MADISON, Wis.-- The 2017 WIAC women's volleyball preseason poll has been released by the WIAC conference office.  The rankings are based on a preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

The WIAC Winner of three of the last six regular-season titles and consecutive tournament crowns, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has been pick to win the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's volleyball championship.  The Warhawks welcome back five starters from last year's team that earned the program's 29th NCAA championship appearance – and 25th straight. Junior defensive specialist Brittany Robinson was second in the league a season ago with 650 digs and 54 service aces, while senior middle hitter Courtney Wagner had a WIAC-best .299 hitting percentage and 127 blocks. Senior rightside hitter Sydney Racky was second with a .296 hitting percentage.
 
UW-Whitewater is followed in the conference predictions by: UW-Oshkosh; UW-La Crosse; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stout; UW-Platteville; and UW-River Falls.
 
UW-Oshkosh claimed a share of last year's WIAC title for the second straight season to record the 13th first-place finish in program history. The Titans made their 17th NCAA appearance in 2016 and have four starters back, including senior leftside hitter Tina Elstner, who was third in the league with 487 points and fourth with 399 kills. Jon Ellmann begins his first season as head coach for the Titans. He was an assistant coach with the team during the 2016 campaign.
 
UW-La Crosse earned a piece of the regular-season crown last season with UW-Whitewater and UW-Oshkosh. It marked their second consecutive title and 11th in program history. The Eagles also made their second straight NCAA appearance – and 14th overall. This year's roster features senior outside hitter Stephanie Henk – the reigning WIAC Offensive Player of the Year. In 2016, she was third in the conference with 418 kills and fourth with 476.5 points. Amber Dunn assumes the head coaching duties after serving as the head coach at The State University of New York at Geneseo the previous two seasons. She was also an assistant at UW-Stevens Point from 2012-14.
 
UW-Stevens Point head coach Abbey Sutherland has compiled 122 wins in her first four seasons – the best start of any coach in program archives. The Pointers will look to replace Bri Piepenbrok, who claimed WIAC Defensive Player of the Year recognition in 2016.
 
UW-Eau Claire has compiled 20-plus victories in 17 of the last 18 seasons and returns senior defensive specialist Talia Jaskulske. She recorded a team-best 453 digs last year – a total that ranked sixth in the WIAC.
 
UW-Stout's 2017 lineup features senior middle hitter Ashley Pratt and junior middle hitter Kennedy Strain. A year ago, Pratt led the Blue Devils with 355 kills, .264 hitting percentage and 406.5 points, while ranking second with 85 blocks and 19 service aces. Her .264 hitting percentage was seventh in the league. Strain compiled a team-high 85 blocks and was second with 254 kills and 314.5 points.
 
UW-Platteville welcomes Samantha Birkicht as its new head coach, replacing Deb Schulman, who ranks second on the conference's all-time wins list with a 641-380 record in 28 seasons at the helm. Birkicht served as an assistant coach with the program from 2011-15.
 
UW-River Falls senior middle hitter Amara Meyer had a team-high 279 kills, 94 blocks and 337 points, while ranking second with a .270 hitting percentage in 2016. Her .270 hitting percentage ranked fifth in the conference. Sophomore libero Hannah Robb was fifth in the WIAC with 465 digs and added 35 service aces.
 
The 2016 campaign marked the 13th time in the last 14 seasons that the WIAC sent at least three teams to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship after UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater received bids.
 
 
2017 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
                                                                2016 Record
1. UW-Whitewater                          29-7 overall, 5-2 WIAC
2. UW-Oshkosh                                28-8, 5-2
3. UW-La Crosse                               23-6, 5-2
4. UW-Stevens Point                      27-7, 4-3
5. UW-Eau Claire                              23-10, 4-3
6. UW-Stout                                       15-14, 3-4
7. UW-Platteville                              11-21, 1-6
8. UW-River Falls                              15-16, 1-6
 
 
Team Snippets
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Kim Wudi; 11th season at UWEC; 237-118
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Talia Jaskulske, Sr., DS (2015-Defensive, 2016-Defensive)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Emily Miller, Sr., OH/RSH; Mady Pashibin, Jr., MH/RSH; Mackenzee Pierog, Sr., MH; Madi Surprise, Jr., S
 
 
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Amber Dunn; 3rd season (1st at UWL); 33-33 (overall) / 0-0 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  10/5
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Madison Entinger, Sr., S (2016-First); Stephanie Henk, Sr., OH (2015-Honorable, 2016-First/Offensive Player of the Year)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Halle Barnabo, Sr., DS/L; Jessica Jablonski, Sr., MB; Marisa Johnson, Jr., OH; Paige Schmidt, Sr., S
 
 
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Jon Ellmann; 1st season at UWO; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  10/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Tina Elstner, Sr., LSH (2016-First); Samantha Jaeke, So., LSH (2016-First); Carly Lemke, Jr., MB (2016-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Rachel Gardner, So., L/DS; Katie Hodges, Jr., L/DS; Madison Micech, Sr., L/DS; Brianna Witter, Jr., MB
 
 
UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Samantha Birkicht; 1st season at UWP; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  11/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Allison Jensen, Sr., OH (2014-Honorable, 2016-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Allie Carter, Sr., S; Ashlee Moore, Sr., MH
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Patti Ford; 26th season at UWRF; 553-349
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  10/5
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Amara Meyer, Sr., MH (2016-Honorable); Hannah Robb, So., L (2016-Defensive)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Samantha Garvin, Sr., RSH; Mallory Griffin, So., RSH/S; Dakotah Poitra, So., OH; Hannah Striggow, So., OH
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Abbey Sutherland; 8th season (5th at UWSP); 166-73 (overall) / 122-26 (at UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/9
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/5
Returning All-WIAC:  None
 
Notable Returning Players:  April Gehl, So., OH/RSH; Kendra Kundinger, Sr., DS/L; Kelly Magliano, Sr., MB/RSH; Abby Majercik, So., S 
 
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Laura Evans; 4th season at UWST; 51-42
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  4/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Ashley Pratt, Sr., MH (2015-Honorable, 2016-Honorable); Kennedy Strain, Jr., MH (2016-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Emily Bialka, Jr., OH; Steph Cannon, So., OH; Jessica DuVal, So., S; Carissa Hilgers, Jr., DS
 
 
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Stacy Boudreau; 16th season (13th at UWW); 435-132 (overall) / 365-95 (at UWW)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Sydney Racky, Sr., RSH (2016-Honorable); Brittany Robinson, Jr., DS (2015-Defensive, 2016-Defensive, 2016-Honorable); Courtney Wagner, Sr., MH (2016-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Alexandra Bialo, So., OH; Ashton Doll, So., MH; Amanda Spera, Jr., MH; Elizabeth Tworek, So., DS