FOOTBALL
The Blue Devils (2-0, 1-0 WIAC) will take to the air this week when they fly out east to take on Springfield (Mass) College (0-1) in the team's first-ever meeting, Saturday, Sept. 17 at 12:30 p.m. (central time). Last week: The Blue Devils opened the WIAC season with a 24-16 win over UW-Platteville, Sept. 10. Andy Reese rushed for 210 yards. Springfield lost to Union College, 35-7, to open their season, Sept. 10. Offensive player of the week: Andy Reese, So, Lodi; Defensive player of the week: Luke Steffen, Jr, Greenwood; Special teams player of the week: Brandon Olson, Jr, Eleva/Eleva-Strum.

VOLLEYBALL
The Blue Devils (7-2, 0-0) will open WIAC play this week when they host undefeated UW-Eau Claire (8-0, 0-0), Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. Stout will be at UW-La Crosse (8-2, 0-0), Friday, Sept. 16 and at UW-Platteville (8-1, 0-0), Saturday, Sept. 17. Last week: Stout went 4-1 on the week, with their only loss coming in a dual at Bethel University, Sept. 6, where the Royals handed Stout a 3-2 defeat. Stout was undefeated at the Augsburg College Invitational, defeating St. Scholastica, 3-1, Macalester, 3-1, St. Olaf, 3-2, and Augsburg, 3-0. Player of the week: Sarah McElfresh, Jr, Osceola

SOCCER
The Blue Devils (2-0-1, 0-0-0) play a full schedule this week, opening with a long road trip to the Milwaukee School of Engineering (2-2), Tuesday, Sept. 13. Stout will open the WIAC season, Friday, Sept. 16 when they host UW-Whitewater (1-2-0, 0-0-0) at 4 p.m. and UW-Oshkosh (1-3-0, 0-0-0), Saturday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. Last week: Stout defeated St. Scholastica, 1-0, Sept. 10. Offensive player of the week: Michelle Lizotte, So, Racine/Horlick; Defensive player of the week: Hilary Smiskey, So, Chippewa Falls

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The Blue Devils women will be at the St. Olaf Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 17 in Northfield, Minn. Last week: Stout was off last week.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The Blue Devils men will be at the St. Olaf Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 17 in Northfield, Minn. Last week: Stout was off last week.

TENNIS
The Blue Devils (2-0) were scheduled to host Rockford College, Tuesday, Sept. 13, but that match has been cancelled. Stout will be at the UW-Whitewater Triangular, Saturday, Sept. 17 when they will play Mount Mary, UW-Whitewater and St. Norbert. Last week: The Blue Devils were idle last week.

Football

UW-Stout Blue Devils (2-0) at Springfield (Mass) College Pride (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 17, 1:30 p.m. (ET)
Benedum Field, Springfield, Mass.

ON THE LINE: The Blue Devils will attempt to equal last year's 3-0 start and obtain the program's fourth such start in five years. The Pride, which kicked off their 2005 campaign with a 35-7 setback to Union (NY) College on the road Saturday, Sept. 10, will look to generate some momentum in hopes of rebounding to match its 2004 successes, which included an 8-2 conference record and a 53-7 defeat of Fitchburg (Md) State for the ECAC Division III North Atlantic Championship.

LAST TIME OUT: Stout: With its bend-but-don't-break defense answering the call when UW-Platteville advanced into Blue Devil territory several times in the second half, UW-Stout held on for a 24-16 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) victory over the Pioneers Saturday, Sept. 10, at Don & Nona Williams Stadium.Stout opened up a 10-0 lead behind the strength of a 59-yard TD pass from Keldric Stokes (Sr, Benton Harbor, Mich) to John Henry Freeman (Jr, St. Louis, Mo) and a 30-yard field goal by Evan Larsen (Sr, River Falls). Platteville (1-1) cut the lead to 10-3 before Stokes tossed a 44-yard scoring strike to Jesse Wendt (Jr, Chetek). Up 17-10 at the half, Stout went up by two scores early in the third quarter, when stokes found Freeman from 57 yards out. After scored a TD late in the third quarter, the defenses took over. The Blue Devils outgained the Pioneers, 470-399, in net offensive yards. Andy Reese (So, Lodi) amassed 210 rushing yards on 38 carries, while Stokes completed 7-of-18 passes for 198 yards, three TDs and one pick, with Freeman catches three of his passes for 125 yards. Backup QB Tanner Kattre (So, Abbotsford) carried the ball twice for 40 yards. Stout's defense forced four Pioneer turnovers. Joe Seep (Sr, Reedsburg) recovered a fumble and picked off a pass, while Cory Brown (Sr, Milwaukee) and Cole Segerstrom (So, Mondovi) each added an interception.

Springfield: The Pride trailed Union, 14-7, entering the fourth quarter, then surrendered 21 points. Joe Deptula provided Springfield's lone score, reaching pay dirt on an eight-yard scamper late in the third quarter. Springfield gained 320 net offensive yards, 272 on the ground and 48 through the air. The Pride yielded 458 offensive yards to Union, 295 of the passing variety. Derron Walker carried the ball 14 times for Springfield, picking up 139 rushing yards. Deptula completed 3-of-5 aerial attempts for 40 yards but threw three interceptions. The Pride also lost two fumbles.

LAST SEASON: Stout was 5-4 overall, 3-4 (tied for fifth) in the WIAC. Springfield, which went 26-5 from 2002-2004, fashioned an 8-2 record, 4-2 in Empire 8 Conference action.

THE SERIES: This weekend's match-up represents the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

STOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Keldric Stokes (Sr, Benton Harbor, Mich) 202.91 passing efficiency, 18 comp, 35 att, 380 yds, 7 TDs; RB Ryan Englebert (Jr, Sturgeon Bay) 23 car, 80 yds, 1 TD/2 rec, 33 yds, 1 TD; WR Jesse Wendt (Jr, Chetek) 6 rec, 115 yds, 4 TDs, 19.2 ypc; WR John Henry Freeman (Jr, St. Louis, Mo) 7 rec, 180 yds, 2 TDs, 25.7 ypc; DB Joe Seep (Sr, Reedsburg) 12 tackles, 9 solo, 1 sack, 1 interception, fumble recovery, 17 yds per punt return; DB Tony Fitts (Jr, Kewaskum) 4 tackles, 3 solo, forced fumble; LB Luke Steffen (Jr, Greenwood) 21 tackles, 11 solo, 2 sacks, fumble recovery); LB Steve Schils (So, Green Bay) 16 tackles, 6 solo, 2 sacks, forced fumble; DL Travis Hoffmann (Jr, Schofield) 7 tackles, 2 solo; Blue Devils avg 435 total ypg, 233 rushing, 202 passing; give up 341 total ypg, 70.5 rushing, 270.5 passing. Stout has outscored its opponents, 73-30. Stout scores an average of 36.5 points per game and yields 15 points per contest.

SPRINGFIELD PLAYERS TO WATCH: HB Derron Walker (So, White Plains, NY) 14 car, 139 yds/1 rec, 5 yds; QB Joe Deptula (Jr, Oxford, Conn) 3 comp, 5 att, 40 yds/11 car, 17 yds, TD; FB Marc Hatch (Jr, Norwood, Mass) 11 car, 41 yds; HB Chris Sharpe (So, Derry, NH) 7 car, 41 yds; WR Mike Grendal (Sr, Foxboro, Mass) 2 rec, 35 yds; QB Damian Gunningsmith (Sr, Trumansburg, NY) 1 comp, 2 att, 8 yds/4 car, 4 yds; RB Nick Ford (Fr, Laconia, NH) 5 kick returns, 97 yds; LB Andrew Madigan (Jr, New Britain, Conn) 13 tackles, 12 solo; LB Jason Bakoulis (So, Norwich, Conn) 9 tackles, 5 solo; DB Mitch Dupuis (Sr, Merrimack, NH) 8 solo tackles; DB Kevin Fessette (Jr, Plattsburgh, NY) 7 tackles, 6 solo; Pride avg 320 total ypg, 272 passing, 48 rushing; give up 458 total ypg, 295 passing, 163 rushing. The Pride have been outscored, 35-7.

OFFENSIVE LOOK: Springfield: Multiple option; Stout: multi-pro set. DEFENSIVE LOOK: Springfield: 3-4; Stout: 3-4.

COACHES: Stout coach Todd Strop (7-4 career) is in his second year as the Blue Devil head coach. Springfield coach Mike DeLong (120-89-2; 132-95-2 career) is in his 22nd year at the Springfield helm.

STOUT COACH TODD STROP SAYS: "Any conference win is obviously a great win. We played pretty well overall (vs. Platteville) but one thing we continue to harp on is the sportsmanship of our team. It cost us a touchdown, field possession on two separate occassions and kept what could have been a comfortable win a tight game throughout. We just need to come down harder on our kids in terms of the little things. The way we go about coaching, we shouldn't be an undisciplined football team but for some odd reason we are right now. We have to find a way to eliminate our bad sportsmanship because (if we don't) it's going to wind up costing us a football came down the road."

"Springfield is a good football team. It's interesting we play Springfield (a run-oriented squad) right after playing Platteville (a pass-oriented team). But defensively it comes down to the same things - being disciplined and going out and doing your job. We need to keep the ball out of Sprinfield's hands because we can't afford our defense to be on the field 75 to 80 to 85 snaps in the game."

MENOMONIE (September 10, 2005) - Some clutch offense early and some clutch defense late helped UW-Stout (2-0, 1-0) fire up a 24-16 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) victory over UW-Platteville (1-1, 0-1) at Don & Nona Williams Stadium Saturday afternoon.

With 86 seconds elapsed in the contest, quarterback Keldric Stokes (Sr, Benton Harbor, Mich) tossed a picturesque pass to wide receiver John Henry Freeman (Jr, St. Louis, Mo), who blazed 59 yard untouched into the end zone for a 7-0 Stout lead. Over 56 game minutes later, Stout defensive back Cory Brown (Sr, Milwaukee) intercepted an errant Brent Nelson pass in the Stout end zone to extinguish the Pioneers' potential game-tying drive, cap the Blue Devils' gutsy second-half defensive effort and commence the slamming of the proverbial door on a resilient Platteville squad.

Stout's offense, fittingly, ended what it started, by subsequently grinding out a pair of first downs before kneeling down twice to expire the clock.

Stout's offense - which was fueled all game long by running back Andy Reese (So, Lodi), who bulldozed his way to 210 rushing yards on 38 carries - caught fire, again, midway through the first quarter, marching 32 yards in six plays before kicker Evan Larsen (Sr, River Falls) booted a 30-yard field goal to kick Stout's lead up to 10-0 with 6 minutes, 56 seconds left in the opening frame.

"(Stout) just started out very fast and we were on our heels," Platteville coach Mike Emendorfer said.

Coincidentally, the Pioneers got off their heels and back into the game thanks to the foot of its kicker, Jason Borchardt, who nailed a 27-yard field goal nine seconds into the second quarter to trim the Blue Devils' lead to 10-3.

With 7:14 to go before halftime, Stokes displayed his deep-ball skills again, this time hooking up with wide receiver Jesse Wendt (Jr, Chetek) for a 44-yard touchdown that lifted the home team's lead to 17-3.

Just before halftime, Platteville running back Damian Droessler's 11-yard scoring scamper brought the score to 17-10.

After Stokes dialed long distance to Freeman once more, this time for a 57-yard score, with 10:29 to go in the third, and Platteville closed the gap to 24-16 with 2:22 left in the frame with a one-yard Droessler dive, Stout's defense provided its prime-time, victory-preserving heroics.

Not once, not twice, but three times before the game ended, Stout's defense prevented the Pioneers from scoring after Platteville's offense had advanced into Blue Devil territory.

"Our defense just stepped up," Strop said. In addition to Browns' interception, Stout's defense, on the day, picked up interceptions courtesy of Cole Segerstrom (So, Mondovi) and Joe Seep (Sr, Reedsburg), along with a fumble recovery by Seep.

Stout's offense also stepped up, producing 470 yards of net offense, 272 on the ground and 198 through the air. In addition to Reese's monster, 200-plus-yard performance, reserve quarterback Tanner Kattre (So, Abbotsford) picked up 40 yards on two quarterback keepers. Stokes fired 18 passes, completing seven for 198 yards, three TDs and one pick. Freeman snared three passes for 125 yards, while Wendt pulled in two catches for 64 yards.

Nelson completed 21-of-37 passes for Platteville, compiling 283 aerial yards. Receiver Joe Danielson caught seven passes for 122 yards. Running back Mike Haynes gained 92 rushing yards on 21 carries, as the Pioneers accumulated 116 rushing yards. Platteville totaled 399 offensive yards.

Stout will return to action Saturday, Sept. 17, when they travel to Springfield (Mass.) College for a non-conference contest.

Volleyball

BLUE DEVILS GO UNDEFEATED AT AUGSBURG INVITATIONAL

MENOMONIE (September 10, 2005) - Despite a little sleepwalking through their first match with St. Olaf, UW-Stout went on to win all four matches over the weekend at the Augsburg Volleyball Invitational.

The Blue Devils struggled with the Oles, eventually winning, 20-30, 30-17, 14-30, 30-21, 15-12. The struggle woke the Blue Devils (7-2) up for their second contest as they took host Augsburg in three games, 30-19, 30-15, 30-17.

Lacey Bunkelman (Fr, Chippewa Falls) had 14 kills against St. Olaf, while Jenny McDermid (Jr, Oconto Falls) finished with 13 in the constant uphill battle. Jenna Welsh (So, Abbotsford), who had 21 assists, also went to the floor for 19 digs. McDermid had four solo blocks and two block assists.

It was alot more comfortable for the Blue Devils in the Augsburg match as coach Jill Jolliff was able to clear the bench.

Linda Meyer (So, Cedarburg) and Sarah McElfresh (Jr, Osceola) each had 13 kills, while Bunkelman added 10. Meyer also had 15 digs.

McDermid and Rachel Linbo (Sr, Stewartville, Minn) were named to the all-tournament team.

Stout will host UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (September 9, 2005) - UW-Stout needed four games each, but dispatched both St. Scholastica and Macalester College, 3-1, on the first night of the Augsburg Invitational.

Stout defeated Scholastica, 30-26, 26-30, 30-26, 30-28, and Macalester, 30-17, 28-30, 30-17, 30-25.

Sarah McElfresh (Jr, Osceola) put down 15 kills to lead Stout (5-2) against St. Scholastica, while Linda Meyer (So, Cedarburg) and Natalie Naaktgeboren (So, Maple Lake, Minn) each had 12 kills. Naaktgeboren had seven total blocks, two solo. Casey Huntoon (So, Mantorville, Minn) had a solid night at the service line, recording four service aces in each contest.

Against Macalester, Meyer and Jenny McDermid (Jr, Oconto Falls) each recorded 15 kills, while McElfresh had seven block assists.

MENOMONIE (September 6, 2005) - A teeter-totter contest tipped Bethel University's way Tuesday evening.

The host Royals (4-1) came out on top of Stout (3-2) 31-29, 25-30, 30-21, 27-30, 15-5.

Bethel compiled a .259 hitting percentage, compared to Stout's .171 attack accuracy rate. Stout, which recorded nine service aces to Bethel's six, committed two ball-handling errors to the Royals' three.

In the deciding fifth game, the Blue Devils totaled zero kills, five attack errors and 17 total attacks for a -.294 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, the Royals compiled nine kills, three attack errors and 16 total attacks for a .375 hitting percentage.

Lacey Bunkelman (Fr, Chippewa Falls) netted a team-high 14 kills for Stout, while Sarah McElfresh (Jr, Osceola) and Linda Meyer (So, Cedarburg) contributed 12 apiece. Natalie Naaktgeboren (So, Maple Lake, Minn) added 11.

Kat Roesler (Jr, Chippewa Falls) distributed 38 of the Blue Devils' 47 assists, while Rachel Linbo (Sr, Stewartville, Minn) paced Stout with 24 digs. Jenny McDermid (Jr, Oconto Falls) led the Blue Devils with four total blocks. Bridget Kelly (Fr, Dodge Center, Minn) and McElfresh tallied three service aces each.

Soccer

BLUE DEVILS MAKE LIZOTTE'S SECOND HALF GOAL STAND UP

MENOMONIE (September 10, 2005) - Michelle Liztotte (So, Racine) scored 28 seconds into the second half and the UW-Stout defense shut down St. Scholastica as the Blue Devils took a 1-0 non-conference win over the Saints.

Lizotte broke open from Stout's left flank to get in front of the net and took a pass play from Liz Eldred (So, Wentworth) and Katie Zernikel (Fr, Hartford). Lizotte dribbled a couple of times and shot into the wide open goal.

Stout's defense hunkered down the rest of the way. Even though Stout allowed a few more shots in the second half, goalkeeper Charla Buxbaum (Fr, Hermantown, Minn) recorded her first collegiate shutout.

Buxbaum was tested in the second half, and responded with six second half saves. Stout's defense allowed no shots on goal in the first half and Buxbaum finished with six saves.

Scholastica's Kristin Lammi was pounded in the first half with nine shots on goal, but stopped all of them. She only had one more save in the second half to finish with 10.

Stout will travel to Milwaukee, Tuesday, Sept. 13 when they face the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). Stout will open conference play, Friday, Sept. 16 when they host UW-Whitewater at 4 p.m.

Men's Basketball

ANDRIST TO BE CONSULTANT FOR QATAR DURING ASIAN GAMES

MENOMONIE (September 6, 2005) - Eddie Andrist, UW-Stout's head men's basketball coach, will spend time, again, with Qatar's men's national basketball team from Wednesday, Sept. 7, through Sunday, Sept. 18, in conjunction with the Asian Games.

Qatar is a relatively-small country that juts off the lower-east side of Saudi Arabia, sits directly east of Bahrain and is surrounded by the Persian Gulf.

Andrist, who coached the Qatar National Team to the program's first-ever Asian Games gold medal in 2000, is making the 13-hour flight to essentially serve as a consultant, and will conduct a clinic and assist with practices. He will not serve as an official team coach, however.

"They want me to watch their team and tell them what I think," Andrist said. "They also think I will bring them some luck. It is a great opportunity for me to connect with good friends."

Five players from Andrist's 2000 Asian Games championship squad remain on the Qatar roster.

Women's Cross Country

CROZIER BREAKS 20-MINUTE MARK AT ALUMNI MEET

MENOMONIE (September 3, 2005) - Bridgette Crozier (So, Winona, Minn) broke the 20-minute mark at the UW-Stout Jamie Block Alumni/Intra-Squad Meet Saturday.

Crozier came in with a time of 19-minutes, 46-seconds, taking more than a minute off her time from last year's alumni/intra-squad race.

Stephanie Nichols (Jr, Chetek) was second (20:02) and Abbey Ring (So, Manitowoc) was third (20:16).

Two freshmen rounded out the top five for the Blue Devils. Michelle Lewis (Burnsville, Minn) was fourth (20:52) and Katee Rosburg (Superior) was fifth (21:02).

The Blue Devils begin the regular season Saturday, Sept. 17, at the St. Olaf Invitational

1. Bridgette Crozier 19:46; 2. Stephanie Nichols 20:02; 3. Abbey Ring 20:16; 4. Michelle Lewis 20:52; 5. Katee Rosburg 21:02; 6. Carly Mann 21:47; 7. Laura Verdegan (Alumni) 22:00; 8. Leah Karaliunas 22:01; 9. Bonnie Wold 22:02; 10. Laura Eysnogle 22:05; 11. Rachel Richardson 22:08; 12. Tracy Oostdyk  (Alumni) 22:45; 13. Amanda Rau 23:10; 14. Erica Schweikert 23:19; 15. Emily Spagnoli 23:20; 16. Jodi Welhoefer 23:24; 17. Amy (Arndt) Krenz (Alumni) 23:31; 18. Emily Dubay  24:06; 19. Terra Dahlheimer 24:33 (Alumni); 20. Christina Anderson 24:44; 21. Chanelle Bailey 25:01; 22. Kristina Westberg 26:30; 23. Pam Gundrum (Alumni) 27:10.

Did not race: Krista Jahimiak, Christine Enger, Maria Wenner

Men's Cross Country

HAENY TAKES TOP SPOT AT ALUMNI/INTRA-SQUAD MEET

MENOMONIE (September 3, 2005) - Nate Haeny (Jr, Sauk Rapids, Minn) ran away with the top spot at the 2005 Jamie Block Alumni/Intra-Squad meet.

Haeny clocked a time of 21-minutes, 17-seconds in the 4-miles race. Alumni Chris Stevens came in second in a time of 21:34. John Maresh (Sr, Bloomington, Minn) was third (21:37).

The Blue Devils will return to action Saturday, Sept. 17 when they compete at the St. Olaf Invitational.

Women's Tennis

BETTMANN LEADS BLUE DEVILS AT EDGEWOOD TRIANGULAR

MADISON (September 3, 2005) - One competition into the UW-Stout tennis team's 2005 season, Jenna Bettmann (Jr, Blaine, Minn) has already eclipsed her singles win total from a year ago.

Last year, Bettmann fashioned a 1-15 mark representing the Blue Devils at No. 1 singles. Bettmann backhanded a pair of foes Saturday, Sept. 3, when the Blue Devils opened their season with two wins at the Edgewood College Triangular.

Bettmann aced Beloit's Erin Stamper, 6-2, 2-1, at No. 1 singles during the Blue Devils' 7-2 victory over the Buccaneers, then edged Edgewood's Chelsea VanHefty, 6-3, 4-6, 10-6, in Stout's 8-1 romp over the Eagles. Bettmann and teammate Nicole Hayek (Sr, Rochester, Minn) went 2-0 at No. 1 doubles, defeating their Beloit adversaires, 8-4 and their Edgewood foes, 8-4. Bettmann was a part of three doubles victories a year ago, Hayek four.

Against Beloit, Jodie Czech (Fr, Foley, Minn), Michelle Hohl (So, Portage) and Katie Brott (Sr, Sheboygan) provided singles wins at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6, respectively. In addition to the Bettmann/Hayek tandem, the teams of Hohl and Julie Mirenda (Fr, East Troy), and Czech and Danielle Farchmin (Fr, Waukesha) earned doubles wins.

Stout won all of their doubles matches on the day.

The Blue Devils were scheduled to host Rockford College, Tuesday, Sept. 14, but that match has been cancelled. Stout will be at the UW-Whitewater Triangular, Saturday, Sept. 17 where they will meet Mount Mary, UW-Whitewater and St. Norbert.

UW-Stout 8, Edgewood College 1
Singles: No. 1: Jenna Bettmann (S) def. Chelsea VanHefty 6-3, 4-6, 10-6; No. 2: Kathryn Wunnicke (E) def. Nicole Hayek 7-5, 6-4; No. 3: Jodie Czech (S) def. Lauren Georgia 6-0, 6-0; No. 4: Michelle Hohl (S) def. Monica Kane 6-1, 6-0; No. 5: Danielle Farchmin (S) def. Emma Weidmann 6-0, 6-1; No. 6: Katie Brott (S) def. Shannon Tehancz 6-2, 6-2; Exh: Tessa Lynch (S) def. Emily Williams, 8-5

Doubles: No. 1: Bettmann/Hayek (S) def. VanHefty/Wunnicke 8-4; No. 2: Hohl/Julie Mirenda (S) def. Tehancz 8-0; No. 3: Czech/Farchmin (S) def. Georgia/Kane 8-0.

Doubles: No. 1: Bettmann/Hayek (S) def. Montgomery/Fairfield 8-4 No. 2: Hohl/Mirenda (S) def. McLaughlin/Stamper 8-4 No. 3: Czech/Farchmin (S) def. Maul-Smith/Eva Szilvagyi 8-5

Updated: September 12, 2005