Mavericks Head North for Chippewa Challenge
Sep 17, 2015 | Volleyball
This Weekend
The Omaha volleyball team hits the road again this weekend, traveling to the Central Michigan Chippewa Challenge at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The Mavericks open on Friday, Sept. 18 with San Jose State at 3:30 p.m. CT, followed by two matches on Saturday, Sept. 19 with Evansville at 9 a.m. CT and host Central Michigan at 6:30 p.m. CT. Links to live stats and live video will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
•Senior outside hitter Kelley Wollak passed the 1,000 career kills milestone last Friday.
•Sophomore setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy had a team-leading 19 double-doubles in her freshman campaign. Through seven matches this season, she leads the squad again with eight double-doubles, including four in four matches last week.
•Senior libero Kimberly Bailey leads the league in total aces (14). O'Shaughnessy ranks second for assists per set (9.75), while senior middle blocker Megan Schmale is second in block assists (42), total blocks (49) and blocks per set (1.23).
•UNO leads the Summit League in total aces (57) and digs per set (16.25).
•True freshmen Jessica Plake and Gessica Gdowski have been the only Maverick newcomers to see the court through the first seven matches.
•For the first time in four years, Omaha is eligible for postseason play. As part of its reclassification to Division I, the Mavericks were unable to quality for the Summit League Tournament or NCAA Tournament from 2011 to 2015.
•UNO's six seniors on the roster mark the most since 2009.
•Wollak's 1,287 attacks in 2014 represented the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. Schmale's 134 assisted blocks were the eighth-most of any Maverick in a single season.
•Omaha was picked to finish sixth in the 2015 Summit League Preseason Poll, its highest place in the poll since joining the conference in 2012.
•UNO registered six sweeps last season, including a standout win over Tennessee. The Mavericks have two so far in 2015 -- a season-opening 3-0 win over Seton Hall and another over Bradley.
Scouting the San Jose State Spartans
San Jose State brings a 6-4 (0-0 Mountain West) record to Mount Pleasant after last weekend's sweep at the UMass-Lowell Invitational, where the Spartans defeated UMass-Lowell (3-0), Quinnipiac (3-1) and Holy Cross (3-1). SJSU is paced on both sides of the ball by Sara Hibbs, who averages 2.62 kills and 0.97 blocks per set. Head coach Jolene Shepardson is in her second year with the Spartans, holding a record of 10-31 at the school and a career tally of 53-78 in four years of coaching.
Friday's match will be the first meeting between Omaha and San Jose State.
Scouting the Evansville Purple Aces
Evansville owns a record of 5-6 (0-0 MVC) after last weekend's Dunn Hospitality Tournament, where the Purple Aces went 2-1 with victories over Jackson State (3-0) and Western Illinois (3-0) and a loss to Northern Kentucky (0-3). Miranda Genesis averages a conference-best 4.69 kills per set to lead the Purple Aces. Head coach Manolo Concepción is in his third season at the helm with Evansville, carrying a record of 22-48 and a career mark of 32-100 over five years.
Evansville leads the all-time series with Omaha 1-0. The two schools last played on Oct. 8, 1982, with the Purple Aces recording a 2-0 win.
Scouting the Central Michigan Chippewas
Host Central Michigan enters the tournament with a record of 3-7 (0-0 MAC) after last weekend's Fresno State Invitational, where the Chippewas went 1-3. CMU dropped matches to Sacramento State (3-1), UC Riverside (3-0) and Fresno State (3-0) while picking up a win over Cal State Fullerton (3-2). Jordan Bueter has paced Central Michigan this year with 3.24 kills per set. Head Coach Erik Olson enters his eleventh year with the Chippewas and holds a career record of 158-179.
Omaha leads the all-time series with Central Michigan, 1-0. The two schools last played Aug. 29, 2014, when UNO earned a 3-1 win at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Omaha Classic.
Wollak Joins 1,000 Kill Club
Last Friday, senior outside hitter Kelley Wollak became the 19th player in program history -- and the first in the Division I era -- to pass the 1,000 career kills milestone. She hit No. 1,000 just two plays into the third set against SIUE. After last weekend's tournament, Wollak has compiled 1,029 kills in just over three seasons.
Omaha last added players to the 1,000 Kill Club in 2009, when Kelli Goeser (2006-09) finished her career with 1,058 and Ellen Thommes (2006-09) closed with 1,282.
Schmale Surges Into Career Top 10 for Block Assists
Last weekend, senior middle blocker Megan Schmale entered the top 10 in school history for career block assists. After adding 15 assisted blocks over three matches at last weekend's Kangaroo Klassic, Schmale has 356 in just over three years. She now ranks seventh on the list, having passed former Maverick player and current volunteer assistant coach Tanya Cate (1994-97), who had 351. Schmale's next target is Lori Schutte (1984-87) in sixth place with 385.
Wollak, Schmale Collect All-Tournament Honors
Senior outside hitter Kelley Wollak and senior middle blocker Amy Taylor were both named to last weekend's UMKC Kangaroo Klassic all-tournament team. Wollak averaged 3.25 kills and 2.42 digs per set, while Taylor had 2.33 kills and 0.56 blocks per set.
Wollak was previously named to the UNLV Invitational and Omaha Classic all-tournament teams, while senior middle blocker Megan Schmale joined her on the honors list for the Omaha Classic.
What Makes Up the Mavericks
•Omaha returns 11 letterwinners from the 2014 season, including seven in the starting lineup: libero Kimberly Bailey, middle blockers Diane Banderas and Megan Schmale, setter/rightside hitter Michaela Schimmer, setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy and outside hitters Kelley Wollak and Mackenzie Horkey.
•UNO returns 98 percent of its total offensive production from last season, as this year's returners accounted for 1,470 of the Mavericks' 1,495 kills.
•The Mavs also return 98 percent of their total blocking production from last year, with the returners credited for 287.5 out of 292.5 stops.
•Omaha lost four letterwinners from the 2014 squad in graduated seniors Jessy Schroedter and Rachelle Kruml, along with defensive specialists Marisa Moseman and Aftyn Johnson.
•Wollak is UNO's top returning hitter, having averaged 3.24 kills per set last year. At the net, Amanda Conlin had a team-high 1.16 blocks per set, and Schmale had 1.14 blocks per set.
•O'Shaughnessy and Horkey were both named to the Summit League All-Freshmen team at the end of 2014.
•The Mavericks are made up of four freshmen, three sophomores, two juniors and six seniors.
•Schmale was Omaha's first Division I all-conference pick in 2013, earning All-Summit honorable mention status. She led the conference in blocking and ranked in the top 100 nationally for blocks per set. Schmale also earned Academic All-Summit accolades, which she repeated in 2014.
Shires Guides Mavericks as Winningest Coach in School History
Head coach Rose Shires is the all-time winningest coach in 45 years of UNO volleyball history. In her 26th year at the helm of the Maverick program, Shires owns a career record of 460-336 (.578), with the most wins of the five coaches who have served at 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 25th season with UNO, assistant coach Elena Pietro, in her first year, and volunteer assistant coach Tanya Cate, who is in her sixth year on the Maverick staff.
Mixed Schedule Takes Mavericks Around the Nation
Omaha's 2015 schedule includes 20 matches against 21 different opponents, and the team will play in 10 states across the country. UNO will square off with opponents from 10 different conferences, with three from the Missouri Valley, two from the Mountain West and once each from the American Athletic, BIG EAST, Big West, Big Sky, MAC, OVC, Southland and the WAC. Three foes -- Seton Hall, Central Florida and Denver -- were 2014 NCAA Tournament qualifiers.
Entering 2014, the Mavericks have never faced five of their 2015 opponents: Seton Hall, UNLV, Central Arkansas, Central Florida and San Jose State. Omaha currently holds a combined all-time record of 199-137-1 over all teams on the slate this season.
Freshman Foursome
The Mavericks have welcomed four true freshmen to the roster this season: defensive specialist Jessica Plake (Kansas City, Kan.), rightside hitter Meagen Roth (Lincoln, Neb.) and outside hitters Kayla Torson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Gessica Gdowski (Fremont, Neb.).
Plake was a two-time all-state selection at Bishop Miege High School, where she helped the Stags to three state championships. Torson was a three-time all-state player at Xavier High School. Roth, a product of Lincoln Southeast High School, twice earned All-Nebraska honors and was part of three consecutive district championship teams, while Gdowski was a three-time all-state honorable mention pick at Fremont High School.
Through the first three weeks of play, Plake and Gdowski have both seen playing time, and Gdowski has made one start. Plake posted a season-high 12 digs against UC Davis.
Next Up
The Mavericks return to action Friday, Sept. 25, opening Summit League play at South Dakota State. The match is set for 7 p.m. in Brookings, S.D., and links to live stats and video will be available on OMavs.com.
The Omaha volleyball team hits the road again this weekend, traveling to the Central Michigan Chippewa Challenge at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The Mavericks open on Friday, Sept. 18 with San Jose State at 3:30 p.m. CT, followed by two matches on Saturday, Sept. 19 with Evansville at 9 a.m. CT and host Central Michigan at 6:30 p.m. CT. Links to live stats and live video will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
•Senior outside hitter Kelley Wollak passed the 1,000 career kills milestone last Friday.
•Sophomore setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy had a team-leading 19 double-doubles in her freshman campaign. Through seven matches this season, she leads the squad again with eight double-doubles, including four in four matches last week.
•Senior libero Kimberly Bailey leads the league in total aces (14). O'Shaughnessy ranks second for assists per set (9.75), while senior middle blocker Megan Schmale is second in block assists (42), total blocks (49) and blocks per set (1.23).
•UNO leads the Summit League in total aces (57) and digs per set (16.25).
•True freshmen Jessica Plake and Gessica Gdowski have been the only Maverick newcomers to see the court through the first seven matches.
•For the first time in four years, Omaha is eligible for postseason play. As part of its reclassification to Division I, the Mavericks were unable to quality for the Summit League Tournament or NCAA Tournament from 2011 to 2015.
•UNO's six seniors on the roster mark the most since 2009.
•Wollak's 1,287 attacks in 2014 represented the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. Schmale's 134 assisted blocks were the eighth-most of any Maverick in a single season.
•Omaha was picked to finish sixth in the 2015 Summit League Preseason Poll, its highest place in the poll since joining the conference in 2012.
•UNO registered six sweeps last season, including a standout win over Tennessee. The Mavericks have two so far in 2015 -- a season-opening 3-0 win over Seton Hall and another over Bradley.
Scouting the San Jose State Spartans
San Jose State brings a 6-4 (0-0 Mountain West) record to Mount Pleasant after last weekend's sweep at the UMass-Lowell Invitational, where the Spartans defeated UMass-Lowell (3-0), Quinnipiac (3-1) and Holy Cross (3-1). SJSU is paced on both sides of the ball by Sara Hibbs, who averages 2.62 kills and 0.97 blocks per set. Head coach Jolene Shepardson is in her second year with the Spartans, holding a record of 10-31 at the school and a career tally of 53-78 in four years of coaching.
Friday's match will be the first meeting between Omaha and San Jose State.
Scouting the Evansville Purple Aces
Evansville owns a record of 5-6 (0-0 MVC) after last weekend's Dunn Hospitality Tournament, where the Purple Aces went 2-1 with victories over Jackson State (3-0) and Western Illinois (3-0) and a loss to Northern Kentucky (0-3). Miranda Genesis averages a conference-best 4.69 kills per set to lead the Purple Aces. Head coach Manolo Concepción is in his third season at the helm with Evansville, carrying a record of 22-48 and a career mark of 32-100 over five years.
Evansville leads the all-time series with Omaha 1-0. The two schools last played on Oct. 8, 1982, with the Purple Aces recording a 2-0 win.
Scouting the Central Michigan Chippewas
Host Central Michigan enters the tournament with a record of 3-7 (0-0 MAC) after last weekend's Fresno State Invitational, where the Chippewas went 1-3. CMU dropped matches to Sacramento State (3-1), UC Riverside (3-0) and Fresno State (3-0) while picking up a win over Cal State Fullerton (3-2). Jordan Bueter has paced Central Michigan this year with 3.24 kills per set. Head Coach Erik Olson enters his eleventh year with the Chippewas and holds a career record of 158-179.
Omaha leads the all-time series with Central Michigan, 1-0. The two schools last played Aug. 29, 2014, when UNO earned a 3-1 win at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Omaha Classic.
Wollak Joins 1,000 Kill Club
Last Friday, senior outside hitter Kelley Wollak became the 19th player in program history -- and the first in the Division I era -- to pass the 1,000 career kills milestone. She hit No. 1,000 just two plays into the third set against SIUE. After last weekend's tournament, Wollak has compiled 1,029 kills in just over three seasons.
Omaha last added players to the 1,000 Kill Club in 2009, when Kelli Goeser (2006-09) finished her career with 1,058 and Ellen Thommes (2006-09) closed with 1,282.
Schmale Surges Into Career Top 10 for Block Assists
Last weekend, senior middle blocker Megan Schmale entered the top 10 in school history for career block assists. After adding 15 assisted blocks over three matches at last weekend's Kangaroo Klassic, Schmale has 356 in just over three years. She now ranks seventh on the list, having passed former Maverick player and current volunteer assistant coach Tanya Cate (1994-97), who had 351. Schmale's next target is Lori Schutte (1984-87) in sixth place with 385.
Wollak, Schmale Collect All-Tournament Honors
Senior outside hitter Kelley Wollak and senior middle blocker Amy Taylor were both named to last weekend's UMKC Kangaroo Klassic all-tournament team. Wollak averaged 3.25 kills and 2.42 digs per set, while Taylor had 2.33 kills and 0.56 blocks per set.
Wollak was previously named to the UNLV Invitational and Omaha Classic all-tournament teams, while senior middle blocker Megan Schmale joined her on the honors list for the Omaha Classic.
What Makes Up the Mavericks
•Omaha returns 11 letterwinners from the 2014 season, including seven in the starting lineup: libero Kimberly Bailey, middle blockers Diane Banderas and Megan Schmale, setter/rightside hitter Michaela Schimmer, setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy and outside hitters Kelley Wollak and Mackenzie Horkey.
•UNO returns 98 percent of its total offensive production from last season, as this year's returners accounted for 1,470 of the Mavericks' 1,495 kills.
•The Mavs also return 98 percent of their total blocking production from last year, with the returners credited for 287.5 out of 292.5 stops.
•Omaha lost four letterwinners from the 2014 squad in graduated seniors Jessy Schroedter and Rachelle Kruml, along with defensive specialists Marisa Moseman and Aftyn Johnson.
•Wollak is UNO's top returning hitter, having averaged 3.24 kills per set last year. At the net, Amanda Conlin had a team-high 1.16 blocks per set, and Schmale had 1.14 blocks per set.
•O'Shaughnessy and Horkey were both named to the Summit League All-Freshmen team at the end of 2014.
•The Mavericks are made up of four freshmen, three sophomores, two juniors and six seniors.
•Schmale was Omaha's first Division I all-conference pick in 2013, earning All-Summit honorable mention status. She led the conference in blocking and ranked in the top 100 nationally for blocks per set. Schmale also earned Academic All-Summit accolades, which she repeated in 2014.
Shires Guides Mavericks as Winningest Coach in School History
Head coach Rose Shires is the all-time winningest coach in 45 years of UNO volleyball history. In her 26th year at the helm of the Maverick program, Shires owns a career record of 460-336 (.578), with the most wins of the five coaches who have served at 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 25th season with UNO, assistant coach Elena Pietro, in her first year, and volunteer assistant coach Tanya Cate, who is in her sixth year on the Maverick staff.
Mixed Schedule Takes Mavericks Around the Nation
Omaha's 2015 schedule includes 20 matches against 21 different opponents, and the team will play in 10 states across the country. UNO will square off with opponents from 10 different conferences, with three from the Missouri Valley, two from the Mountain West and once each from the American Athletic, BIG EAST, Big West, Big Sky, MAC, OVC, Southland and the WAC. Three foes -- Seton Hall, Central Florida and Denver -- were 2014 NCAA Tournament qualifiers.
Entering 2014, the Mavericks have never faced five of their 2015 opponents: Seton Hall, UNLV, Central Arkansas, Central Florida and San Jose State. Omaha currently holds a combined all-time record of 199-137-1 over all teams on the slate this season.
Freshman Foursome
The Mavericks have welcomed four true freshmen to the roster this season: defensive specialist Jessica Plake (Kansas City, Kan.), rightside hitter Meagen Roth (Lincoln, Neb.) and outside hitters Kayla Torson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Gessica Gdowski (Fremont, Neb.).
Plake was a two-time all-state selection at Bishop Miege High School, where she helped the Stags to three state championships. Torson was a three-time all-state player at Xavier High School. Roth, a product of Lincoln Southeast High School, twice earned All-Nebraska honors and was part of three consecutive district championship teams, while Gdowski was a three-time all-state honorable mention pick at Fremont High School.
Through the first three weeks of play, Plake and Gdowski have both seen playing time, and Gdowski has made one start. Plake posted a season-high 12 digs against UC Davis.
Next Up
The Mavericks return to action Friday, Sept. 25, opening Summit League play at South Dakota State. The match is set for 7 p.m. in Brookings, S.D., and links to live stats and video will be available on OMavs.com.
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