Posted 2:31 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016
Six teams start training in August.
The 2016 fall sports season is fast approaching at UW-La Crosse. Six teams start training in August: women’s and men’s cross-country, football, women’s soccer, women’s tennis and volleyball.
Cross-Country
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Austin Zajkowski placed 10th at the 2015 WIAC Cross Country Championships.[/caption]
The women’s and men’s cross-country teams begin their fifth season under head coach Derek Stanley in 2016. Both placed second at the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships with the men’s team finishing ninth and the women’s 12th at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships.
UWL’s women’s team returns six runners who earned All-WIAC honors a year ago, including Kaitlyn McDaniel who placed sixth overall. She also picked up NCAA III All-America accolades with a 33rd-place finish. Rebecca Voss finished fifth at the 2015 WIAC Championship while Elizabeth Frick finished 10th, Hannah Beilke 16th, Andrea Brekken 18th and Mackenzie Keller-Miller 19th.
Three student athletes who earned all-conference honors on the men’s side return in 2016. Austin Zajkowski placed 10th at last year’s WIAC Championships while Ian Ewers was 11th and Jonah Weisse 15th.
UWL will host the Jim Drews (men) and Tori Neubauer (women) Invitational Oct. 15 at The Ettrick Golf Club.
Football
Mike Schmidt starts his first season as UWL’s head football coach in 2016. Schmidt, '08, was a four-year football and baseball letter winner for the Eagles. He comes to UWL after serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UW-Platteville since April 2015.
Six all-conference selections return in 2016, including defensive back Ryan Weber who was a first team choice and also earned D3 football.com All-West Region Second Team accolades. Running back Tyler Jenkins, wide receiver Joel Oxton and linebacker Noah Risch were 2015 All-WIAC Second Team selections while center Ellis Johnson and running back Michael Santucci were honorable mention choices.
UWL will host five home games at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in 2016, including the home opener Saturday, Sept. 10 versus Ripon College.
Tennis
The Eagles’ women’s tennis team finished 20-2 a year ago with a 19-match winning streak. UWL placed second at the WIAC tournament. Bill Hehli, who earned his 600th career dual victory as the women’s and men’s head coach last year, starts his 22nd season in 2016.
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Bridget Bellissimo finished 2nd at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles at the 2015 tennis conference meet.[/caption]
Bridget Bellissimo returns after finishing second at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles at the 2015 conference meet. She finished 25-4 overall in singles while going 26-5 in doubles with Kimmy Mrozek.
Sadie Spahn is back in 2016 after a second-place finish at No. 5 singles at the WIAC Tournament. She went 23-6 overall. Hayley Clope was second at No. 3 doubles at the league tournament while finishing 21-3 in singles.
UWL will play four home matches in the fall with the home opener Saturday, Sept. 10 against UW-Stevens Point.
Soccer and volleyball
The soccer and volleyball teams look to defend their WIAC titles in 2016. The soccer squad finished 12-7-2 overall and 5-1-1 in the league last season in earning its second WIAC title in school history and first since 1996. Third-year head coach Jason Murphy was selected the WIAC Coach of the Year as UWL advanced to the NCAA III tournament for the first time.
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Kourtni Alcock, 2015 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and named to the 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-North Region Team.[/caption]
Four first team, all-conference selections anchor the Eagles in 2016, including defender Kourtni Alcock, the 2015 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Alock (first team) and forward Margaret Harings (third team) were both named to the 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-North Region Team. Harings was a first team all-league choice with goalkeeper Kennedy Brault and forward Alex Cording.
The Eagles will host eight contests during the regular season, including the home opener Friday, Sept. 9, versus St. Catherine University, Minnesota. UWL’s schedule includes six matches against teams that qualified for the 2015 national championships.
UWL’s volleyball team finished 20-10 overall and 6-1 in the WIAC last year, winning its 10th conference title in school history and first since 2003. The Eagles earned a bid to the 2015 NCAA III Championship, their 13th in school history (first since 2008). Head coach Lily Hallock, the 2015 WIAC Coach of the Year, starts her fifth season at the helm of the Eagles.
Middle blocker Jill Entinger is back in 2016 after being selected the WIAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year last season. She was a WIAC first team selection and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable Mention choice. Outside hitter Stephanie Henk returns after earning 2015 All-WIAC Honorable Mention accolades.
UWL plays six matches in Mitchell Hall in 2016 after finishing 8-1 at home in 2015.
Austin Zajkowski placed 10th at the 2015 WIAC Cross Country Championships.[/caption]
The women’s and men’s cross-country teams begin their fifth season under head coach Derek Stanley in 2016. Both placed second at the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships with the men’s team finishing ninth and the women’s 12th at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships.
UWL’s women’s team returns six runners who earned All-WIAC honors a year ago, including Kaitlyn McDaniel who placed sixth overall. She also picked up NCAA III All-America accolades with a 33rd-place finish. Rebecca Voss finished fifth at the 2015 WIAC Championship while Elizabeth Frick finished 10th, Hannah Beilke 16th, Andrea Brekken 18th and Mackenzie Keller-Miller 19th.
Three student athletes who earned all-conference honors on the men’s side return in 2016. Austin Zajkowski placed 10th at last year’s WIAC Championships while Ian Ewers was 11th and Jonah Weisse 15th.
UWL will host the Jim Drews (men) and Tori Neubauer (women) Invitational Oct. 15 at The Ettrick Golf Club.
Football
Mike Schmidt starts his first season as UWL’s head football coach in 2016. Schmidt, '08, was a four-year football and baseball letter winner for the Eagles. He comes to UWL after serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UW-Platteville since April 2015.
Six all-conference selections return in 2016, including defensive back Ryan Weber who was a first team choice and also earned D3 football.com All-West Region Second Team accolades. Running back Tyler Jenkins, wide receiver Joel Oxton and linebacker Noah Risch were 2015 All-WIAC Second Team selections while center Ellis Johnson and running back Michael Santucci were honorable mention choices.
UWL will host five home games at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in 2016, including the home opener Saturday, Sept. 10 versus Ripon College.
Tennis
The Eagles’ women’s tennis team finished 20-2 a year ago with a 19-match winning streak. UWL placed second at the WIAC tournament. Bill Hehli, who earned his 600th career dual victory as the women’s and men’s head coach last year, starts his 22nd season in 2016.
[caption id="attachment_5678" align="alignright" width="248"] Bridget Bellissimo finished 2nd at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles at the 2015 tennis conference meet.[/caption]
Bridget Bellissimo returns after finishing second at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles at the 2015 conference meet. She finished 25-4 overall in singles while going 26-5 in doubles with Kimmy Mrozek.
Sadie Spahn is back in 2016 after a second-place finish at No. 5 singles at the WIAC Tournament. She went 23-6 overall. Hayley Clope was second at No. 3 doubles at the league tournament while finishing 21-3 in singles.
UWL will play four home matches in the fall with the home opener Saturday, Sept. 10 against UW-Stevens Point.
Soccer and volleyball
The soccer and volleyball teams look to defend their WIAC titles in 2016. The soccer squad finished 12-7-2 overall and 5-1-1 in the league last season in earning its second WIAC title in school history and first since 1996. Third-year head coach Jason Murphy was selected the WIAC Coach of the Year as UWL advanced to the NCAA III tournament for the first time.
[caption id="attachment_5680" align="alignleft" width="304"] Kourtni Alcock, 2015 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and named to the 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-North Region Team.[/caption]
Four first team, all-conference selections anchor the Eagles in 2016, including defender Kourtni Alcock, the 2015 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Alock (first team) and forward Margaret Harings (third team) were both named to the 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-North Region Team. Harings was a first team all-league choice with goalkeeper Kennedy Brault and forward Alex Cording.
The Eagles will host eight contests during the regular season, including the home opener Friday, Sept. 9, versus St. Catherine University, Minnesota. UWL’s schedule includes six matches against teams that qualified for the 2015 national championships.
UWL’s volleyball team finished 20-10 overall and 6-1 in the WIAC last year, winning its 10th conference title in school history and first since 2003. The Eagles earned a bid to the 2015 NCAA III Championship, their 13th in school history (first since 2008). Head coach Lily Hallock, the 2015 WIAC Coach of the Year, starts her fifth season at the helm of the Eagles.
Middle blocker Jill Entinger is back in 2016 after being selected the WIAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year last season. She was a WIAC first team selection and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable Mention choice. Outside hitter Stephanie Henk returns after earning 2015 All-WIAC Honorable Mention accolades.
UWL plays six matches in Mitchell Hall in 2016 after finishing 8-1 at home in 2015.