Women's Basketball

November 30, 2003

Everybody played as the Blue Devils (4-0) outmatched Northland throughout the game. Stout went into the locker room with a 49-20 lead and carried at least a 30 point lead throughout the second half.

Sara Kahl (Sr, Menomonie) scored 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in only 12 minutes of work to lead all scorers. Lindsey Erichsen (Jr, Spring Valley, Minn) popped in 13 points and Steffanie Nemitz (So, Bloomington) added 11 points.

Northland (1-3) was led by Julie Pendola with 11 points.

Stout outrebounded the Lumberjills by a 60-27 margin, getting as many offensive rebounds as Northland had total rebounds.

Stout will open Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play Tuesday, Dec. 2 when they host UW-Superior at 7 p.m.

November 25, 2003

The Blue Devils (3-0) used a balanced attack to shoot a very comfortable 52 percent from the floor, while holding the Eagles (1-3) to only 32 percent. Stout had a sizable rebounding margin, cleaning the glass for 52 rebounds to 36 for Northwestern. Stout also recorded 19 steals and forced 29 turnovers.

"Our first group really got after it," Thomas said. "We all played well."

Sara Kahl (Sr, Menomonie) continues a strong early season push, leading the team with 15 points, six rebounds and five steals in only 23 minutes of work. Lindsey Erichsen (Jr, Spring Valley, Minn) finished with 13 points, Laura Verdegan (Sr, Tony) with 12 and Sarah Knutson (Jr, Hayward) came off the bench to score 11.

Only three of the Blue Devils that played did not score, but of those three, they each collected sizable stats in other categories.

Jenny Philipsky (Jr, Lomira) pulled down four rebounds in only seven minutes. Amanda Geissler (Fr, Thorp) had two rebounds, four assists and two steals. Sarah Miles (So, Luck) had two rebounds and a steal.

Stout took a 39-25 halftime lead, then poured on the points in the second half.

November 21, 2003

Packages are available for men's only, women's only and a combination men's and women's games. The men's program has 12 home games, with the women playing 10 home games. With four doubleheader dates, the total home package includes 18 dates.

Costs for men's package are: family, $75; adult $50; senior citizens $30; and ages 5-18 $20. Women's package: family $75; adult $45; senior citizens $25; ages 5-18 $15. Combination package: family $100; adult $75; senior citizens $45; ages 5-18 $30.

The season passes do not include any post-season events controlled by the WIAC or the NCAA.

The general admission prices for individual games (doubleheaders in parentheses): adults $6 ($7); senior citizens $4 ($5); ages 5-18 and visiting students with ID $3 ($4); ages 4 and under, free.

UW-Stout students are free with Stout ID.

Season passes can be ordered by contacting the UW-Stout athletics office at 715-232-2224.

Men's Basketball

November 29, 2003

The two teams met for the first time in more than 50 years, but they played like old time rivals as Stout had to continually fight uphill throughout the game.

Carleton (2-1) held a 50-39 lead with six minutes left, but Stout (5-1) chipped away as Vandenberghe scored seven points, Andy Bray (Sr, Menominee, Mich) added four points and Greg Chaisson (So, Minneapolis, Minn) and Isaac Reece (Jr, Sterling, Kan) each added a bucket to give Stout the lead.

Bray scored underneath and added a free throw to push Stout to a 59-54 lead. Nate Severson (So, Eau Claire) hit a pair of charity shots to wrap up the scoring.

The Blue Devils dug themselves into a hole in the second half, committing 10 second half turnovers, many of them unforced.

Carleton took a 34-30 lead into halftime, but had as much as a 12 point lead in the first half. Stout cut the lead to one point early in the second half but then saw Carleton balloon the lead up to 11 points again.

Vandenberghe led all scorers with 19 points, while Bray finished the night with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Carleton got 15 points from Kyle Beste and 13 from Dan Forkrud.

Stout and Carleton have not met since February, 1954, and Stout had not defeated Carleton since the 1946-47 season.

Urbanek connected on 7-of-11 3-pointers before intermission, and made one more in the second half. Teammate Kevin Christianson had the hot hand in the second half, scoring 20 of his 27 points after the break for Wisconsin Lutheran (2-2). Northwestern (2-5) was led by Joseph Sir with 23 points and Jeff VerSteeg with 21.

Stout will host UW-Superior, Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.

November 28, 2003

The Blue Devils (4-1) had shot a measly 35 percent in the first half, and weren't looking any better in the second until Vandenberghe picked the Eagles' pocket and went nearly coast-to-coast for the uncontested lay-up at the 15:17 mark of the second half.

Vandenberghe followed that up with a 3-pointer 40 seconds later and it was off to the races. During that span, Vandenberghe scored seven of his game-high 19 points. Greg Chaisson (So, Minneapolis, Minn) scored six of his eight points during the run and Nate Templer (Sr, Beaver Dam) scored all four of his points in the span.

After Stout stretched the lead, the Eagles (2-4) never cut the lead to closer than nine points.

The Blue Devils, who trailed 34-30 at halftime, shot only 36 percent in the first half, while the Eagles hit on 56 percent of their shots from the floor. Stout reversed those numbers in the second half, hitting 53 percent (19-of-36) from the floor, while putting the clamps to Northwestern, holding them to 28 percent (7-of-25). Stout finished hitting 45 percent, while Northwestern shot 42 percent.

Andy Bray (Sr, Menominee, Mich) came off the bench to quietly score 18 points. Isaac Reece (Jr, Sterling, Kan) pumped in 11 points.

Jacob Nonemacher (Fr, Kalispel, Mont) made his first start, and made an impressive first impression - scoring Stout's first bucket, blocking a shot and getting a rebound - in the first minute of the game. The 7-footer finished the game with four rebounds and three blocked shots.

Northwestern got 13 points from Jeff VerSteeg and 11 points from Ted Taatjes.

November 26, 2003

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind - UW-Stout used a balanced attack to take a 64-60 win over Manchester College in the Blue Devils final game of their season opening southern swing, Wednesday, Nov. 26 in North Manchester, Ind.

Andy Bray (Sr, Menominee, Mich) scored 11 points to lead the Blue Devils (3-1) who jumped out to a 37-19 halftime lead, then had to hold off a furious comeback by the Squires. Nate Templer (Sr, Beaver Dam) added 10 points for the Blue Devils, while Isaac Reece (Jr, Sterling, Kan) and Greg Chaisson (So, Minneapolis, Minn) each chipped in nine points.

Manchester (2-1) was led by David Mattingly with 14 points.

Stout shot 46 percent in the first half, but fell off to 31 percent in the second stanza. The Squires played steady, hitting 38 percent of their first half shots, 42 percent in the second half.

Stout could have put the game away at the free throw line - and did score 17 points from the line - hitting 17-of-30 charity shots for 57 percent.

November 24, 2003

LEXINGTON, Ky - Andy Bray (Sr, Menominee, Mich) scored 20 points, but it wasn't enough as UW-Stout lost their first game of the season, a 62-60 defeat at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky., Monday, Nov. 24.

The Blue Devils (2-1) hit a not-too-shabby 48 percent from the floor (24/50), but were hurt from the line in the tight contest. Stout knocked down 5-of-8 charity shots, but surrendered 16-of-18 free throws to the hosts.

Bray connected on 9-of-15 field goals, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc to tally a game-high 20 points. Nate Templer (Sr, Beaver Dam) tallied 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Blake Craft (Fr, Chicago, Ill) chipped in 10 points and added six rebounds.

For the Pioneers (2-1), Matt Finke scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds, Riley O'Neal added 11 points and Bryan Howard 10.

Men's Ice Hockey

November 30, 2003

With the Blue Devils (9-2-0) leading 1-0, Kellin scored on a power play goal 5-minutes, 55-seconds into the second period. Just 11 seconds later, Kellin scored again, this time with the sides even. On his first goal, Kellin was assisted by Justin Huth (So, Shakopee, Minn) and Rob Olszewski (Fr, Janesville). On the second goal, Dan Riffe (Sr, Byron, Ill) and Adam Boche (Fr, South St. Paul, Minn) lent an assist.

Stout was not done in the period. At the 7:31 mark, John Schaffner (Jr, Janesville) scored, with assists by Derek Nichols (Sr, Victoria, Minn) and Curt Caverly (So, Red Wing, Minn).

The win pushed Stout's winning streak to six, matching a school record dating back to the 1974-75 season. The 9-2-0 record is also the best start ever in Stout hockey history.

In the first game of the day, UW-Eau Claire downed Minnesota-Crookston, 3-1.

Stout will host Eau Claire, Friday, Dec. 5 as the teams open up Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play at 7:30 p.m. Stout will host UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, Dec. 6.

November 29, 2003

Stout (8-2-0) wasted not time getting on the board as BJ Garczynski (Fr, Sun Prairie) and Matt Mlynarczyk (Fr, Oakdale, Minn) each scored within 15 seconds of each other early in the game. Garczynski, with an assist by Justin Huth (So, Apple Valley, Minn), scored only 2-minutes, 4-seconds into the game and Mlynarczyk, with an assist by Nate Legler (Sr, Lakeville, Minn), scored 15 seconds later.

Mitch Kellin (Sr, Cohasset, Minn) scored his 10th goal of the season, scoring midway through the second period, getting assists from Dan Riffe (Sr, Byron, Ill) and Lewie Kellin (Sr, Cohasset, Minn).

The Blue Devils opened the third period on a goal by Mike Elm (So, Falcon Heights, Minn), with assists by Huth and Rob Olszewski (Fr, Janesville).

Stout's Tim Elde (So, Grafton, N.D.) recorded 21 saves on the evening, as Stout outshot the Golden Eagles, 38-24. Erik Kraska recorded 32 saves.

November 25, 2003

In the latest USHCO.com Division III poll released yesterday, the Blue Devils (7-2-0) got one vote, while the then undefeated Johnnies (2-1-0) were ranked eighth. The Blue Devils turned the tables.

Adam Boche (Fr, South St. Paul, Minn) opened the scoring for the Blue Devils with five minutes left in the first period, getting assists by Rob Olszewski (Fr, Janesville) and Mitch Kellin (Sr, Cohasset, Minn).

Stout took a 4-1 lead when Nate Legler (Sr, Lakeville, Minn) took advantage of the power play to score five minutes before the end of the second period. Legler was assisted by Joe Schneider (Fr, Cottage Grove, Minn).

Both teams came at each other hard in the third period as Stout pelted St. John's goalie Chris Gornick with 12 shots, while the Johnnies launched 14 shots.

The Johnnies got their final goal on a penalty shot by Langenbrunner with less than two minutes to play when Stout was called for knocking the net off the standards while trying to kill a penalty.

The Johnnies pulled their goalie in the final minute, but Dotson was able to hold off the charge. Dotson recorded 28 saves on the night, while the Johnnies' Gornick had 25 saves.

Coming into the game, the Johnnies held a 5-1 advantage in the series, with Stout's only previous win coming in the 2000-01 season.

November 25, 2003

Kellin scored a hat trick and an assist in a 7-5 win over Hamline University, Nov. 21. Kellin scored the eventual game winner to break a 5-5 tie midway through the third period, then capped off the night with an empty net goal seconds before the buzzer. Earlier in the game, Kellin's first goal of the night put the Blue Devils ahead a minute into the second period.

Kellin is the team's leading scorer, tallying nine goals and six assists for 15 points.

November 24, 2003

Knepper is a two-time unanimous All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic (WIAC) selection for the Blue Devils. This season he helped clear the way for an offense that averaged 440 yards per game.

Knepper is one of 42 NCAA Division III seniors from around the country who will make up this year's team. Former Central (Iowa) College head coach Ron Schipper will coach the team for the seventh consecutive year.

Knepper is the fourth Blue Devil in as many seasons that has been invited to play in the Aztec Bowl. Defensive lineman Jeff Hazuga in 2000, defensive back Tony Beckham in 2001 and linebacker Jamie Spielman in 2002.

Soccer

November 25, 2003

Schrank, who posts a 3.90 grade point average with a major in graphic design, led the NCAA Division III in assists in the latest rankings by the NCAA with a school record 19 assists. A majority of Schrank's assists came off corner kicks.

Schrank finished the season with five goals to go along with her 19 assists for a total of 29 points. Schrank is also the school's all-time assists leader with 29 assists over the last three seasons.

Schrank has been named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) scholastic honor roll twice, is a member of the Academic Honor Society, has received the Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence four times and has been awarded the Corner, Nisken, Reedsburg SGA, and Edward & Dorothy Decker scholarships. She also has received the President's Student Service Award. She is the daughter of John and Chris Schrank of Reedsburg.

The Blue Devils finished the season with a best-ever 12-7 overall record, and were 4-4 in the WIAC. Stout tallied a school record 61 goals and gave up a school record low of 12 goals, as well as posting 10 shutouts on the season.

Volleyball

Novermber 30, 2003

MENOMONIE - Two middle blockers took home the top team offensive honors and a defensive specialist was named as most valuable defensive player at the annual UW-Stout volleyball banquet, coach Jill Jolliff announced recently.

Middle blockers Tanille Zenner (So, Athens) and Lindsay Mensink (Jr, Ostrander, Minn) split the most valuable offensive award while Scooter Aspen (Jr, Eau Claire) received the most valuable defensive award.

Zenner played much of the season injured, but still collected 361 kills for a 2.96 kills per game average. She led the team in hitting percentage (.269) and ranked in the top 10 in the WIAC in the category. Zenner, who holds the school record for most block assists in a season (107), finished this season with 95 block assists. Zenner, an honorable mention all-conference pick, was named to the UW-River Falls all-tournament team

Mensink had a hot hand throughout the year, finishing with 335 kills for a 2.52 kills per game average. Mensink was second on the team in service aces with 39 and colleged 38 solo blocks and 91 block assists. Mensink was named to the UW-Eau Claire all-tournament team.

Aspen rotated into the back row where she led the team in digs with 319 and service aces with 56, ranking ninth in the conference.

Gretchen Schroer (Sr, Eau Claire) received the Blue Devil award. Schroer, a first team all-conference choice, led the Blue Devils in kills with 433, averaging 3.23 kills per game, and ranked ninth in the WIAC. Schroer recorded double digit kills in 25 of 35 matches, with a high of 19 kills against UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 24 in a three game match. Schroer played in 134 of 135 games, the most of any of the Stout players. Schroer was named to the all-tournament teams at UW-Stout and UW-River Falls.

Erin Heger (Jr, Chaska, Minn) received the team's hustle award. Despite injuring a wrist just before preseason began, Heger took over as the team's setter. She finished with 1358 assists and was second on the team in digs with 306. Heger was named to all-tournament teams at UW-River Falls, Augsburg College, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout.

Jenny McDermid (Fr, Oconto Falls) was awarded the most improved player. The first player off the bench and the only senior on the squad, McDermid, a two-sport athlete along with basketball, finished the season with 125 kills, 25 assists, 19 solo blocks and 54 block assists.

Updated: December 1, 2003