NDSU, Ohio, Furman Advance to NCAA Tourney

#1 posting 11.24.2008
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

BIG 10
Minnesota beat Ohio State in four with a margin of 14 points on Senior Day. Kyla Roehrig, Katie Vatterrodt, Rachel Hartmann and Kelly Schmidt all played their last time at home (maybe). Lauren Gibbemeyer (Cretin-Derham Hall) had 22 points for the Gophers. Katie Dull had 19.5 points for the Buckeyes. Susan Halverson (Apple Valley) had 4 digs for OSU.

Brook Dieter has a grade 3 sprain in her left ankle and the hope is she will return in a couple of weeks.

MORE D1 RESULTS
SUMMIT: The volleyball team is the first team from North Dakota State that has advanced to the NCAA tournament. From the Fargo Forum. The Forum also has list five reasons for the Bisons' success.

METRO ATLANTIC: Fairfield advanced to the finals of the MAAC tournament with a 4 set win over Iona with a margin of 25 points. Karlie Urbaniak (Mabel-Canton) had 11.5 points for the Stags. Urbaniak made the MAAC second team.

MID AMERICAN: Ohio is another team that made the NCAA Tournament as they won the Mid American Tournament with a four set win over Western Michigan. WMU had a 1 point advantage for the day. Amanda Andersen (Centennial) had 9 points for Ohio.

SEC: South Carolina swept Mississippi State with a margin of 43 points. Bridget Denson-Dorman (Hopkins) had 28 assists and 5 points for USC.

SOUTHERN: Furman upset the College of Charleston in five to win the Southern Conference Title. It was Furman's third five setter of the weekend. CofC had a 1 points advantage for the day. Pamela Gehrke (Eastview) had 2 digs for Furman.

My review of the high school season will be on Thanksgiving.

Next up: tomorrow

5 Minnesota Players Win Weekly Honors, Tan her 5th

#2 posting 11.11.2008
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

MORE STATE TOURNAMENT RECAPS
Windom celebrates their state A title. Coach Ron Wendorff is a song and dance man. From the Worthington Daily Globe.

Stewartville beat Delano for 5th place in AA. From the Rochester Post Bulletin.

HS AWARDS
Anna Schlaak, a freshman from NRHEG, has been named Waseca County News player of the year.

Crystal Lamont of Waterville-Elysian-Morristown has been named Waseca County News coach of the year.

COLLEGE AWARDS
D1
BIG 10: Illinois' Laura DeBruhler was named offensive player of the week in the Big 10. The Gophers' Christine Tan was co defensive player of the week (her 5th time this year) along with Arielle Wilson of Penn State.

ACC: North Carolina's Brianna Eskola (Columbia Heights) was co player of the week in the ACC. She is 88 digs away from the all time ACC dig record.

SUMMIT: Both Lopez sisters (DGF) for North Dakota State were players of the week. Kelly took defensive honors while Jennifer gathered the offensive title.

D2
NORTHERN SUN: UM Duluth's April Hansen (BBE) and Lindsey Clairmont (Wayzata) have been named co players of the week in the Northern Sun.

COLLEGE NEWS
BIG 10: Three Penn State seniors talk about their experiences.

Ohio State is at #19 Michigan on Wednesday and Michigan State on Saturday.

The Big 10 has their weekly press release

#19 Michigan hosts Ohio State Wednesday and Michigan State on Friday.

PAC 10: Washington State travels to Oregon and Oregon State.

SUMMIT: North Dakota State travels to Centenary and Oral Roberts this weekend.
South Dakota State travels to UMKC and Centenary to close out the season.

D3 TOURNAMENT
Gustavus will face UW Eau Claire in the NCAA D3 tournament on Thursday, November 13 at 3:30 at St. Thomas.
St. Benedict will face Simpson in the D3 tournament on Thursday at 1 pm at St. Thomas.

Concordia Moorhead takes on Loras at 6 on Thursday.

Host St. Thomas will face UW LaCrosse at 8:30 on Thursday.
Here is the entire D3 tournament bracket.

POLLS
D1: Minnesota moves to up two spots to #15. Colorado State is #16. Cincinnati received votes.

D2: SW MN State falls to #8. From the Marshall Independent. Augustana is #22.

next up: tomorrow unless more news breaks

Gophers Get Regional in 2009

#1 posting 5.8.2008
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FINAL FOUR REGIONAL SITES SET
The final four sites in 2008 and 2009 have been selected:
2008 regional sites include Colorado State, Penn State, Texas and Washington. The regions are set for December 12 and 13. The final four will be held at Omaha (Nebraska the host).
2009 regional sites include Minnesota (the Sports Pavilion), Florida, Omaha, and Stanford. The regions are set for December 11, and 12. The final four will be held at Tampa.
The Gophers last hosted the regional in 2004 when they beat Georgia Tech and Ohio State to head to the final four where the finished second in the nation.
From the Dallas Morning News and Minnesota Daily.

CAPTAINS
Ashley Hughes and Chelsea Noble have been named captains at Ohio State.

FALL SCHEDULE
Creighton has released their schedule for the fall 2008. Allie Oelke of Chaska was Missouri Valley Freshman of the year last year. They host the Gophers in Omaha in the Bluejay Invitational on August 29, and 30.

Next up: tomorrow

Penn State Men Join Women as Volleyball Champs

#1 posting 5.4.2008
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PENN STATE CHAMPS AGAIN
This time the Penn State men won the volleyball D1 title with a 3-1 win over Pepperdine yesterday. Usually a California team wins the championship. The PSU women won the D1 title in December.

next up: tomorrow

Penn State National Champs

#1 posting 12.16.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

PENN STATE WINS D1 TOURNAMENT
The Big 10's Penn State crashed the California party in the NCAA D1 tournament by beating Stanford in five. PSU won the first two games before Stanford mounted a rally taking the next two. Gave five was 15-8 for the Nittany Lions. Megan Hodge had 27 kills for Penn State.

Penn State was #1 in the polls, but Stanford was the #1 seed in the tournament for some unknown reason. Maybe because the championship was in Sacramento, a stones throw from Palo Alto.

Penn State now has two national titles the other coming in 1999.

Next up: tomorrow

Penn State to Championship, Rose COY

#1 posting 12.14.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

PENN STATE SWEEPS
#1 Penn State moved on to the NCAA D1 championship with a sweep of California. It went from tight (30-28) to breezy (30-16).

The Nittany Lions will face top seed Stanford, 3-2 winners over USC.

How Penn State can be #1 most of the year and not be the #1 seed in the tournament is just plain goofy.

COACHING AWARDS
Penn State coach Russ Rose was named AVCA coach of the year.

SIGNING
Indiana kept their High School Gatorade player of the year at home. Caitlin Cox of New Castle, IN is headed to the Hoosiers.

GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
In case you didn't know the Minnesota Gatorade winner it is Jennifer Lopez of DGF. Lopez also won the Miss Volleyball award. Here is a list of all the Gatorade Players of the year for each state.

Here is a list of past Minnesota Gatorade players of the year
2007 Jennifer Lopez, DGF
2006 Hailey Cowles, Eden Prairie
2005 Lauren Gibbemeyer, Cretin-Derham Hall
2004 Kelly Lopez, DGF
2003 Betty Slinger, Faribault Bethlehem Academy
2002 Kelly Bowman, Osseo
2001 Kelly Bowman, Osseo
2000 Maggie Frieborg, Central Christian
1999 Lindsey Spaden, Alexandria
1998 Lisa Axel, Buffalo
1997 Amanda Rome, Chaska
1996 Amanda Rome, Chaska
1995 Elizabeth Bachman, Lakeville

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow

All American and Attendance

#1 posting 12.12.2007
your daily dose of volleyball news & information

NCAA TOURNANMENT
The Big 10 is back in the final four of the NCAA volleyball tournament with Penn State. The last time a Big 10 team cracked the final four was Minnesota in 2004. Penn State last made the final four in 1999 when they won it all.

ALL AMERICAN
Hilary Groothuis of Ridgewater CC was named to the NJCAA Division III All-America Volleyball Team. Groothuis played her high school ball at MACCRAY. From the West Central Tribune.

ATTENDANCE
Minnesota finished #4 in attendance in the NCAA figures released yesterday.
Hawaii was #1 with 6452 average.
The Big 10 had three in the top five with Wisconsin #3 and Penn State #5, and 10 in the top 35. Only Northwestern didn't make the cut.
Iowa State came in at #20. Their attendance has skyrocketed since Christy Johnson became coach.

SUMMER CAMP
Purdue is already busy with plans for the summer 2008 camp. Purdue recently has released their spring schedule too.

National Semis, and McCaffrey Article

#1 posting 12.10.2007
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NATIONAL SEMIS: PENN STATE VS CAL
The Big 10 representative, and only non Californian team in the final four, #1 Penn State will face #6 California in the Semis on Thursday.

ST. THOMAS PLAYER FEATURED
Junior Katie McCaffrey of St. Thomas (Fort Collins, CO) is featured in a story in the Coloradoan.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow

Penn State to Final Four

#1 posting 12.9.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

PENN STATE MOVES ON
Penn State swept Brigham Young to move on to the final four. They will be the only non-California team as Southern Cal beat Texas in a sweep, Stanford beat UCLA in four, and California upset defending champ Nebraska in a tight sweep at Madison.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me

next up: tomorrow morning.

Clock Strikes Midnight for Iowa State

#1 posting 12.8.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

NCAA TOURNAMENT
At Penn State: Penn State swept Big 10 rival Michigan. PSU will now will play Brigham Young.

At Madison: Michigan State put a scare into defending champ Nebraska. The Spartans took the first two games before the Cornhuskers took the next three. Game four was 30-28 to indicate the tightness of this contest.
The clock struck midnight for Iowa State. #6 Cal swept the Cyclones. Erin Boeve (Hills-Beaver Creek) had 7 kills for ISU.

MORE CONCORDIA
Concordia St. Paul's Kate Bennett of Eagan has won a state title and now a national title. She has a feature in the ThisWeek paper.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: Tomorrow.

Iowa State Off to Madison....Again

#1 posting 12.7.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

NCAA TOURNAMENT
#18 Iowa State crashed the NCAA plan of having Wisconsin host the volleyball regional. The games are still in Madison, but no Badgers. The Cyclones play #6 California tonight. The press conference has quotes from coach Christy Johnson, Erin Boeve (Hills-Beaver Creek) and Lauren Cummings. You can see video of the interviews on the ISU site.

ALL REGION
The Big 10 highlights the 11 players that made the AVCA all Mideast team.

TELEVISION/CABLE
Concordia St. Paul's Maggie McNamara will be featured on the Northern Sun Showcase on Fox Sports Net North this weekend.

MORE AWARDS
Vicky Braegelmann of UM Duluth (Albany) is up for D2 Athlete of the year.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow

3 Big 10 Teams, 1 Minnesota Player Left Standing

#1 posting 12.5.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

NCAA TOURNAMENT
There are three teams left from the Big 10 in the 16 teams left standing: Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State. Penn State will host a regional this weekend with familiar opponent Michigan up first.

The only Minnesota connection still in the tournament is Erin Boeve (Hills-Beaver Creek) with Iowa State. ISU will look to continue their upset string when they play California on Friday in Madison, WI. There is free webcast video available of that game. ISU is also offering a bus ride from Ames to Madison.

D2 AFTERGLOW
Concordia St. Paul and their championship season is reviewed in the StarTribune.

FEATURES
Anne Eckhoff of Carleton has been named to the All American Honorable Mention squad.

HIGH SCHOOL RECAPS
Bemidji held their banquet and passed out awards. From the Bemidji Pioneer.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow

Concordia St. Paul's Triumphal Return

#1 posting 12.4.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

D1
NATIONAL RANKING
For the first time in program history, Iowa State is now ranked in the top 25 poll. They check in at #18 after beating #16 San Diego and #8 Wisconsin last weekend. Erin Boeve (Hills-Beaver Creek) tells all about the NCAA tournament last weekend in her weekly blog.

The Minnesota Daily recaps the Gophers "disappointing" end to the season.

D2
NATIONAL CHAMPS
Concordia St. Paul returned home with the trophy and KARE 11 was there for the triumphal return home. CSP already has the banner up in the rafters.

MORE AWARDS
Vicky Braegelmann of UM Duluth (Albany) added to her post season awards with the Daktronics Co National Player of the Year.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow

Concordia St. Paul Wins D2 Title, Wisconsin Upset

#1 posting 12.2.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

CONCORDIA ST. PAUL WINS TITLE
Concordia St. Paul won their first D2 national title with a four game win over Western Washington. Maria Steinhagen (Alexandria) had 26 kills to lead the Golden Bears.
Steinhagen was named all tournament. Also joining her on the squad was Maggie McNamara (Zumbrota-Mazeppa), Emily Palkert (SW Christian Chaska), and Mary Slinger (Bethlehem Academy).

NCAA D1 TOURANMENT: WISCONSIN UPSET
AT WISCONSIN
#8 Wisconsin was swept from the post season by unranked, upstart Iowa State on Saturday. Erin Boeve (Hills-Beaver Creek) had 11 kills and 15 total points to lead ISU.
On Friday the Badgers opened with a sweep of Northern Iowa. Amy Sampson (Champlin Park) had 10 kills for UNI.
Iowa State started their upset routine on Friday by knocking off #16 San Diego in five games, the last game 16-14. Erin Boeve had 10 kills on Friday for ISU. Laurel Abrahamson (Bloomington Jefferson) had 16 kills for SD.
USD also has a photo album of the action in the cheese state.

AT PENN STATE
#1 ranked, not #1 seed, Penn State won twice over the weekend. They opened with a win over sweep over Siena. PSU followed that yesterday with another convincing sweep over Albany. Tawny Dahmes (Chaska) had 9 digs against Penn State.
Albany opened with a sweep of Cleveland State. Dahmes had 13 digs in that game.

AT OHIO
Purdue opened Friday by beating host Ohio in four. Amanda Andersen (Centennial) had 2 kills for Ohio.
Cal Poly halted the Boilermakers post season with a sweep.

AT NEBRASKA
Nebraska started off the tournament season with a sweep of South Dakota State. Samantha Pearson (Chaska) had 11 digs for SDSU. Mackenzie Osadchuk (Apple Valley) had 2 digs, Emily Rooney (Red Wing) had 2 kills and Annie Adams (Crosby-Ironton) had 1 kill for SDSU.

AT MICHIGAN
Michigan opened with a sweep of Miami OH. The Wolverines then upset #21 Colorado State in another sweep.

AT DAYTON
Michigan State opened with a sweep of Kentucky. The Spartans then upset host #15 Dayton in a sweep.

Thanks to the readers for the help.

next up: tomorrow.

Concordia St. Paul in D2 Title Game

#1 posting 12.1,2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & informaiton

D1 TOURNAMENT
The Gophers season ended last night with 3-1 loss to Sacramento State. Minnesota finishes the year 18-13.

D2 TOURNAMENT
Concordia St. Paul moves on to the D2 championship game with a 3-1 win over West Texas A&M. You can see the game live on the internet here. Championship a 7 pm.

ALL AREA
The Duluth News Tribune names their All Area Team with Hannah Johnson of Greenway their player of the year.

Next up: Tomorrow

Concordia St. Paul Moves to Semis

#1 posting 11.30.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

D2 TOURNAMENT
Concordia St. Paul swept California PA in the Elite 8 Quarterfinals. Maria Steinhagen (Alexandria) had 16 kills for CSP.

CSP Setter Maggie McNamara was named to the Daktronics All American First Team.

CSP hitter Raina Hein has a blog on the experience.

You can follow the action the rest of the way on the free live video on the internet.

NCAA TOURNAMENT
Penn State and Wisconsin host first round games this weekend.

Ohio is featured on ESPN.com with mid majors coming on strong.

COACHING NEWS
Drake is looking for a new coach.

Indiana assistant David Jack has resigned from his position.

Kathy Gillen-Melville has resigned at Eagan High School. Eagan won four state titles in her era. At the tail end of the StarTribune report.

SIGNINGS
South Dakota State signed two players: Kelli Fiegen of Parkston, SD and Ellyce Youngren of Brookings, SD.

SEASON RECAP
Lisa Dobie has left Winona State as the all time leading assist leader. From the Winonan

ALL CONFERENCE
Cannon Falls has three all Hiawatha Valley conference players. From the CF Beacon.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow.

Braegelmann D2 Player of the Year

#1 posting 11.29.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

D1 TOURNMENT
The Gophers had to fight to get back to the NCAA tournament. The StarTribune looks at their resilience.
Minnesota is off to Stanford for the start of their tournament experience.

At Madison Iowa State faces San Diego, while Northern Iowa gets to play host Wisconsin.

South Dakota State faces defending champ Nebraska. This is how to watch the SDSU game if you aren't there.

Ohio is set to host Purdue.

ACADEMIC ALL AMERICAN
Danielle Meyer of Ohio State and Christa Harmotto of Penn State have been named to ESPN's Academic All-American team.

D2 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vicky Braegelmann of UM Duluth (& Albany HS) was named D2 Player of the Year. This is the second year where she has the title. Last year she shared the honor.

D2 TOURNAMENT
Concordia St. Paul was introduced to the press at the D2 tournament.

SIGNINGS
CSP has signed three: Ellie Duffy (Totino-Grace), Taylor Fieldsted (Lakeville North), and Natalie Thomas (Champlin Park).

REVIEWS OF THE YEAR
Wadena-Deer Creek's year is reviewed in the Wadena Pioneer Journal.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow morning

64 Countdown

#1 posting 11.28.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

NCAA TOURNAMENT COUNTDOWN
The Big 10 will send 6 teams off to the 64 dance.

Purdue is off to Athens, Ohio to take on the host Ohio Bobcats. Here is ticket information on that venue.

Wisconsin coach Pete Waite talked to the media on Monday. The Badgers will have free audio/video streaming of their event this weekend.

South Dakota State has tickets available for their contest with defending national champ Nebraska.

D2 TOURNAMENT
Maria Steinhagen is in the Elite 8 with Concordia St. Paul. Her hometown paper the Alexandria Echo Press has a feature on her.

HIGH SCHOOL RECAPS
West Central's season is recapped in the Alexandria Echo Press.

Ashby's Megan Gullickson was named Little 8 MVP. From the AEP

thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow

NCAA Pairings

#1 posting 11.26.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

NCAA PAIRINGS
Minnesota is headed west where they will face Sacramento State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Stanford. In the other contest the hosts take on Santa Clara. The Gophers play Friday at 7 pm.
The StarTribune has the reactions of the players and coaches to the news.
The Minnesota Daily looks at the road split over the weekend that put the Gophers in the tournament.

Other Big 10 teams in the tournament include #1 in the polls and #3 in the tournament Penn State. They open with Siena. Also in that bracket is Albany who will play Cleveland State in the early game.

Purdue will face Ohio in Athens, OH 7:30 pm on Friday.

Michigan State travels to Dayton to take on Kentucky at 5 pm on Friday.

Wisconsin hosts first round sites with a lot of Minnesota connections there. #16 San Diego faces Iowa State and then Northern Iowa takes on the host #9 Badgers.
This is Iowa State's second straight trip.

Michigan will host the first and second rounds. They open with Miami of Ohio.

South Dakota State is making their first ever trip to the NCAA tournament as a D1 school. Their reward? Playing #1 seed Nebraska.

On the outside looking in is Creighton who finished 2nd in the Missouri Valley. Four MV teams are headed to the dance, but not the Bluejays.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow.