Head Coach: Jane Becker (St. Thomas '04; 2nd year at Augsburg, 5th overall; 16-14 at Augsburg, 76-56 overall)
2010: 16-14 overall, 5-6 MIAC (t-7th/12)
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/8
CLICK HERE FOR MIAC 2011 SEASON PREVIEW
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College volleyball team will enter the 2011 season with high hopes. With eight letterwinners returning to the team, second-year head coach
Jane Becker is excited about the potential for this year's group.
“I've been really encouraged with how well the group has performed so far in camp,” said Becker. 'We obviously lost some quality players from last year, but I think we have some people who are poised to step up and play a larger role for us this season.”
Talented sophomore and junior classes
Leading the Auggies on the floor this season will be a talented trio of sophomores led by setter
Emily McCourt (SO, Sun Prairie, Wis.). McCourt, who appeared in every set last season, was one of the teams' most indispensible players in her first campaign, as she led the Auggies in assists (877, 7.69 per-set), and ranked first in the conference's overall statistics in service aces (63, 0.55 per-set).
Joining McCourt on the offensive attack this season will be fellow sophomore
Colleen Ourada (SO, Omaha, Neb./Mercy HS). Ourada finished last season with the third-highest kill total on the team (212, 2.16 per-set), and recorded a season-high 17 in the Auggies five-set win at Carleton in October.
Rounding out the Auggies talented sophomore class is
Katelyn Berens (SO, Jordan, Minn./Prior Lake HS). As one of the top first-year defensive specialist in the conference in 2010, Berens ranked second on the team in digs (229, 2.04 per-set), while appearing in every match.
The Auggies will also be boosted by the return of a strong group of front-line players, including
Nikolene Miller (JR, Tomahawk, Wis.),
Jamila Lee (JR, Richfield, Minn.) and
Micha Sater (JR, Fridley, Minn./Centennial HS). Miller and Lee ranked first and second respectively in blocks per-set in 2010, with Miller recording 107 (16 solo, 1.03 per-set) and Lee recording 77 (9 solo, 0.79 per-set). Sater will be able to return to the floor after missing the better part of the 2010 season due to injury.
Amy Jo Opsal (SR, North Mankato, Minn./St. Clair HS) will also return to the team this season as the lone senior on the roster. A key reserve for the Auggies in 2010, Opsal will serve as a defensive specialist this season.
Another familiar face who returns to the Augsburg lineup this season is outside hitter
Tia Schuster (SO, Minot, N.D./Our Redeemer's HS). After sitting out the 2010 season, Schuster will provide the Auggies with another talented player on the front line.
Depth in large newcomer class
A talented group of newcomers, led by
Tabby Roh (FY, La Crosse, Wis./Central HS),
Maggie Zirk (JR, Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato HS),
Mackensie Menke (FY, Prior Lake, Minn./Shakopee HS),
Shelby Vogel (FY, Sheldon, Iowa) and
Emma Sievers (FY, St. Paul Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) will provide depth to the Auggie squad in 2011.
Roh was an all-conference selection during her senior season at La Crosse (Wis.) Central, while Menke was a member of three state championship teams during her career at Shakopee. Zirk transfers from Ridgewater Community and Technical College, where she was a part of the Warriors' 2010 NJCAA Division III national championship squad. Vogel was an all-conference selection at Sheldon, and Sievers was an all-conference selectee at Cretin-Derham Hall.
The Auggies will open the non-conference portion of their schedule on Friday, Sept. 2 at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational in Claremont, Calif. The team's first home match is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 6 against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. The Auggies will then host the 30th annual Augsburg Volleyball Invitational Sept. 9 and 10. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the invitational, all Augsburg volleyball alumni are invited to participate in a short ceremony and reception following the conclusion of the invitational championship match.
