DRAGON VOLLEYBALL
Press Release
DRAGONS SIGN FIVE MORE VOLLEYBALL RECRUITS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2008
Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball coach Tammy Blake-Kath announced the signing of five more recruits, including Katy Braaten of Hastings, Brittany Hanson of Apple Valley, Lisa Kurtz of Pierz, Andrea Rachel of Maple Lake and Cathy Turner of New Prague.
An outside/right side hitter at Hastings High School, Braaten served as a captain as a senior and was voted Best Blocker and Best Offensive Player. The 6-1 Braaten has also been a member of the Mizuno Northern Lights for past three years. Last year she helped the 17-4s place second at the Colorado Crossroads Qualifier.
A native of Apple Valley and a middle hitter at Eastview High School, Hanson also played for the Mizuno Northern Lights. She received the Lightning Award at EHS for outstanding character and leadership and qualified for the honor roll all four years. Hanson, 6-0, was also a member of the National Honor Society.
A native of New Prague, Turner spent one season at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay at outside hitter in 2005 before transferring to Minnesota State University, Mankato. She appeared in 84 games and averaged 2.24 kills per game and a 2.86 hitting percentage for the Mavericks in 2006, and was second on the team in total blocks. She earned All-NCC honorable mention, NCAA Academic Honors and was a member of the Dean’s List.
At New Prague High School Turner was a three-year starter for the Trojans and earned All-Missota Conference honors as a junior and senior. She was also a three-year track letterwinner.
A setter/right side hitter at Central Lakes College, Kurtz was named to the 2007 All-Northern Division, All-Minnesota Community College Conference and All-MCCC State Tournament teams. She was also saluted with All Region 13 and NJCAA Division III All American honors, NJCAA DIII National Tournament MVP laurels and earned All-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
As a freshman the 5-10 Kurtz was named to the All-Northern Division, All-MCCC, All-MCCC State Tournament, All-Region 13 and NJCAA Division III All American teams.
A graduate of Pierz Healy High School, Kurtz was an All-Central Minnesota Conference, All-Section, Minnesota All-State and Brainerd Dispatch All-Area Team honoree. She also served as captain.
A three-sport captain at Maple Lake High School, Rachel was a three-time All-Central Minnesota Conference volleyball selection. Winner of the Go! Award as a sophomore and junior, she was named Player of the Year as a senior. The 5-7 Rachel holds the MLHS record for career aces, 192, and career digs, 818. She was also a Minnesota Academic All-State pick in volleyball, basketball and softball.
Last fall the Dragons signed Nicole Buysse of Pipestone, a four-year starter for Pipestone High School and a two-time Minnesota All-State selection.
Buysse was elected captain of the Arrows as a junior and senior and was named to the All-Southwest Conference team both years. A two-time Most Valuable Player, she led PHS to a third place finish at the 2006 Minnesota State High School Championships and a fifth place finish as a sophomore. Buysse, 6-0, was named to the all-tournament team as a junior.
Buysse closed her prep career with a school record 935 kills. A three-year softball starter, she helped the Arrows capture the Minnesota State High School Championship last spring.
MSU MOORHEAD FALLS TO WSU AT NSIC VOLLEYBALL FINAL FOUR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2007
SCHEDULE- - - Minnesota State University Moorhead closed its season with a runnerup finish at the 2007 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships last weekend at St. Paul.
RECORD- - - MSU Moorhead finished 19-10 overall and 11-7 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
COACH- - - Tammy Blake-Kath, in her 13th season as head coach at MSU Moorhead, is 233-176 with the Dragons. Susan Kolbow and Angela Gross will serve as assistant coaches.
PROBABLE STARTERS- - - The Dragons’ probable starting lineup for this week:
OH 16 Megan Norling (Plymouth), Jr., 5-9
MH 3 Kelci Guenther (Williston, ND), Jr., 6-0
MH 9 Mary Sussenguth (Willmar), So., 6-1
RS 12 Keri Dowzak (Rosemount), So., 6-0
DS 1 Cortney Marr (Wyoming), Sr., 5-7
S 4 Julie Vancura (Anoka), Sr., 5-6
L 7 Calla Oftedahl (Apple Valley), Jr., 5-4
LAST WEEK- - - MSU Moorhead defeated Winona State 30-25, 30-19, 27-30, 30-24 on Tuesday, shocked nationally-ranked Concordia (SP) 31-29, 30-28, 22-30, 30-22 on Friday, but fell to Wayne State 22-30, 30-22, 30-29, 30-22 in the championship game on Saturday. Megan Norling had 18 kills in the victory while Kelci Guenther had 16 kills and 11 blocks against CSP and 18 kills in the loss to Wayne State.
ALL-NSIC TOURNEY- - - Kelci Guenther and Julie Vancura were named to the 2007 NSIC All-Tournament team.
ALL-NSIC- - - Senior Julie Vancura was named to the 2007 All-NSIC volleyball team while Megan Norling and Calla Oftedahl received honorable mention.
RANKINGS- - - MSU Moorhead ranked ninth on the latest NCA Division II North Central Regional poll.
NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK- - - Senior Julie Vancura was named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Setter of the Week September 24 and October 1.Vancura was credited with 122 assists and 58 digs in a pair of league road victories last week.
BY THE NUMBERS- - - Kelci Guenther ranks third on the latest NSIC volleyball chart in blocks, 1.44, Calla Oftedahl is third in digs, 5.98, Julie Vancura is third in assists, 11.98, Megan Norling is fourth in kills, 3.82, and Mary Sussenguth is fourth in blocks, 1.37. Oftedahl is 17th on the latest NCAA Division II national statistics for digs, 6.02, Sussenguth is 15th for blocks, 1.36, Guenther is 23rd for blocks, 1.31, and Vancura is 36th for assists, 11.92. MSUM ranks fourth in team digs, 21.06, and sixth in blocks, 29.2.
FOR THE RECORD- - - Julie Vancura became the Dragons’ career leader this fall with 5,334 lifetime assists. Vancura was named NSIC Setter of the Week September 24 and October 1. Calla Oftedahl matched the single game mark of 43 digs at Northern State while Norling tied the single match attacks record of 77 shared by Dragon Hall of Famers Amy Gernand and Emily Hegg.
BLOCK PARTY- - - Junior Kelci Guenther broke the Dragons' single game record with 17 block assists in a four-game victory over Bemidji State September 15. The previous mark of 12 was set by Ann Swanson in 1989. MSUM also broke the single game record of 43 blocks set in 1988 with 46 block assists against Bemidji State.
UND TOURNAMENT- - - MSU Moorhead posted a 2-1 record at the UND Invitational August 31-1. MSUM defeated Chadron State, 30-16, 30-14, 30-28 and Northern Michigan 30-22, 30-24, 30-26 but fell to Dickinson State 29-31, 30-19, 30-26, 30-32, 15-13. Megan Norling (16) and Laura Tvrdik (15) combined for 31 kills against Chadron State. Tvrdik had a club high 12 kills in the sweep of NMU and Norling logged 18 kills against DSU.
UNO CLASSIC- - - MSU Moorhead debuted in style with a perfect 3-0 getaway at the UNO Classic at Omaha, NE in late August. MSUM defeated Colorado State-Pueblo 30-18, 30-26, 20-30, 30-20, nationally-ranked Nebraska-Omaha 30-22, 22-30, 24-30, 30-28, 20-18 and Montana State Billings 30-24, 30-27, 23-30, 30-25. Mary Sussenguth had 15 kills in the victory over Colorado State-Pueblo while Julie Vancura was credited with 44 assists. Megan Norling had 15 kills and Vancura 61 assists in the upset of UNO while Norling and Laura Tvrdik had 14 kills against MSU-Billings.
LETTERWINNERS- - - The Dragons return nine letterwinners from last year’s club, including seniors Cortney Marr (Wyoming), Carrie Schwartzenberger (Moorhead) and Julie Vancura (Anoka), juniors Kelci Guenther (Williston, ND), Megan Norling (Plymouth) and Calla Oftedahl (Apple Valley) and sophomores Sam Bourcy (Moorhead), Keri Dowzak (Rosemount) and Mary Sussenguth (Willmar).
NEWCOMERS- - - The balance of the Dragons’ 16-player roster also includes freshmen Kacie Fortmann (Fisher), Laura Greenwood (Duluth), Melissa Henderson (Brooklyn Park), Ashley Pyfferoen (Byron), Katelyn Schwartzenberger (Moorhead), Leigh Splittstoesser (Stewartville) and Laura Tvrdik (Farwell).
STARTERS- - - The Dragons retain three starters, including Guenther (MH), Vancura (S) and Oftedahl (DS).
NSIC PRE-SEASON POLL- - - Defending champion Concordia University has been installed as the title choice in the 2007 NSIC Volleyball Coaches’ pre-season poll with 85 points while MSU Moorhead ranks fourth in the 10-team league with 63 points.
LAST YEAR- - - MSU Moorhead finished 16-12 overall and 11-7 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in 2006.
