Julie Blume

Setter
5-6
Freshman
#13
Herman, Minnesota

Julie Blume comes from a high school program that competed at the highest level in the Minnesota State Tournament. With an excellent understanding of the game and solid ball control skills, Blume adds immediate depth to both the setter and defensive specialist positions for the Falcons. Her strong serve will be called upon to frustrate opponents’ passing schemes. Undecided on a major, look for Blume to gain more court time as she develops.

Liz Braun

Middle Hitter
5-10
Sophomore
#15
Racine, Wisconsin

Liz Braun is one of the most tactical talented middles in the Falcons arsenal. She worked extremely hard during her freshman season to develop her game and knows how to deliberately place the ball to distract the opposing defense. Braun’s positive attitude and determination will help her mature into an offensive threat. An extremely smart player, this animal science major with an equine emphasis, will add great depth to the middle this season.

Kara Buffington

Outside Hitter
5-10
Freshman
#10
Hudson, Wisconsin

Kara Buffington, a talented outside hitter, is expected to contribute immediately for the Falcons this fall. With her experience playing for a competitive Junior Olympic club, Buffington has made a smooth transition to the collegiate game and will provide both offensive and blocking depth to the front court. Buffington has a huge upside and will add both a more physical and more consistent presence at the net. Buffington will major in marine biology.

Alicia Cook

Setter
5-6
Sophomore
#8
Washburn, Wisconsin

Alicia Cook is a great addition for the Falcons. Possessing all the skills and demeanors a team needs in a setter, she will significantly enhance the depth at that spot. Cook will be a valuable asset as she develops and adjusts to the Falcon offense. With solid knowledge and background of the game, look for her to make an impact on the team’s offense this season. Cook is a business administration major.

Nina Cooper

Outside Hitter
5-8
Senior
#4
St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

Nina Cooper is the epitome of a teammate. She possesses an unmatched energy and passion for the game, provides valuable leadership and has a relentless work ethic in the gym. Those attributes warranted her a spot on the 2007 All-WIAC Sportsmanship team and earned her the highly regarded Hardest Worker award in 2007 and Most Inspirational award in 2006. With an immensely improved passing game and potential to develop into an offensive threat for the Falcons, Cooper will contend for an outside hitting role this fall. Cooper, a health and human performance major with an adaptive physical education minor, was named to the 2007 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.

* 2007 WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team
* 2007 Hardest Worker Award
* 2006 Most Inspirational Award

Gina DeRosa

Middle Hitter
6-0
Sophomore
#5
Maplewood, Minnesota

Gina DeRosa has the ability to develop into one of UWRF’s all-time best middle hitters. DeRosa’s exceptional range allows her to run a variety of offensive schemes, and her strong blocking skills are a threat to opponents at the net. Last season she led the Falcons with 142 blocks, was second on the team with 283 kills and ranked third in the conference for blocks. Look for DeRosa to increase her offensive output this year and to dominant in the frontcourt. DeRosa was named the Falcon Player of the Week three times in 2007. An elementary education major with a spanish minor, she was selected to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll in both 2006 and 2007.

Drew Hample

Defensive Specialist
5-4
Senior
#2
Mahtomedi, Minnesota

Drew Hample’s exceptional leadership abilities shine both on and off the court. A reliable and determined defensive pillar, look for Hample to command the Falcons’ defense and passing schemes. Her outstanding communication skills and admirable work ethic secured her the team’s Super Sub award in 2007, and her academic prowess was recognized as a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Hample played in 71 games last season, collecting 182 digs and was named Player of the Week once. A true competitor and dependable defensive mainstay, Hample will be an instrumental component in the Falcons’ success this fall. An elementary education major with an early childhood education minor, Hample is also the vice president of the UWRF Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

* 2007 Super Sub Award

Deidre Held

Setter
5-4
Freshman
#14
St. Francis, Minnesota

Deidre Held has the ability to contribute to the Falcons in two roles this season - as a setter and a defensive specialist. Versatile and technically sound, Held has a great understanding of the game. Look for this business administration major to challenge for court time during her freshman season.

Sami Kaminski

Outside Hitter
5-9
Sophomore
#17
Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin

Sami Kaminski made significant strides over her freshman season. With terrific athletic ability and a fantastic work ethic, she will make the transition from middle hitter to outside hitter. Kaminski will develop her passing and defense skills as the season unfolds and compete for an outside hitting position. She is an animal science major with an equine emphasis and was selected to the 2007 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.

Mandy McKenzie

Defensive Specialist
5-2
Sophomore
#3
Hugo, Minnesota

Mandy McKenzie had a great freshman campaign in 2007. An excellent passer and intense defensive player, McKenzie has the potential to be one of the top liberos in the conference. Last season she played in 93 games and collecting 383 digs (second on team), earning her the team’s Defensive Player of Year award. A health & human performance (option II) major with a business minor, McKenzie will be essential to the success of the Falcons backcourt this year.

* 2007 Defensive Player of the Year Award

Linnea Osterberg

Defensive Specialist
5-4
Freshman
#11
Center City, Minnesota

Linnea Osterberg is merging into a dependable and effective libero for the Falcons. Osterberg possesses great passing skills and a passion for the defensive portion of the game. Her work ethic and willingness to adapt will help her develop into a primary defensive force during her career. Osterberg is majoring in communicative disorders.

Becky Ponick

Setter
5-4
Sophomore
#9
Stanley, Wisconsin

Becky Ponick is a tremendous athlete who gained great experience last year running the Falcon offense. Coachable and hard working, Ponick has the ability to develop into a top setter. She is tough both mentally and physically and led the team in assists (802) during her rookie season. Also, she tallied 265 digs and 39 kills in 115 games. A true competitor, Ponick was also a member of the 2007 Falcon women’s National Championship winning track & field team, where she won the conference javelin event and participated in the heptathlon. Majoring in health and human performance with an adaptive physical education minor, Ponick was named to the 2007 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.

Kelsey Scheele

Outide Hitter
5-7
Junior
#1
Norwood, Minnesota

Kelsey Scheele returns to the Falcons as one of the top players in the WIAC and region. A talented, all-around competitor, she exhibits an exceptional court sense, sound defensive skills and is outstanding at hitting a variety of shots. A 2007 All-WIAC first-team selection, Scheele led the Falcons in both kills (445) and digs (532). She ranked fourth in the conference for kills, fifth for digs and sixth for points. She was also awarded the team’s Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year honors last season, along with being a WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll selection in both 2006 and 2007. An accounting major, Scheele is on track to break the Falcons all-time dig record and to become a member of the 1,000-kill club.

* 2007 All-WIAC Team
* 2007 Most Valuable Player Award
* 2007 Offensive Player of the Year Award

Justine Speckel

Middle Hitter
5-10
Junior
#12
Buffalo, Minnesota

Justine Speckel adds depth to the Falcon frontcourt this fall. A hard-working and energetic middle hitter, Speckel is great in transition and knows how to score in sideout situations. In 2006, Speckel was honored with the team’s Most Improved award, and her relentless positive attitude and work ethic will continue to enhance team cohesion this season. Expect Speckel to boost the blocking power of the Falcons and to be to a respected team leader. A biology major with a spanish minor, Speckel has been a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll in both 2006 and 2007.

* 2006 Most Improved Player Award

Andria Vetsch

Rightside Hitter
5-10
Junior
#7
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Andria Vetsch has an excellent future as a Falcon volleyball player. An extremely potent rightside hitter, Vetsch hits a hard ball and will be a key contributor to the Falcon offense this season. Her blocking skills have developed greatly over the last year. Thus, she being will be counted on to frustrate opponents’ outside hitting attacks this season. In 2007, Vetsch played in 86 games, accumulating 126 kills and 60 blocks. She was awarded the team’s Most Improved honor and was named to the 2007 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. An exercise and sport science major with a coching minor, look for Vetsch to mature into a strong rightside presence for the Falcons.

* 2007 Most Improved Award

Amy Weber

Outside Hitter
5-5
Sophomore
#19
Hugo, Minnesota

Amy Weber is a talented outside hitter for the Falcons who excels at the little parts of the game. Although Weber’s gifts are passing and defense, she has vast range and a smart shot selection in the front row. Last season, Weber competed in 61 games, accumulating 66 kills and 122 digs for the Falcons. Weber’s strong transitioning skills and fluid court movements will help the Falcons score in a variety of situations this season. An English literature major with an art minor, expect Weber to be a key competitor for an outside hitting role.

Ashley Wheeler

Rightside Hitter
5-10
Sophomore
#6
Moorhead, Minnesota

Ashley Wheeler gained quality experience last season playing in 102 games for the Falcons. Wheeler’s passion for the game and determination to be a strong presence on the rightside helped her to 157 kills (third on the team) and 71 blocks (third on the team). Voted Rookie of the Year by her teammates, look for Wheeler’s continued growth on the court and augmented offensive output this season. Wheeler, a mathematics major with a computer science minor, who was named Player of Week once in 2007.

* 2007 Rookie of the Year Award