Mavs Face Former MIAA Foe Central Missouri
Oct 7, 2011 | General, Volleyball
Complete Release
Live Stats
The UNO volleyball team (4-17) returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 8, traveling to Central Missouri. Gametime is set for 6:30 p.m. at the UCM Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo., and live stats and will be available through OMavs.com.
Nebraska Omaha last took the court on Oct. 4 at Kansas, where the Jayhawks took a 3-0 sweep, though the Mavs nearly won the third set at 28-26. Junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke led UNO with 11 kills, while senior middle blocker Brittany Hanssen and sophomore outside hitter Abby Sorensen had five blocks apiece. The Mavericks posted 8.5 total team blocks to KU's 5.0, marking the 12th time this season that Nebraska Omaha has outblocked its 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 Central Missouri Jennies
Central Missouri enters the weekend with a record of 14-3 (5-0 MIAA), as the Jennies swept Truman on Wednesday. UCM hosts Missouri Western on Friday, Oct. 7 before welcoming the Mavericks on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The Jennies lead the all-time series 29-11, winning the last meeting 3-0 in Warrensburg, Mo., on Nov. 12, 2010.
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.
Digging In
Senior Angie Reicks became UNO's all-time career digs leader last weekend, 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 1,799 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 -- 1,799
Kevin Campbell -- 1991-94 -- 1,782
Tracy Ankeny -- 1997-00 -- 1,691
Amy Gradoville -- 1987-90 -- 1,604
Laura Monahan -- 1990-93 -- 1,524
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.
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 1.90 kills and 0.64 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 last weekend's 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.
Ebke Is Double Trouble
Junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke leads the Mavericks for double-doubles this season, as she has nine to her credit. She most recently led UNO with 11 kills at Kansas (Oct. 4), which followed a career-high 21-kill, 19-dig performance against Dallas Baptist (Oct. 1) at the Lady Blues Classic. Ebke, who hails from Lincoln, Neb., has averaged 2.92 kills, 2.86 digs and 0.12 service aces per set.
Ebke's 2011 Double-Doubles
Date Opponent K A D SA B
Aug. 26 vs. Illinois-Chicago 11 --- 17 --- ---
Sept. 2 MSU Moorhead 10 --- 13 --- ---
Sept. 3 Nebraska-Kearney 12 --- 11 --- ---
Sept. 9 vs. Cal Baptist 16 --- 12 --- ---
Sept. 10 vs. Regis 19 --- 22 --- ---
Sept. 10 vs. UC-Colorado Springs 12 --- 15 --- ---
Sept. 21 UMKC 16 --- 12 --- ---
Sept. 23 at North Dakota 14 --- 13 --- ---
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 428-261 (.621), 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.
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 1.00 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, ranking 16th with 324 total blocks. Hanssen is also 10th with 308 block assists as a Maverick.
Last weekend, 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.
Myers Continues Climb On Career Assists Chart
Entering this weekend's four-match slate, senior setter Emily Myers ranks fourth all-time in school history for career assists. A native of Modesto, Calif., Myers has 3,886 assists to her credit in four years as a starter and is 66 away from passing Kylie Lebeda for third. Lebeda, who lettered from 2000 to 2003, had 3,951 assists as a Maverick.
UNO's All-Time Assists Leaders
Player – Years -- Leaders
Amy Steffel -- 1993-96 -- 5,482
Pam Largen -- 1988-91 -- 3,984
Kylie Lebeda -- 2000-03 -- 3,951
Emily Myers -- 2008-present -- 3,886
Bethany Tygert -- 1997-2000 -- 3,380
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. 11, traveling to South Dakota. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D.
Live Stats
The UNO volleyball team (4-17) returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 8, traveling to Central Missouri. Gametime is set for 6:30 p.m. at the UCM Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo., and live stats and will be available through OMavs.com.
Nebraska Omaha last took the court on Oct. 4 at Kansas, where the Jayhawks took a 3-0 sweep, though the Mavs nearly won the third set at 28-26. Junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke led UNO with 11 kills, while senior middle blocker Brittany Hanssen and sophomore outside hitter Abby Sorensen had five blocks apiece. The Mavericks posted 8.5 total team blocks to KU's 5.0, marking the 12th time this season that Nebraska Omaha has outblocked its 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 Central Missouri Jennies
Central Missouri enters the weekend with a record of 14-3 (5-0 MIAA), as the Jennies swept Truman on Wednesday. UCM hosts Missouri Western on Friday, Oct. 7 before welcoming the Mavericks on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The Jennies lead the all-time series 29-11, winning the last meeting 3-0 in Warrensburg, Mo., on Nov. 12, 2010.
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.
Digging In
Senior Angie Reicks became UNO's all-time career digs leader last weekend, 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 1,799 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 -- 1,799
Kevin Campbell -- 1991-94 -- 1,782
Tracy Ankeny -- 1997-00 -- 1,691
Amy Gradoville -- 1987-90 -- 1,604
Laura Monahan -- 1990-93 -- 1,524
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.
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 1.90 kills and 0.64 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 last weekend's 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.
Ebke Is Double Trouble
Junior outside hitter Natalie Ebke leads the Mavericks for double-doubles this season, as she has nine to her credit. She most recently led UNO with 11 kills at Kansas (Oct. 4), which followed a career-high 21-kill, 19-dig performance against Dallas Baptist (Oct. 1) at the Lady Blues Classic. Ebke, who hails from Lincoln, Neb., has averaged 2.92 kills, 2.86 digs and 0.12 service aces per set.
Ebke's 2011 Double-Doubles
Date Opponent K A D SA B
Aug. 26 vs. Illinois-Chicago 11 --- 17 --- ---
Sept. 2 MSU Moorhead 10 --- 13 --- ---
Sept. 3 Nebraska-Kearney 12 --- 11 --- ---
Sept. 9 vs. Cal Baptist 16 --- 12 --- ---
Sept. 10 vs. Regis 19 --- 22 --- ---
Sept. 10 vs. UC-Colorado Springs 12 --- 15 --- ---
Sept. 21 UMKC 16 --- 12 --- ---
Sept. 23 at North Dakota 14 --- 13 --- ---
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 428-261 (.621), 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.
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 1.00 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, ranking 16th with 324 total blocks. Hanssen is also 10th with 308 block assists as a Maverick.
Last weekend, 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.
Myers Continues Climb On Career Assists Chart
Entering this weekend's four-match slate, senior setter Emily Myers ranks fourth all-time in school history for career assists. A native of Modesto, Calif., Myers has 3,886 assists to her credit in four years as a starter and is 66 away from passing Kylie Lebeda for third. Lebeda, who lettered from 2000 to 2003, had 3,951 assists as a Maverick.
UNO's All-Time Assists Leaders
Player – Years -- Leaders
Amy Steffel -- 1993-96 -- 5,482
Pam Largen -- 1988-91 -- 3,984
Kylie Lebeda -- 2000-03 -- 3,951
Emily Myers -- 2008-present -- 3,886
Bethany Tygert -- 1997-2000 -- 3,380
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. 11, traveling to South Dakota. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D.
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