2014 Auggie Awards - Women's Most Improved Team of the Year Finalists

BASKETBALL (9-16 overall, 7-15 in MIAC--8th/12 in 2012-2013; 12-13 overall, 9-13 in MIAC-- t6th/12 in 2013-2014) -- Augsburg finished in seventh place in the MIAC standings, tied for the team’s best conference finish in the last 18 years … Augsburg claimed its first sweep of St. Benedict in MIAC play since the 1985-86 season, and also claimed league sweeps of St. Catherine, Macalester and Carleton … Bill McKee had two players earn MIAC honors in his third season as the head coach at Augsburg … Jill Tichy was named to the All-MIAC squad while Carly Wolf received All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team honors.

HOCKEY (6-16-3 overall, 2-12-3 in MIAC-- 9th/10 in 2012-2013; 9-16 overall, 6-12 in MIAC-- 8th/10 in 2013-2014) -- Augsburg finished the 2013-2014 season winning three more games than they did in the 2012-2013 season… They also scored 16 more goals in 2013-2014 than they did in the 2012-2013 season … A team with no seniors and 19 first-years and sophomores on its 24-player roster, Augsburg's nine wins marked its most victories since the 2004-05 season (13-10-3), and its six conference wins were its most since the 2005-06 season (7-8-3) … Auggie forward Kayla Fuechtmann earned All-MIAC honors, while defender Danielle Heitkamp and forward Callen Naasz were named to the All-Rookie Team. Additionally, Heitkamp, Naasz, defender Brenna Nakonechny and goalie Brianna Schulz arned All-MIAC honorable-mention honors, while defender Casey Miller was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team … The six honorees is the most Augsburg student-athletes recognized by the conference in head coach Michelle McAteer's tenure.

SWIMMING AND DIVING (11th/11 (74.0) in MIAC in 2012-13; 9th/11 (115.0) in MIAC in 2013-14) -- Augsburg finished ninth at the MIAC Championships, the highest MIAC finish in Augsburg swimming and diving history … Augsburg’s 115 team points were also a school record at the MIAC meet… Multiple school records were broken by the 2013-14 team coached by Steve Webb, his first season as Augsburg’s head coach… Augsburg set school records in 11 individual events and four relays at the MIAC meet … Kelsey Knollmueller reached consolation finals in two events at the MIAC championships, while setting four individual school records … Diver Hannah Thiry recorded the best-ever individual finish for an Auggie at the MIAC meet, finishing 10th in the 1-meter diving competition and 11th in the 3-meter diving competition.

VOLLEYBALL (16-12 overall, 5-6 in MIAC--t7th/12 in 2012-2013; 29-5 overall, 10-1 in MIAC-- t1st/12 in 2013-2014) -- Augsburg finished 29-5 overall which is 13 more wins than the previous year…For the first time in school history, Augsburg claimed a share of the MIAC regular-season championship with a 10-1 league record, qualifying for the NCAA Division III national tournament for the second time in school history, reaching the second round … Coach Jane Becker was named as both the MIAC and AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year … Four Auggies received MIAC honors… Colleen Ourada, Ashley Peper and Emily McCourt were named to the All-MIAC squad while Katelyn Berens received the honor of being selected to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team… Ourada, Peper, and McCourt all went on to be named AVCA Division III All-Region and then AVCA Division III All-Americans … Augsburg’s 29 victories were tied for the third-most wins in a single season in school history. Augsburg won 23 matches by three-set sweep and had a 93-21 record in its 114 sets, outscoring its opponents by a 2,708-to-2,175 margin (23.8-to-19.1 per-set) this season.