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Predictions Have Titans Finishing Second In WIAC

Predictions Have Titans Finishing Second In WIAC

Defending champion UW-Oshkosh is projected to finish second in the hunt for the 2016 WIAC women's volleyball championship, according to a poll of the league's eight head coaches and sports information directors.

The Titans return five of their seven starters from last year's team that compiled a 26-9 record and shared the WIAC title with UW-La Crosse. The league championship was the 12th for UW-Oshkosh and the first since 2010.

UW-Whitewater, which shared the 2014 WIAC championship with UW-Stevens Point, is favored to win its 16th league title. The Warhawks are expected to be followed in order by UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse.

The predictions also had UW-Eau Claire finishing fifth, UW-Stout sixth, UW-Platteville seventh and UW-River Falls eighth.

UW-Whitewater brings back six starters from a year ago, including senior outside hitter Lauren Pfeifer, a two-time All-WIAC first team selection. The Warhawks also return two additional all-league first team performers from last season in senior setter Staci Hasler and sophomore defensive specialist Brittany Robinson. UW-Whitewater lost a 3-2 decision to the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (Minn.) in the first round of last year's NCAA Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh (26-9 in 2015) and UW-La Crosse (20-10) both went 6-1 in WIAC contests last season to tie for the league title. The Titans posted a 3-0 victory over UW-La Crosse but lost a 3-1 decision to UW-Stevens Point. The Eagles made up for their loss to UW-Oshkosh by earning a 3-2 win over UW-Stevens Point.

UW-Whitewater (31-5) finished third in last year's WIAC standings with a 5-2 league record while UW-Eau Claire (27-10) and UW-Stevens Point (27-9) both placed fourth at 4-3, UW-Stout (16-18) sixth at 2-5, UW-River Falls (14-21) seventh at 1-6 and UW-Platteville (11-20) eighth at 0-7.

UW-Oshkosh will host three WIAC opponents this fall – UW-Platteville on Sept. 28, UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 5 and UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 19. The Titans take to the road for league contests at UW-Whitewater on Sept. 21, UW-La Crosse on Oct. 5, UW-River Falls on Oct. 28 and UW-Stout on Oct. 29.

UW-Oshkosh was among three WIAC programs mentioned in a national preseason poll conducted by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The Titans were ranked 25th in the NCAA Division III classification while UW-Whitewater listed 14th and UW-Stevens Point 15th.

UW-Oshkosh returns 13 letter winners this season, including senior middle blocker Nerissa Vogt, who received All-WIAC first team honors a year ago. Vogt ended the 2015 season ranked third in the NCAA Division III with 169 blocks and eighth with 1.31 blocks per set. She appeared in 34 matches (129 sets) and listed second on the team with 315 kills.

In addition to Vogt, the other four starters returning for 13th-year UW-Oshkosh head coach Brian Schaefer (330-108 coaching record) are sophomore outside hitter Tina Elstner, sophomore middle blocker Carly Lemke, senior setter Lexi Thiel and sophomore right-side hitter Brianna Witter. Thiel ranked 26th in the NCAA Division III last season with 1,207 assists.

The Titans also welcome back senior outside hitter Brooke Brinkman, an all-conference honorable mention selection in 2014.

The 2016 season will see a new head coach to the WIAC as Jon Stenman assumes the position at UW-Platteville, replacing the retired Deb Schulman, who led the program for 28 seasons and accumulated the second-most victories in league history with 641.

The six-team WIAC postseason tournament will feature a new format this year with each match being played at the higher-seeded team and the elimination of a third-place match. Since 1998, the semifinals, third-place match and championship contest were all played at the No. 1 seed. The winner of the WIAC Tournament will again receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh begins practice for its 2016 season on Saturday (Aug. 20).

WIAC Women's Volleyball Poll Release