THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK VOLLEYBALL... Upper Iowa will begin their 2016 season when they travel to southern Illinois to compete in the Capital Classic hosted by the University of Illinois-Springfield. The Peacocks will take on the University of West Alabama and Illinois Springfield on Friday, Sept. 2, and then take on Wayne State University and William Jewell College on Saturday, Sept. 3.
NSIC RANKINGS… The Peacocks were picked 11th in the 2016 NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll after finishing last year's campaign in 10th place, two spots above their predicted finish in the NSIC a year ago. UIU posted a 14-15 record overall in 2015 including an 8-12 mark in NSIC action. Head Coach
Aaron Nelson returns for his sixth season with UIU and will have to replace the offense of
Jennifer Mundt, a two-time All-NSIC performer, who graduated after becoming the all-time leader in career kills at Upper Iowa when she broke her own single-season record for kills last season with 440.
PEACOCKS TO WATCH… Peacock senior right side/middle hitter,
Alisha VanderWoude, was named one of the NSIC Players to Watch. She enters her final year in Peacock blue with 72 matches played over her first three seasons. VanderWoude, registered 398 kills, 178 blocks, 73 digs and 14 assists. She made a move out of the middle of the Peacock lineup to the right side as a junior and will lead the Peacock attack this season. Upper Iowa will look to VanderWoude and other veterans like
Kelsey Hinrichs,
Miranda LeJeune,
Chelsea Berry,
Lauren Wombles and
Bethany Lovhaug, as well as a host of newcomers, to pace the offense.
Malissa LeClaire and newcomer
Carlee Ketchum will set up the offense, while
Ashley Larson will spearhead the back line defense.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS... West Alabama was picked eighth in the Gulf South Conference preseason poll this season. The Tigers finished 11-20 overall and 9-11 in the GSC a year ago, earning a place in the conference tournament. UWA will look to build on that momentum with first year head coach Alexis Meeks taking over the program.
SCOUTING THE PRAIRIE STARS... Illinois-Springfield, who enter their second season under the direction of head coach Trey Salinas, are picked to finish sixth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference east division. Illinois Springfield looks to improve on a 7-24 record in the 2015 season where they finished sixth in the east division. UIS returns 12 players from last year's squad, while adding five newcomers --- four freshman and two transfers.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS... Wayne State was tabbed to finish third in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) South Division. The Warriors are looking to take a big step forward in 2016 under third-year head coach Tim Koth. The Warriors return 12 letterwinners and five starters from last season, including a pair of All-GLIAC outside hitters in Hannah Moore and Emily Norscia. The expectations will be higher than past seasons as the developing team looks to qualify for the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since 2012. WSU went 12-18 overall and 7-11 in the league last season.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS... William Jewell enters their third season under head coach Carolyn Raynes. The Cardinals will look to continue their uphill climb in the always tough Great Lakes Valley Conference, hoping to improve on last season's marks of 8-23 and 2-16 in the GLVC. Unlike Raynes' first two seasons the Cardinals bring back 13 letterwinners and have nearly a full roster recruited by the head coach. The Cardinals will have to find a way to replace both the production and leadership of four-year starter Kaylee Marquardt. Marquardt was second on the team in 2015 with 200 kills and 168 digs and left the program as the leader in career kills since moving to the NCAA level. As big of a presence as Marquardt was on the court the past four seasons, Raynes is excited to see the next group of leaders emerge, primarily captains Amy Lindhorst and Grace Miller.
