Spartans Open Volleyball Season at Edgewood
Sep 1, 2015
MADISON, Wis. - The 2015 volleyball season began for the Spartans on Tuesday evening as UD travelled to Edgewood College in a triangular. Two tough non-conference opponents awaited the Spartans with host Edgewood and UW-Oshkosh with each stopping UD in three straight losses in the match.
UD lost the opener to unbeaten UW-Oshkosh 21-25, 11-25, 23-25. Senior Klaudia Basierak led the offense with 13 kills in 36 attacks, she added 12 defensive digs and a block asssist in the loss. Hannah Zeiser finished the match with 17 set assists as Kristin Wright led the defense with a team high 16 digs.
The Spartans lost the nightcap to Edgewood 20-25, 22-25, 11-25. UD finished the game with 23 kills with Basierak having seven as teammate Anna Runge finished with five kills and Karrah Davis with four kills. Alussa Cose had 17 of the squad's 19 set assists and Wright held the defensive effort with 25 of the UD's 59 digs. The loss dropped the Spartans to 0-2 on the season as they prepare for the Colorado College Classic on Sept. 4-5 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The 2015 Iowa Conference schedule opens Tuesday, September 15, with two matches – Coe hosting Dubuque and Central hosting Buena Vista. Luther hosts Loras and Wartburg hosts Simpson the following evening.
UD returns six starters and 10 letterwinners from last year’s 12-24 squad that tied for fifth in the IIAC with a 2-5 mark. As it has the last three seasons, the Spartans’ offense will be centered on senior outside hitter Klaudia Basierak. Basierak, a three-time all-conference selection and the 2012 IIAC Freshman of the Year, led UD last year with 412 kills on 1,380 attacks. A strong all-around player, she also led the team with 40 service aces, ranked third in blocks with 48 (10 solo) and was fifth in digs with 284. Basierak ranked inside the top 100 in Division III in total attacks (14th), attacks per set (23rd, 11.42), total kills (60th), kills per set (83rd, 3.43) and points per set (82nd, 4.0).
Helping Basierak shoulder much of the load offensively will be sophomore opposite hitter Karrah Davis and junior middle hitter Anna Runge. Davis played in every set last season and was second on the team in kills (283), third in digs (318) and fourth in both aces (33) and blocks (43). Runge was fifth on the team in kills with 144 and posted a team-high 77 blocks (nine solo).
Returning to facilitate is junior setter Hannah Zieser. Zieser posted a team-high 978 assists but also managed 50 kills and 18 aces. She also had 174 digs and put down 42 blocks (four solo), good for sixth and fifth on the team, respectively. Zieser ranked 63rd in Division III in assists per set (9.23) and 77th in total assists.
Head Coach April Elsbernd said, “[This] should be another exciting season of IIAC volleyball. Every program continues to get stronger; which makes every conference match competitive. Graduating one starter, the Spartans return plenty of leadership and on-court experience.”
The complete 2015 IIAC Volleyball Coaches’ Poll:
Rank School (1st place votes) Points 2014 Record
1 Buena Vista (6) 54 25-11, 5-2 IIAC
2 Coe (1) 48 29-9, 7-0 IIAC
3 Wartburg (1) 47 24-11, 5-2 IIAC
4 Central 38 21-10, 4-3 IIAC
5 Loras 31 14-19, 2-5 IIAC
6 Luther 24 12-16, 1-6 IIAC
T7 Dubuque 19 12-24, 2-5 IIAC
T7 Simpson 19 13-20, 2-5 IIAC
