UW-La Crosse Picked to Finish Fourth in WIAC

For Immediate Release: Monday, Aug. 24, 2009

Madison, Wis. - For the second straight season, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is the favorite to win the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) volleyball championship in a preseason poll conducted by the league's sports information directors.

The Titans secured eight first-place votes in the conference poll after claiming a share of last year’s title - the ninth in program history. UW-Oshkosh is ranked No. 4 nationally in the NCAA Division III American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Poll. The Titans return all seven starters from 2008.

UW-La Crosse is picked to finish fourth in the 2009 preseason poll. The Eagles play two of their first 22 matches of the 2009 campaign on the road, including 11 straight to start the year, but have their final eight contests at home. UW-L finished 28-12 in 2008, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. It was school's 12th appearance in the NCAA III Tournament, including fourth in the last six seasons. The 28 overall victories were the most since 2004 (31-7) and the fourth-most under 15-year head coach Sheila Perkins. UW-L finished 33-6 in 2003 under Perkins, 31-7 in 2004 and 30-6 in 1999.

The Eagles were 6-2 in the WIAC last season and placed third at the conference tournament. UW-L has recorded at least 20 victories in 14 straight seasons.

UW-Eau Claire shared last year’s championship with UW-Oshkosh and picked up the remaining first-place nod in this year’s league survey. The Blugolds are expected to place third in the nine-team conference race. UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 15 nationally, is expected to place second in the league standings. The Warhawks own a WIAC-best 13 championships and have competed in the NCAA Division III Tournament 16 straight years.

UW-Platteville is expected to finish fifth this season followed by UW-River Falls, UW-Superior, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout.

UW-L senior outside hitter Brianne Stankus enters this season ranked fourth in school history in kills (1,185), fifth in attempts (3,242), eighth in hitting percentage (.274) and ninth in digs (1,189). Stankus is the second individual in program history to earn two career All-America honors. Junior libero Melannie Tate was the only player to appear in all 148 games last season and accumulated 631 digs, the second-highest total in Eagle chronicles.

UW-L opens its 2009 season Wednesday, Sept. 2 at city-rival Viterbo University at 7 p.m.