Vikings volleyball keeps it close in UMAC preseason coaches' poll
Thursday, August 26, 2010

Julie Thomas

2010 UMAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. 46 Points - College of St. Scholastica (4 First Place Votes)
2. 45 Points - Northwestern College (3)
3. 38 Points - University of Minnesota, Morris (1)
4. 26 Points - Martin Luther College
5. 25 Points - Northland College
6. 24 Points - Bethany Lutheran College
T-7 10 Points - Crown College
T-7 10 Points - Presentation College

The Vikings volleyball team is once again in the mix in this year’s preseason coaches’ poll. Bethany Lutheran is one of three teams that finished just two points from one another. The Vikings ended up two points shy of Martin Luther and a point below Northland.

This year’s squad is returning all but one starter from the 2009 season including setter Nicole Jones (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato East) who was an All-Conference Honorable Mention pick last year. Jones’ 2009 numbers saw the now-senior averaging 7.90 assists per set during conference play. Bethany Lutheran’s top three kill leaders in Emily Schrupp (Norwood, Minn./Mayer Lutheran), Laura Holt (Mapleton, Minn./Maple River), and Vanessa Harkins (LeCenter, Minn./LeCenter) are also returning to improve on the team’s 5-16 overall, and 5-9 conference record from a year ago. The Vikings will miss the graduated First Team All-Conference award winner Laura Parochka (Mayer, Minn./Watertown Mayer), but look to a new group to fill the void.

Head Coach Sue Forrey, in her first year at the helm, has recruited some promising talent. Erin Evans (Gaylord, Minn./Sibley East High), a three-time all-conference player at the high school level, also was captain and received MVP awards for setting a school record reaching 1776 assists in her varsity career. Newcomer Rachel Beer (LeCenter, Minn./LeCenter) was ranked maxpreps.com number one blocker in the state for her 2009 season. Heather Cassidy (Prior Lake, Minn./Eagle Ridge) was also voted MVP in her senior season.

The Vikings begin competition at the St. Olaf Tournament on September 2. The first home game of the season is September 8 at 7 p.m. versus Bethel.

Coach Forrey joins other UMAC volleyball coaches for open online chat
Friday, August 20, 2010

Julie Thomas

St. Paul - Head Coach Sue Forrey will be discussing what fans and foes can expect this season from Vikings Volleyball during a live online chat hosted by the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). For the first time in history the league will conduct a chat with all eight of its head volleyball coaches on Thursday, August 26 beginning at 9:45 a.m. Four coaches will each fill two half-hour sessions that will lead up to the announcement of the UMAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll results on www.umacathletics.com. Coach Forrey is slated to chat in the second session starting at 10:30 a.m.

In the sessions, media, fans, and other followers of UMAC Volleyball can join the chat by visiting umacathletics.com. Coach Forrey, along with the other coaches in the UMAC will try to answer as many questions from the audience as possible in their half-hour window.

Crown head coach Kimmie Moehring, Martin Luther’s Becky Cox, Minnesota-Morris’ Chad Braegelmann and Northwestern’s Beth Wilmeth will answer questions from the audience beginning at 9:45 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., joining Coach Forrey will be St. Scholastica’s Dana Moore, Heidi Smith from Northland, and Chelsea Albrecht from Presentation. Following the conclusion of their half-hour session, the poll results and conference preview will be posted.