Volleyball Team Splits in Second Day of Falcon Invite

Sept. 4, 2004

The 14th-ranked UW-River Falls volleyball team knocked off Macalester, 31-33, 30-15, 30-21, 29-31, 15-6, and lost to 13th-ranked Central, 30-26, 30-17, 30-20, at the Falcon Invitational held at the Karges Center Saturday.

Against Macalester, seniors Nina Petersen and Melissa Jude led the way with 17 kills apiece. Sophomore middle hitter Andrea Geehan chipped in 12. Petersen and Jude showed their defensive skills as well, with 17 and 15 digs respectively. Senior outside hitter Logan Kiesch led the team with 21 digs. Sophomore setter Kat Krtnick scattered 49 assists through the five games.

The Falcons weren't as impressive against Central. Geehan and Petersen tallied just eight kills apiece. Krtnick tallied 26 assists and 10 digs. Kiesch led the team with 13 digs. Head coach Patti Ford tried something different against Central by trying a different libero in each game. Freshman Lindsey Mace started the first game, Kiesch filled the role in the second game and sophomore Tressa Gustafson played the third.

The Falcons are now 4-1 on the season and nest play in a tournament at Hamline Sept. 10-11.

Volleyball Team Beats St. Olaf, Pacific Lutheran at Falcon Invite

Sept. 3, 2004

The 14th-ranked UW-River Falls volleyball team knocked off St. Olaf, 25-30, 30-19, 30-19, 30-24, and 20th-ranked Pacific Lutheran, 30-22, 30-22, 30-21, at the Falcon Invitational held at the Karges Center Friday.

Seniors Logan Kiesch and Nina Petersen led the UW-River Falls volleyball team to the two wins with 17 kills apiece. Kiesch, an outside hitter, also led the team in digs in both matches with 27 total. Petersen, a right side hitter, tallied six block assists and one block solo on the day. Sophomore setter Kat Krtnick spread the ball out well for Falcon hitters with 77 assists Friday. Kiesch and Petersen shared kills with two middle hitters, senior Gina Anderson and sophomore Andrea Geehan, who each pounded 16 kills in the two matches. Geehan had five block assists and a block solo in just the St. Olaf match alone.

The Falcons are now 3-0 on the season. The Falcon Invitational resumes Saturday. The Falcons face Macalester at 9:30 a.m. and 13th-ranked Central at 1:30 p.m.

Volleyball Team Sweeps Bethel in Opener

Sept. 1, 2004

The 14th-ranked UW-River Falls volleyball team easily disposed of Bethel in three games, 30-19, 30-20, 30-24, in the Falcons' opener at the Karges Center Wednesday night.

Senior right side hitter Nina Petersen led the Falcons in kills with 13 and a .571 hitting percentage while senior outside hitter Melissa Jude pounded 11 kills. Senior Logan Kiesch led the team in digs with 16 while Jude and Lindsay Mace chipped in 14 and 13 respectively. Sophomore Kat Krtnick quarterbacked the team to victory in her setting debut with 39 assists.

The Falcons are now 1-0 on the season and will play host to the Falcon Invitational Friday and Saturday at the Karges Center. The first match is at 2 p.m. UWRF will play St. Olaf at 4 p.m. and Pacific Lutheran at 8 p.m. On Saturday play starts at 9:30 a.m. The Falcons face Macalester at 9:30 a.m. and play Central at 1:30 p.m. Go to the entire Invitational schedule.

Volleyball Team Looks to Surprise Conference Foes in 2004

Sept. 1, 2004

On paper, spring commencement decimated the Falcon volleyball team. All-American hitters Melissa Tvrdik and Krystle Brune are done, taking with them the team’s top two setters, and four other senior talents from last season’s 35-6 WIAC championship team.

A year ago, whispers of a national championship were in the air, not to mention a conference crown. This season, a few much-improved teams are licking their chops and looking forward to a WIAC match against the 14th-ranked Falcons. UW-RF Coach Patti Ford said this year will be one of the strongest for the WIAC and hopes to be in the title hunt again.

"I wouldn’t be surprised if the conference champs end up with more than one loss," Ford said. "We’d like to be conference champs, but we’re going to have to fight tooth and nail. It will be a crapshoot."

To have a chance, the Falcons will need their returning defensive core to remain solid through the year and timing between setters and hitters will need to improve steadily throughout the year. The fairly new group of players will also have to find a way to mesh as they learn their new roles and responsibilities on the court, Ford said.

"Athletically, we’re as strong as we’ve ever been," Ford said. "They’re just untested."

Despite losing Tvrdik, the Falcons return two middle hitters, 6-1 sophomore Andrea Geehan and 5-8 senior Gina Anderson. Geehan received some playing time as a freshman and Anderson’s experience is beginning to shine through, Ford said. Sophomore Kiah Sagami and freshman Susie Ingalls will come off the bench to fill in at the middle position when needed.

The outside hitter position will feature four players with superb passing skills and surprising hitting power. Sophomore Katie Thompson will pack a strong punch at the net while seniors Logan Kiesch and Melissa Jude will bring a strong all-around game. Freshman Ashley Moseng will come off the bench to give teams a different look.

"With such great all-around players, we won’t have to make as many substitutions as we did last year," Ford said. "Just about anyone I put out there can pass and play defense. I can save some of my subs for strategic points in a game or to change up their rhythm."

The right side hitter position belongs to standout senior Nina Petersen, who will also be the team’s on- and off-court leader.

"She will be one of the dominate players in the WIAC, if not nationally," Ford said. "Her personality is even keeled. She has a physically strong stature and, being left handed, she brings a lot of power from the right side. She has everything, physically and socially, to lead this team."

Sophomore Molly Thompson will be Petersen’s understudy and may come in to give the senior a rest once in a while, but Ford said she doesn’t anticipate Petersen leaving the court very often.

At libero, a new rule takes effect this season that allows the defensive specialist to serve. At least two players, Lindsey Mace and Tressa Gustafson, will compete for the starting libero position. Last year, Kat Krtnick, as a freshman, shared time with senior Jen Braun at that position and may be called upon to fill in again this year, but Ford has big plans for Krtnick as the team’s top setter.

"We’re going with Kat right now," Ford said. "She will do an excellent job running the show. She is the best athlete we have and she knows the game the best. Kat will shine wherever we put her. Once she gets acclimated, I think she can be an All-Conference setter."

Transfer junior Barbie Soine may also set for the Falcons during the year.

"I’m very pleased with the energy level in the gym," Ford said. "Everyone is accepting their roles as they’re changing. They’re buying into whatever they have to do to compete in the strong conference."

The Falcons begin their season at home on Wednesday against Bethel in the Karges Center starting at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday they will host the Falcon Invitational with No. 13 Central (Iowa), Gustavus-Adolphus, Macalester, St. Olaf, UW-Stout and No. 20 Pacific Lutheran visiting.

Volleyball Team Ranked 14th in AVCA Preseason Poll

Aug. 25, 2004

The 2004 Falcon volleyball team is ranked 14th in the AVCA Div. III Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll released Wednesday.

Four WIAC teams were ranked. La Crosse is 10th, Whitewater is tied for 11th and Oshkosh is 23rd in the poll.

UWRF finished 35-6 in 2003 and tied (with La Crosse) for the WIAC regular season title with a 7-1 record. Nina Petersen, Melissa Jude, Logan Kiesch and Gina Anderson are all seniors on this year's team.

The Falcons open their season on Sept. 1 when they host Bethel at 7 p.m. at the Karges Center. UWRF will then host the Falcon Invitational on Sept. 3-4. Two other teams ranked in the preseason poll will also play in the tourney - No. 13 Central, Iowa and No. 20 Pacific Lutheran - will be part of the seven team field. Action starts at 2 p.m. on Friday and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Go to the tourney schedule.

Washington, Mo., University is the top ranked team in the preseason poll.

Go to the AVCA poll.