FOOTBALL
The Blue Devils (1-0, 0-0) get the week off before opening the home and conference portion of the schedule, Saturday, Sept. 25 when they host UW-Oshkosh at 1 p.m. Last week: The Blue Devils scored 20 second half points and shutout an opponent for the first time since the 1993 season as Stout ripped host DePauw University, 23-0, Sept. 11 in Greencastle, Ind. The win was also first year head coach Todd Strop's first win. Offensive player of the week: Nick Ohman, Sr, Glenwood City, Wis. Defensive player of the week: Stephen Schills, Fr, Green Bay, Wis. (Ashwaubenon); Special teams player of the week: Travis Hoffmann, So, Schofield, Wis. (DC Everest)

VOLLEYBALL
The Blue Devils (8-1, 0-0) head into conference action this week when they travel to UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Sept. 15, then host UW-La Crosse, Friday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. and UW-Platteville, Saturday, Sept. 18 at noon. Last season, Stout was 1-1 against Eau Claire, 3-0 against Platteville and 1-1 against La Crosse. Both La Crosse and Platteville are nationally ranked. Last week: The Blue Devils, who were ranked No. 17 in the latest AVCA poll, when 4-1 on the week. Stout was runner-up at the Augsburg Invitational, suffering their first loss of the season in the championship game, a 3-2 thriller to St. Benedict, Sept. 11. During the tournament, Stout defeated St. Olaf, 3-1, Augsburg, 3-0, and St. Scholastica, 3-0. Earlier in the week, Stout downed Bethel College, 3-1, in the Blue Devils' home opener, Sept. 8 Player of the week: Tanille Hartwig, Sr, Athens, Wis.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The Blue Devils will open the intercollegiate season Saturday, Sept. 18 at St. Olaf. Last week: Stout opened their season with the Jamie Block Alumni/Intrasquad Meet, Sept. 4.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The Blue Devils will open the intercollegiate season Saturday, Sept. 18 at St. Olaf. Last week: Stout opened their season with the Jamie Block Alumni/Intrasquad Meet, Sept. 4.

TENNIS
The Blue Devils (1-3, 0-0) will jump into conference play and host two of the top teams in the league. Stout welcomes UW-Eau Claire, Friday, Sept. 17 at 3:30 p.m. and UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. Last week: Stout was blanked by St. Scholastica, 9-0, Sept. 11. Singles player of the week: Tina Rodin, Sr, Champlin, Minn. (Park)

Football

September 11, 2004

GREENCASTLE, Ind - The weather was hot in Greencastle, Ind., but UW-Stout first year coach Todd Strop got a quick cool-down in the form of a Gatorade celebratory shower after his Blue Devils handed him a 23-0 win over DePauw Unversity in Strop's first game as a collegiate head coach, Saturday, Sept. 11.

The word out of preseason camp was that senior quarterback Nick Ohman (Glenwood City) was going to assume a larger role in the offense...and that's exactly what happened as Ohman led the Blue Devils to 20 second half points.

Ohman led the Blue Devils on three second half touchdown drives, a 92-yard drove capped off with a 25-yard pass to speedster John Henry Freeman (So, St. Clovis, Mo) midway through the third period, then five minutes later put the finishing touches on a 49-yard drive with a nine-yard scramble into the end zone.

The Ohman-led Blue Devils went on a 7-play, 54-yard drive and Ohman topped it off with a 10-yard pass play to Jesse Wendt (So, New Auburn) three minutes into the final quarter.

Stout was running on all cylinders even in the first half, but failed to score, except for a 19-yard Evan Larsen (Jr, River Falls) field goal late in the first quarter. The field goal came after a 94-yard, 19-play drive stalled.

DePauw (1-1) only once got inside the Stout 20 yard line, moving to the 16, but a 32-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the first half was wide right. DePauw once got to the Stout 35, that in the third period, but fumbled.

The Blue Devil defense allowed only 280 total yards, 73 on the ground.

Ohman led all rushers and passers, rolling up 116 rushing yards and a TD, and completed 23 of 30 passes (77 percent) for 216 yards and two TDs. As a team, Stout tallied 416 yards, 200 on the ground.

Tailback Ryan Englebert (So, Sturgeon Bay), playing his first game since being injured in a car accident last October, carried the ball 18 times for 58 yards and caught eight passes for 28 yards.

Tight end Ross Jones (Sr, Appleton) had a big game, pulling in six catches for 81 yards and Wendt finished with four catches for 28 yards. Freeman had three grabs for 51 yards.

Matt Sprester (Sr, Clear Lake), who was in the same auto accident as Englebert and was also lost for the season, pulled in one catch for 21 yards.

Linebacker Stephen Schills (Fr, Green Bay) had a solid first collegiate game, tallying seven tackles, including two sacks and a fumble recovered. Free safety Jordan Sinz (Sr, Edgar) collected seven tackles and returned an interception 12 yards in the fourth quarter.

Jamarcus Shepherd, DePauw's preseason All-American wide receiver, caught five passes for 136 yards to account for much of the Tiger's offense.

Strop was the Blue Devils' defensive coordinator for the last seven years, but this was his first shutout at Stout. The Blue Devils' last shutout came in the opening game of the 1993 season, a 30-0 win over Mayville State. That game was Ed Meierkort's first game as Stout coach. Meierkort was Strop's predecessor.

The Blue Devils will be off this week and will return to action Saturday, Sept. 25 with the annual Hall of Fame game at 1 p.m.

Soccer

September 10, 2004

WATERTOWN - For the first time this season, the UW-Stout soccer team played a game that did not go into overtime.

There was little doubt that this game would stay on the regulation clock as the Blue Devils trounced Maranatha Baptist, 7-0, Friday, Sept. 10 in Watertown.

Chelsea Seawell (Jr, St. Anthony, Minn) opened the scoring eight minutes into the game, getting her first goal of the season. Stout (3-0-1) rolled to a 3-0 halftime lead as Blue Devil coach Dave Morris was able to empty his bench in both halves of the game.

Michelle Lizotte (Fr, Racine) scored two goals in the contest and Krista Hight (Sr, Brookfield) and Shannon Hirsch (So, Prior Lake, Minn) scored their first goals of the season. Carrie Schrank (Sr, Reedsburg) and Kelly Stolarczyk (Jr, Elk River, Minn) also scored.

The Blue Devil defense was so dominant that Maranatha (0-3) got off only one shot on the evening. The Blue Devils have not allowed a goal in 392 minutes of play

Stout played to a 1-1 tie in their first contest, then won the next two 1-0 shutouts in overtime.

Stout will open the WIAC season when they are at UW-Whitewater, Friday, Sept. 17.

September 8, 2004

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout forward Kelly Stolarczyk (Jr, Elk River, Minn) had a hand in the scoring of each of UW-Stout’s three games this week, as the Blue Devils started the season undefeated (2-0-1). For her efforts, Stolarczyk was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) offensive soccer player of the week.

In Stout’s opener against Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) on September 1, Stolarczyk scored what would become the game-tying goal at the 13 minute mark.

In Stout’s win at St. Mary’s (Md.) on September 4, she passed the ball to freshman Michelle Lizotte (Fr, Racine) for the game-winning goal with 50 seconds remaining in the second overtime.

In the Blue Devils’ overtime win over Salisbury (Md.) on September 5, Stolarczyk had the first touch in a series of passes that would lead to the winning goal seven minutes into overtime.

Volleyball

September 11, 2004

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn - In a battle of early season undefeated teams, the UW-Stout volleyball team came out on the short end of a five game match, losing their first contest of the season to St. Benedict in the championship game of the Augsburg Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 11.

For the first time this season, Stout was taken to five games, losing 25-30, 30-26, 30-26, 27-30, 18-16, against St. Ben's (5-0) despite a solid hitting performance by Brooke Viegut (Sr, Abbotsford) and Tanille Hartwig (Sr, Athens).

Viegut pounded out a near school record 26 kills, while Hartwig, who was named to her second all-tournament team in as many weeks, recorded 23. Erin Heger (Sr, Chaska, Minn) served up 70 assists. Scooter Aspen (Sr, Eau Claire), who was playing in the libero spot, finished with 23 digs.

Earlier in the day, the Blue Devils (8-1) dispatched St. Scholastica, 32-30, 30-28, 30-21. Kjersti Hamlin (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn) finished with 14 kills and Viegut put down 13.

Stout will be at UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Sept. 15, then will host UW-La Crosse, Friday, Sept. 17 and UW-Platteville, Saturday, Sept. 18.

September 10, 2004

MENOMONIE - Tanille Hartwig (Sr, Athens) racked up 34 kills in two matches as she led UW-Stout to two wins at the Augsburg Invitational, Friday, Sept. 10 in Minneapolis, Minn.

The Blue Devils downed St. Olaf, 3-1, and easily handled host Augsburg, 3-0, in the second contest.

Against the Oles, the Blue Devils came back after dropping the first game, 30-28, to handle St. Olaf in the final three games, 30-26, 30-22, 30-20.

Hartwig led a commanding Stout offense, putting down 20 kills, and also finished with six blocks. Brooke Viegut (Sr, Abbotsford) followed up with 17 kills. Erin Heger (Sr, Chaska, Minn) served up 66 assists. Viegut and Scooter Aspen (Sr, Eau Claire) each had 18 digs.

Hartwig came back with 14 kills against Augsburg, a match Stout won, 30-15, 30-27, 30-12.

September 8, 2004

MENOMONIE - Four senior players finished with 13 or more kills as UW-Stout downed Bethel College, 3-1, in the Blue Devils volleyball home opener, Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Tanille Hartwig (Sr, Athens) led the way with 19 kills, while Brooke Viegut (Sr, Abbotsford) finished with 17, Lindsay Mensink (Sr, Ostrander, Minn) 15 and Kjersti Hamlin (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn) 13. As a team, Stout pounded down 70 kills.

Erin Heger (Sr, Chaska, Minn) finished the night by setting up 58 assists. Rachel Linbo (Jr, Stewartville, Minn) hit the floor for 22 digs, while Hamlin cleaned up 19.

The Blue Devils (5-0) found out earlier in the day they were ranked 17th in the latest AVCA Division III poll, and lived up to the challenge with a 30-16, 30-22, 26-30, 30-18 decision over Bethel College (1-5).

Bethel got 16 kills from Liz Glesne and 11 from Kari Eakins.

Women's Tennis

September 11, 2004

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout ran into a buzzsaw in NAIA tennis power St. Scholastica as the Saints blanked the Blue Devils, 9-0, Saturday, Sept. 11 in Menomonie.

Stout's Tina Rodin (Sr, Champlin, Minn) had her three match win streak snapped as she was the only single player to take their matches to more than two sets. Rodin lost at No. 2 singles to Steph Miettunen, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6. Miettunen played No. 1 last season for the Saints, who advanced to the NAIA playoffs.

Stout will host UW-Eau Claire, Friday, Sept. 17 at 3:30 p.m. and UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m.

St. Scholastica 9, UW-Stout 0
Doubles: No. 1: Emily Jackold/Steph Miettunon (CSS) def. Jenna Bettmann/Elizabeth Hanson, 8-3; No. 2: Katie Kundle/Lindsey Shoden (CSS) def. Nicole Hayek/Marie Pingry, 8-4; No. 3: Steph Sparby/Jess Rich (CSS) def. Tina Rodin/Cecily Hiner, 8-1; Exh: Stacy Nowak/Heidi Johnson (CSS) def. Nicholle Jenness/Patti Gunderson, 8-3.

Singles: No. 1: Jackola (CSS) def. Bettmann, 6-0, 6-0; No. 2: Miettuen (CSS) def. Rodin, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6; No. 3: Kundel (CSS) def. Pingry, 6-0, 6-1; No. 4: Amber Erickson (CSS) def. Ashley Potter, 6-2, 6-3; No. 5: Shannon Holl (CSS) def. Hanson, 6-2, 6-2; No. 6: Casey Ruberto (CSS) def. Grace Brothen, 6-4, 6-1; Exh: Kristin Ferris lost, 8-2; Cecily Hiner lost , 8-1; Nicholle Jenness lost 8-3; Patti Gunderson lost 8-3.

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BLUE DEVIL HALL OF FAME

August 30, 2004

Rich Vargas ran track and played football during the early 1990s, while Julie Maki and Carita Goines were standout basketball players and track performers. Joining this trio will be 1994 NCAA wrestling champion Corey McCauley, all-district baseball player Tom Armstrong, baseball coach Terry Petrie (who also was an assistant football and basketball coach) and assistant basketball coach Joe Jax, who also headed up the Stout Library Learning Center.

John Houle will receive the Athletic Distinguished Service Award.

The day begins with registration at 9 a.m., in the Ballroom of the Memorial Student Center, followed by the ceremony and a luncheon. Tickets for the event are $12, which include a ticket for the UW-Stout/UW-Oshkosh football game that afternoon. Tickets can be ordered by calling the athletic department at 715-232-2224.

September 1, 2004

MENOMONIE - John Houle, a retired faculty member from UW-Stout's Educational Psychology Department, is the 2004 recipient of the UW-Stout Athletic Distinguished Service Award.

Houle is a Menomonie native who played football for Stout for one year in the mid-1940s and has been a supporter of Stout athletics ever since. Houle, in particular, took a strong interest of the development of the tennis program, working with long-time tennis coach Bob Smith as Smith built the program into a conference powers in the 1980s. Houle has also been a mainstay at all Stout athletic contests over the years.

Houle served in the US Navy during World War II, then attended Stout for a year before earning a business degree from St. Louis University. Houle was called back into service for the Korean Conflict, then earned a masters in guidance and counseling from Stout. He earned his doctorate from UW-Madison in educational administration.

Houle started teaching at Stout in what was then known as the Educational Psychology Department in the early 1960s and retired in 1985.