Point U!(betcha) - Point U! Boosters

Point U!
(betcha)
Newsletter of the University of Minnesota Point U! Booster Club
Volume 2013 Issue 1
August 20, 2013
Point U!
In this issue
Coach’s Corner
From the Point U! Booster President
Announcements
Rankings
National Update
Big Ten Update
Gopher Chatter
Lots o’ Links
Contact Us
Coach’s Corner
From Coach McCutcheon:
Greetings Point U Boosters!
Our Team has just completed its 6th day of preseason training. I'm happy to report that it's been a good start to the 2013
season. As many of you might now we have a relatively large roster but, so far, that seems to be a strong positive when
you see the large number of quality reps our athletes are getting in a competitive environment. The Team still has a long
way to go before we can even start talking about reaching our potential, but they work hard and are committed to the
process of improvement (individually and collectively). Most importantly I think this group has the capacity to play some
very good volleyball, and you should know that we'll be doing everything we can to help them be the best that they can
be.
This new season has brought other changes as well. Our booster club has elected a new president (Congratulations
again Katie!) and we are excited to work with the group to help strengthen and promote this program that we all care so
much about. We are starting work on a locker room refurbishment project and our Team room will be updated as well
with some different murals and some different branding/messaging. We are also in the process of trying to acquire some
technology pieces that will allow up to teach, learn, and scout much more effectively. All in all it's a very exciting time for
our program.
Any of you that were with us last year will know how much I am humbled by and grateful for your support. The idea of a
group of people who are committed to helping our program, while concurrently building a wonderful sense of community
around it, still seems too good to be true. A sincere and heartfelt thank you, from all of us here on the Gopher Volleyball
Team for your support - and know that we'll be ready to battle here in a couple of weeks.
All the best, and Go Gophers!
Hugh McCutcheon
Head Coach
Minnesota Volleyball
From the Point U! Booster President
From Katie Harms:
Point U!
Katie Harms, President, Point U! Boosters
Announcements
Receptions
The Point U! Boosters will be holding post-match receptions on the following dates:
• Saturday, September 7 (Duke; ice cream social)
• Sunday, September 29 (Illinois)
• Saturday, October 19 (Michigan)
• Sunday, October 27 (Northwestern)
• Sunday, November 10 (Nebraska)
• Saturday, November 16 (Penn State)
• Wednesday, November 27 (Wisconsin; Senior night)
Post-match receptions are open to Point U! Boosters and their guests. They are a great opportunity to mingle
with other boosters and volleyball fans as well as hear from players and coaches.
+++
Bus Trip to Wisconsin!
Join fellow Gopher fans and travel to see the Gophers take on Wisconsin on Wednesday, October 23 in
Madison. Everyone is welcome and we need at least 30 paid reservations by Monday, September 23 to
secure the bus through Creative Charters. Here are the details:
Cost: $65/person for Point U! Members; $75/person for non-members. (Covers bus ride only. We will
coordinate the purchase of the game tickets for the group.)
Depart: We will leave the metro area around noon on October 23 from a location yet to be
determined.
Dinner: We’ll be making a stop for a pay-for-your-own dinner before the match.
Return: We will return immediately after the match.
Reservations: Please make reservations directly with Creative Charters at:
651-748-0080
1-888-612-0323
sales@creativecharter.com
+++
Also, we would very much like to hear from YOU! Former Gophers, out-of-town members,
Hollywood celebrities -- whomever -- please email us at the address below, let us know what you are up to,
pass on suggestions or questions for the Point U!(betcha), or hammer the coaching staff for their time-out
usage -- it’s up to you. We look forward to all your input.
Rankings
Rank
School (First-Place Votes)
1
2012 Final
Poll
Total Points
2012 Record
Texas (55)
1490
29-4
1
2
Penn State (3)
1425
33-3
3
3
Stanford (2)
1379
30-4
4
4
Southern California
1307
30-6
6
5
Washington
1167
25-7
9
6
Minnesota
1140
27-8
8
7
Michigan
1120
27-12
5
8
Oregon
1020
30-5
2
9
Florida
996
27-5
10
10
Nebraska
962
26-7
7
11
Hawai'i
825
27-3
11
12
UCLA
791
23-8
13
13
BYU
728
28-4
12
676
25-10
16
14
Michigan State
15
Iowa State
650
22-8
14
16
Purdue
585
23-11
15
17
Kentucky
504
22-11
20
18
Florida State
479
28-4
18
19
Louisville
389
30-4
17
20
Kansas
304
26-7
25
21
Western Kentucky
262
33-4
21
22
Dayton
229
27-5
19
23
Ohio State
202
23-11
22
24
Wichita State
172
24-10
23
25
Creighton
133
29-4
24
Others Receiving Votes and appearing on two or more ballots: San Diego 101; North Carolina 68; Pepperdine 65; Illinois 49;
Miami (FL) 41; Oklahoma 35; Kansas State 32; Long Beach State 30; St. Mary's (CA) 27; Texas A&M 20; Wisconsin 17; California
16; Colorado State 15; Notre Dame 6; San Diego State 6; Northern Iowa 3.
National Update
Texas – First time in Longhorn history that they enter the season as the #1 team in the country. And, there is
good reason for the defending national champs to open the season atop the rankings. Returning AllAmericans Haley Eckerman (junior OH) and Bailey Webster (senior OH) along with Hannah Allison (senior
setter), Khat Bell (junior MB), and Molly McCage (sophomore MB), the Longhorns have the talent and
experience to repeat. In addition, the Longhorns also boast the #5 ranked recruiting class by Prep Volleyball.
The Longhorns open in Hawaii where they will face #11 Hawaii then returns to Austin to face #2 Penn State
and #3 Stanford.
Penn State – Picked by the Big Ten coaches to win the conference, the Nittany Lions, like Texas, return all
their major contributors from the 2012 season. All Americans Micha Hancock (junior setter), Ariel Scott
(senior RS), and Deja McClendon (senior OH) are joined by Big Ten Freshman of the Year Megan Courtney
(OH) and Katie Slay (junior MB) as the Lions look to repeat as the Big Ten champs and overcome a
championship semi-final loss to Oregon in 2012. Opening at home against the Polish National Team,
Syracuse, and Louisville, the Lions then travel to Texas for the premier non-conference tournament of the
season as they face Texas and Florida.
Stanford – The Cardinal had their 2012 championship hopes dashed in the regional finals as they lost in four
sets to underdog Michigan. The 2012 Pac 12 champs have been picked to repeat in 2013 as they return All
Americans Carly Wopat (senior MB) and Inky Ajanaku (sophomore MB) along with sophomore outside
hitters Jordan Burgess and Brittany Howard and former All American (2011) Rachel Williams (senior OH).
Also returning for the Cardinal are sophomore setter Madi Bugg and junior libero Kyle Gilbert.
Supplementing a strong returning line-up is the #8 ranked recruiting class. Like the three teams above them,
the Cardinal has few holes to fill and plenty of experience which should serve them well heading into the
season. After opening at UC-Santa Barbara, the Cardinal hosts Pacific before heading to Austin, TX to face
Florida and Texas.
Southern California – The Trojans played 12 sets in the NCAA tournament last season, 3-0 wins in the first
three rounds and losing 0-3 to eventual champion Texas. USC returns six starters plus two time All American
libero Natalie Hagglund (senior) including Pac 12 2012 Freshman of the Year Samantha Bricio and enters the
season with the #2 ranked recruiting class. The Trojans start the season with three straight road trips – at
Purdue, Marquette, and San Diego.
Washington – The Huskies held off Hawaii in the second round of the tournament last season before falling
to Nebraska in the following round. Returning second team All American Krista Vansant (sophomore OH)
will be joined by Katy Beals (sophomore setter), Kaleigh Nelson (junior OH), and Kylin Munoz (senior OH)
along with a recruiting classed ranked #10 in the country. The Huskies will be tested often in conference play
as they take on the two teams ranked above them as well as #8 Oregon. The Huskies hopes everything comes
together for a tournament run which would return them home for the championships as the championship
rounds are held in Seattle this year. An odd non-conference schedule have the Huskies traveling to Portland,
OR for three matches then single dates at home, at Illinois, and Loyola-Chicago.
Minnesota – The Gophers finished strong in 2012, winning their final four conference matches to pull into a
tie for second in the Big Ten then advancing to the regionals where they dispatched of host Purdue in four sets
before falling to nemesis Penn State in the finals. The obvious question for the Gophers is how to replace All
American Katherine Harms. However, they will also need to find a middle blocker. Maybe two if the
decision is to move Tori Dixon to the right side. Things are a little more settled at the outside hitter position
with Ashley Wittman and Daly Santana returning as well as setter Alexandra Palmer. The libero position is a
little more unsettled without a clear cut (at least from the view outside the program) leader at the position.
However, the returning roster will be supported with a recruiting class that ranks #3 in the country. The
Gophers open on the road in Birmingham, AL before returning home to host the Diet Coke Classic.
Michigan – The Wolverines shocked the volleyball world last year as the defeated Stanford in four sets. It
probably shouldn’t have been a surprise as it marked the third time in four years that Michigan ended
Stanford’s title hopes, and with all three victories occurring in the Bay area. The Wolverines return senior
outside hitters Molly Toon and Lexi Erwin along with Jennifer Cross (senior MB) as well as setter Lexi
Dannemiller. Erwin, Cross, and Dannemiller were named to the All Big Ten preseason team. The question
for the Wolverines is if they can continue the momentum from last year’s run into the 2013 season. They will
find out early as after traveling to Cincinnati, OH for the opening weekend, the Wolverines will host Oregon
State and #8 Oregon.
Oregon – The Ducks also made their first ever Final Four appearance last year and made it memorable as they
defeated Penn State in the semi’s before losing the championship match to Texas. Unlike the teams above
them, the Ducks have a huge hole to fill in trying to replace 2012 National Player of the Year, Alaina
Bergsma. They do return All American Lauren Plum (junior setter) and second team AA Liz Brenner
(sophomore OH) so the cupboard isn’t completely bare. Opening at home, the Ducks then travel to Ann Arbor
to take on Michigan and Michigan State.
Florida – The Gators claimed their 20th SEC title in 2012 and were picked to win their 21st this season. They
advanced to the third round of the tournament before being defeated by Texas. The Gators return All
American Chloe Mann (senior MB) and National Freshman of the Year Ziva Recek (OH). The Gators will
find out fairly early how they stack up against the top competition as, after opening at home, they travel to
Austin, TX to face Stanford and Penn State.
Nebraska – Perhaps no team in the top 25 will undergo as much change in 2013 as the Cornhuskers, on the
court and OF the court. Nebraska moves from the venerable NU Coliseum to the newly renovated Devaney
Center. However, that might be the only sure thing for the Cornhuskers heading into the season as they lose
their starting setter and both outside hitters to graduation and libero to transfer. However, the Cornhuskers
were able to stock a cupboard which had Morgan Broekhuis (senior OPP) and Meghan Haggerty (sophomore
MB) with a recruiting class which was ranked as the top recruiting class in the country. Incoming freshman
include 6’3” outside hitters Amber and Kadie Rolfzen (yep, twins), the number 8 and 5, respectively, ranked
high school seniors in the country. Adding to the mix is senior transfer Kelsey Robinson and the Cornhuskers
have the look of a team that is reloading, not rebuilding. After opening on the road in St. Louis against
Louisiana-Monroe, Auburn, and St. Louis, the Cornhuskers return to Lincoln to open up Devaney Center
against Villinova, Georgia, and Southern Mississippi.
Big10 Update
The
final 2012 standings:
Big Ten
Overall
Team
Record
Pct.
Record
Pct.
Penn State
19-1
.950
29-2
.935
Nebraska
15-5
.750
23-6
.793
Minnesota
15-5
.750
24-7
.774
Ohio State
13-7
.650
22-10
.688
Purdue
12-8
.650
21-10
.677
Michigan State
11-9
.550
23-9
.719
Michigan
11-9
.550
23-11
.676
Illinois
8-12
.400
14-16
.467
Northwestern
5-15
.250
16-15
.516
Wisconsin
5-15
.250
17-16
.515
Indiana
4-16
.200
12-20
.375
Iowa
2-18
.100
10-23
.303
Illinois
http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-volley/ill-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-volley/w-volley-roster.html (roster)
Indiana
http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/w-volley/ind-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/ind-w-volley-mtt.html (roster)
Iowa
http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/w-volley/iowa-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/iowa-w-volley-mtt.htmlroster)
Michigan
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-volley/mich-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/mich-w-volley-mtt.html (roster)
Michigan State
http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/w-volley/msu-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/msu-w-volley-mtt.html (roster)
Nebraska
http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=100&SPID=23&SPSID=11 (website)
http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?spid=23&spsid=14&db_oem_id=100 (website)
Northwestern
http://www.nusports.com/sports/w-volley/nw-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.nusports.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/nw-w-volley-mtt.html (roster)
Ohio State
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-volley/osu-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/osu-w-volley-mtt.html (roster)
Penn State
http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/w-volley/psu-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/psu-w-volley-mtt.html (roster)
Purdue
http://www.purduesports.com/sports/w-volley/pur-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.purduesports.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/pur-w-volley-mtt.html (roster)
Wisconsin
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/w-volley/wis-w-volley-body.html (website)
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/wis-w-volley-mtt.html (roster)
Gopher Chatter
Alumnae News
Katherine Harms (2012) is playing in Italy for Igor Volley Novara. www.agilvolley.com
Lauren Gibbemeyer (2011) is with the US National Team. The team recently won gold in the Pan American
Cup tournament and is in fourth place in FIVB World Grand Prix preliminary rounds.
http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball/USA-Teams/Volleyball/Women
Lisa Axel (2002) is the head coach at Montana State University.
http://www.msubsports.com/index.aspx?tab=volleyball&path=wvball
Lots o’ links
Gophers site
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-volley/minn-w-volley-body.html
Big10 site
http://www.bigten.org/sports/w-volley/big10-w-volley-body.html
Volleyball forums
http://volleytalk.proboards.com/board/5/women-girls-volleyball-forum#
RichKern.com (includes websites, scores, recruits, etc.)
Some features at this site now require registration/subscription.
http://www.richkern.com/vb/FreePage.asp
http://www.richkern.com/vb/websites/indexsub.asp?div=DI (premium)
http://www.richkern.com/vb/GameScores/indexsub.asp?Div=DI
http://www.richkern.com/vb/recruits/indexsub.asp?Div=DI&VBYear=2013 (premium)
PrepVolleyball.com (subscription)
http://www.prepvolleyball.com/index.asp
NCAA statistics
http://www.ncaa.com/stats/volleyball-women/d1
Contact Us
Questions/comments/suggestions/pastries are welcome. Please address them to
Our mission “statement”? To support Gopher volleyball and have fun doing it.
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