-time in school history for career assists, as she now has 4,008 over four years as a starter. Junior Natalie Ebke also had her team-leading 12th double-double of the year, totaling 18 kills and 11 digs. As a team, UNO outblocked WU seven to five, which was the 14th time in 2011 that the Mavs have outblocked an opponent.
UNO, which is in its first year as a reclassifying Division I institution, is guided by Head Coach Rose Shires, who is in her 22nd year at the helm of the Maverick program. In 2010, UNO finished with a record of 17-15 and had two All-MIAA honorees in third-team pick Kayla Uhing and honorable mention selection Ebke. Uhing has since rejoined the Mavericks as a student assistant in 2011, and Ebke is one of 10 returning letterwinners this year.
Scouting the UMKC Kangaroos
UMKC enters Wednesday's match with a record of 7-14 (1-10 Summit League). The Kangaroos picked up their first conference win with a 3-1 victory over Southern Utah on Sunday, snapping a seven-game losing streak. UNO leads the all-time series with UMKC, 4-2-1, but the 'Roos last took a 3-2 win on Sept. 21 in Omaha.
Mavericks Reclassify to Division I
Nebraska Omaha announced in March 2011 its plan to reclassify from NCAA Division II to Division I, beginning with the 2011-12 school year. UNO, which was previously a member of the MIAA, accepted an invitation to join The Summit League and will compete as a full-fledged member with a regular-season conference schedule in 2012-13.
Myers Reaches No. 2 On Career Assists Chart
Senior setter Emily Myers entered last weekend's roadtrip to Emporia State and Washburn ranked fourth in school history for career assists. With a combined 63 assists over the two matches, Myers moved up to No. 2 all-time, as she now has 4,008 assists to her credit as a four-year starter.
UNO's All-Time Assists Leaders
Player – Years -- Leaders
Amy Steffel -- 1993-96 -- 5,482
Emily Myers -- 2008-present -- 4,008
Pam Largen -- 1988-91 -- 3,984
Kylie Lebeda -- 2000-03 -- 3,951
Bethany Tygert -- 1997-2000 -- 3,380
Digging In
Senior Angie Reicks became UNO's all-time career digs leader on Oct. 1, passing former Maverick Kevin Campbell's 17-year-old record of 1,782 digs. Reicks, a native of Bellevue, Neb., entered the year ranked fifth in school history, and she now tops the charts with 1,865 in four seasons.
In addition, Reicks holds the school record for most digs in a match, as she totaled 46 against Central Missouri as a sophomore in 2009.
UNO's All-Time Digs Leaders
Player -- Years -- Digs
Angie Reicks -- 2008-present -- 1,865
Kevin Campbell -- 1991-94 -- 1,782
Tracy Ankeny -- 1997-00 -- 1,691
Amy Gradoville -- 1987-90 -- 1,604
Laura Monahan -- 1990-93 -- 1,524
Hanssen Hits Career High in Blocks, Moves Into Program Top 20
Senior middle blocker Brittany Hanssen led the Mavericks' effort to outblock Bradley 12-9 on Aug. 26, putting up a career-high eight blocks against the Braves. For the weekend, the Grand Island, Neb., native averaged 1.36 blocks per set, totaling 15 over three matches. Over her first three years at UNO, Hanssen had tied her previous career high of seven blocks on four occasions.
This season, Hanssen has averaged a team-leading 0.96 blocks per set, and she has eight matches with five or more stops. Against UMKC (Sept. 21), Hanssen achieved the first double-double of her career, totaling a career-best 10 blocks with 10 kills. She also recently broke into UNO's all-time career blocks list, now ranking 16th with 333 total blocks and needing just five more to advance to the top 15 in program history. Hanssen is also 10th with 316 block assists as a Maverick.
Earlier this month, Hanssen was named to the Lady Blues Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 1.12 blocks, 1.94 kills, 1.06 digs and 0.31 service aces per set. She led UNO in total blocks (18) and aces (five) over the four matches.
2011 Schedule Features Mix of Division I, Division II Talent
UNO's schedule for the 2011 season includes a slate of regional road matches and a mix of Division I teams and top Division II squads. Eight 2010 NCAA Tournament qualifiers highlight the list -- Wichita State and North Dakota State for Division I and Seattle Pacific, Central Missouri, Emporia State, Abilene Christian, Washburn and Nebraska-Kearney for Division II. UCM made an appearance in the national semifinals, while SPU, UNK and WU played through their regional semifinals.
In addition, five squads -- UCM (No. 2), WU (No. 5), UNK (No. 6), SPU (No. 13), ESU (No. 18) and ACU (No. 23) -- were included in the AVCA Division II Preseason Poll, and Wichita State received votes in the Division I poll.
Ebke Is Double Trouble
Junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke leads the Mavericks for double-doubles this season, as she has 12 to her credit. Ekbe posted a career-high 21-kill, 19-dig performance against Dallas Baptist (Oct. 1) at the Lady Blues Classic. Last Friday at Emporia State, she chipped in 10 kills and 15 digs, followed by a 17-kill, 11-dig effort at Washburn the following night. Ebke, who hails from Lincoln, Neb., has averaged 3.01 kills, 2.91 digs and 0.22 service aces per set.
Healthy Mach Granted Medical Redshirt by NCAA
Junior middle blocker Lizzy Mach was granted a medical redshirt year by the NCAA this summer, as she sat out the majority of the 2010 season with an ACL injury. After being named third-team All-MIAA in 2009, she suffered the season-ending knee injury just 11 matches in last year. As a sophomore in 2009, Mach averaged 2.11 kills, 0.60 blocks and 0.45 digs per set while ranking fourth on the team with 274 kills.
For her first year back in action, Mach has averaged 1.88 kills and 0.65 blocks per set. The Wahoo, Neb., native totaled a season-high 16 kills against Dallas Baptist (Oct. 1) and has reached double-figure kills on six occasions, including back-to-back matches at the Lady Blues Classic. At the net against UMKC on Sept. 21, Mach had a season-high seven blocks, helping the Mavs to their highest total team blocks mark (15.5) of the year.
Shires Enters 22nd Year as Winningest Coach in School History
Head Coach Rose Shires is the all-time winningest coach in 41 years of UNO volleyball history. In her 22nd year at the helm of the Maverick program, Shires owns a career record of 428-265 (.618), with the most wins of the five coaches who have served at Nebraska Omaha.
The 1996 AVCA National Coach of the Year and a two-time conference coach of the year, Shires has enjoyed tremendous success as UNO's guide. The 1996 campaign saw her lead UNO to a national championship as well as its first North Central Conference championship since 1987, followed by an Elite Eight appearance in 1997. In NCAA Tournament play, Shires' squads have combined for 11 appearances and a 10-10 postseason mark.
Shires is assisted by Associate Head Coach Karen Povondra, who is in her 22nd season with UNO, and Assistant Coach Tanya Cate, who is in her second year on the Maverick staff.
Kids Growing Up In the Heartland
The 2011 UNO roster is loaded with local talent, as 14 of the 17 players listed hail from nine Nebraska towns. Two pairs of student-athletes also come from the same high school programs -- senior middle blocker Brittany Hanssen and freshman setter Bailey Baxter are both products of Grand Island Central Catholic, while junior middle blocker Lizzy Mach and freshman middle blocker Alyssa Stanek both played at Bishop Neumann in Wahoo.
UNO Welcomes Seven Freshmen to Roster
In its first year as a Division I program, UNO has welcomed seven freshmen to campus -- setter Bailey Baxter (Grand Island, Neb.), outside hitter Kimberly Bailey (Lincoln, Neb.), defensive specialist Rachelle Kruml (Ord, Neb.) and middle blockers Valerie Hecht (Bern, Kan.), Alyssa Stanek (Ceresco, Neb.), Jessy Schroedter (Fremont, Neb.) and Diane Banderas (Lincoln, Neb.). Armed with multiple all-state awards and four players who participated in the Nebraska High School All-Star Game (Bailey, Baxter, Banderas, Stanek), the group of newcomers will provide a solid foundation as UNO prepares for Summit League competition in the coming years.
At the CEFCU Classic in Peoria, Ill., Schroedter was the lone Maverick newcomer to see game action. She appeared in six sets over two matches on Aug. 26, totaling five kills, three blocks and two digs. At last weekend's Colorado Premier Challenge, Schroedter totaled seven kills and four blocks over three matches.
The UNO Showcase saw Kruml earn playing time in two sets against Northern State.
2011 UNO NEWCOMERS
Kimberly Bailey -- Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln North Star)
Third-team Super State, Second-team all-state (2010)
Diane Banderas -- Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Southwest)
All-state honorable mention (2010)
Bailey Baxter -- Grand Island, Neb. (Central Catholic)
Two-time all-state selection (2009-10)
Valerie Hecht -- Bern, Kan. (Bern)
Two-time all-state (2009-10)
Rachelle Kruml -- Ord, Neb. (Ord)
Two-time all-state honorable mention (2009-10)
Jessy Schroedter -- Fremont, Neb. (Archbishop Bergan)
All-state honorable mention (2010)
Alyssa Stanek -- Ceresco, Neb. (Bishop Neumann)
Two-time all-state (2009-10)
All-Conference Honorees Lead Mavs in 2011
UNO returns four players to its 2011 roster who have earned all-conference honors -- junior middle blocker Lizzy Mach, senior setter Emily Myers, senior libero Angie Reicks and junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke. Reicks garnered second-team All-MIAA status in 2009, while Mach and Myers were selected to the third team. Ebke was an honorable mention pick in 2010.
UNO has had 46 players combine for 78 All-MIAA or All-NCC accolades. In year one of their transition to Division I and full membership in The Summit League, the Mavericks will be ineligible for all-league recognition this season.
2010-11 Squad Earns 12th Straight AVCA Academic Award
The UNO volleyball earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Team Academic Award for the 12th straight year, the AVCA announced in July. As a team, the Mavericks recorded a 3.68 grade-point average during the 2010-11 academic year to claim the honor, which was their 12th straight and 15th overall.
The annual AVCA award honors collegiate and high school volleyball programs that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Up Next for the Mavs
UNO returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 25, traveling to Nebraska-Kearney for a rematch with the in-state Lopers. Gametime is set for 7 p.m. in Kearney, Neb.
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