Midland University picked up their 20th win of the season Thursday, defeating Nebraska Wesleyan University, 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-21). Midland's side out percentage was greater than 60 percent in every set during the match. With the win, Midland goes into the last game of the regular season competing for a first place GPAC finish.

"I'm pleased with the way we were able to bounce back after a slow start," said Paul Giesselmann, Midland University volleyball head coach. " I'm happy our players are in a position to play for first place in the conference on Saturday."

Halie Wewel led the Warriors with 13 kills, hitting .632 in the win. Katie Dettmer and Keri Lunz each added nine kills apiece. Becca Gradoville led the Warriors in digs with 16, while Ashley Wheeler added 13 digs. Wewel and Megan Farley recorded two block assists apiece, and Farley added 33 set assists.

Nebraska Wesleyan swept Mount Marty in a GPAC match Saturday, 25-13, 25-10, 25-16.

Caitlyn Anderson led NWU (8-6, 3-3 GPAC) with seven kills, 31 assists and six digs. Karny Kuehl added six kills. Amanda Dirksen led Mount Marty (5-14, 1-5) with six kills and 15 digs.

Midland University earned their seventh straight victory beating Nebraska Wesleyan University in three sets (25-16, 25-18, 31-29) on Wednesday. With the conference win, Midland exceeds last season's GPAC win total and matches last season's overall win total.

"We did a great job of playing with intensity early," said Paul Giesselmann, Midland University head volleyball coach. "We responded well late in the game and kept our composure in a harsh environment. We are excited to get ready for another big game on Saturday."

Ashley Wheeler led the Warriors in kills with 13 while Katie Dettmer added 9. Becca Gradoville had 23 digs, and Megan Farley added 11 digs. Farley also added 37 set assists in the win.

Nebraska Wesleyan picked up a 3-0 GPAC volleyball win over Concordia University on Wednesday evening in Seward. The visiting Prairie Wolves jumped out to big leads in every set. The Bulldogs tried to rally late in the opening two sets, but Wesleyan secured the win. Scores of the match were 25-23, 25-20 and 25-17.

Cody Long, Brittnie Kreikemeier and Karny Kuehl all had seven kills for Wesleyan, who improved to 7-4 overall and 2-1 in conference play. Hannah Softley added five kills, while Mackenzie Hite had a team-high 15 digs. Cicely Batie led the way defensively with four solo blocks on the night.

Marlee Denton ( Fremont , Neb. ) had a match-high eight kills for Concordia (6-11, 0-3 GPAC) in a losing effort. Ashlea Vaudt ( Kalispell , Mont. ) and Amanda Kisker ( Lincoln , Neb. ) added seven kills apiece, while Kisker also added 12 digs on the night. Angela Bruhn ( Creston , Neb. ) finished with a match-high 20 digs to pace Concordia defensively. Kayla James (Gibbon, Neb. ) handed out 14 set assists and added seven digs for the Bulldogs.

Click to view story on Nebraska Wesleyan website.

Coming off their highest conference finish, the Nebraska Wesleyan University volleyball team was selected fourth in the 2011 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ poll that was released on Wednesday (Aug. 10). The Prairie Wolves received 66 total points in the poll.

Doane College totaled 94 points and five first place votes to be picked as conference champions. Northwestern College received 91 points and four first place votes for second and Dordt College had 78 points for third place. Hastings College received the other two first place votes and 62 total points for fifth behind NWU.

Doane College, after a trip to the NAIA National Tournament in 2010, is the GPAC coaches’ pick to win the league title in 2011.

The Tigers, coached by Cindy Meyer, compiled a 27-8 overall record last fall and placed second in the conference regular season with a 14-2 record. Doane accumulated 94 points and five first place votes in the poll of league coaches.

Northwestern, who posted a 36-2 overall and 16-0 league record last fall, is tabbed number two in the preseason with 91 points and four first place mentions. Dordt is picked third with 78 points, while Nebraska Wesleyan is fourth with 66. The final two first place votes went to Hastings who is fifth in the early season poll with 62 points. Northwestern, Doane, and Briar Cliff participated at the NAIA National Volleyball Championship Final Site in Sioux City last year.

Click to view story on York News-Times.

YORK — Alexa Rosenau of York will take her volleyball career to the next level as she committed to play for Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb.

In her senior year, Rosenau led the Dukes with 188 kills and 284 digs. She also served at a 93 percent clip, recorded 33 service aces and defensively had 27 ace blocks. For her efforts, Rosenau was named to the York News-Times All Area Team and honorable mention by the Omaha World-Herald among other honors.

2011 Nebraska Wesleyan Volleyball Schedule

Saint Mary's Tournament
Sep 3
TBA TBA Winona, MN
Sep 4
TBA TBA Winona, MN

Wartburg Tournament
Sep 9
TBA TBA Waverly, IA
Sep 10
TBA TBA Waverly, IA

Sep 14
7:30pm Hastings Lincoln, NE
Sep 17
3:00pm Dordt Lincoln, NE
Sep 21
7:30pm at Concordia Seward, NE
Sep 24
3:00pm at Briar Cliff Sioux City, IA
Sep 28
7:30pm Midland Lincoln, NE
Oct 1
3:00pm Mount Marty Lincoln, NE
Oct 5
7:30pm at Doane Crete, NE
Oct 7
7:30pm at Northwestern Orange City, IA
Oct 8
3:00pm at Dakota Wesleyan Mitchell, SD

Simpson Tournament
Oct 14
TBA TBA Indianola, IA
Oct 15
TBA TBA Indianola, IA

Oct 19
7:30pm Concordia Lincoln, NE
Oct 22
7:30pm at Morningside Sioux City, IA
Oct 26
7:30pm at Hastings Hastings, NE
Oct 29
3:00pm Briar Cliff Lincoln, NE
Nov 1
7:30pm Doane Lincoln, NE
Nov 3
7:30pm at Midland Fremont, NE
Nov 5
3:00pm at Dordt Sioux Center, IA

NCAA Regionals
Nov 10
TBA TBA TBA
Nov 11
TBA TBA TBA
Nov 12
TBA TBA TBA

Click to view story in Hastings Tribune.

Two of the Tribland’s best volleyball players have made their decisions as to where they’re going to be continuing their volleyball careers in college.

Tribland player of the year Cody Long of Thayer Central and two-time first team all-Tribland selection Claire Bergen of Sutton have both signed to continue their careers next fall at Nebraska Wesleyan.

Click to view story on Omaha World-Herald

Give Cola Svec an average pass and the University of Nebraska at Kearney senior would work her magic, transforming it into an excellent set.

“That's what really separates her from the pack,” Loper coach Rick Squiers said.