October 12, 1998

UW-Stout Blue Devils (3-2, 1-1) at UW-River Falls Falcons (4-1, 3-0)
Saturday, October 17, 1 p.m.
Ramer Field, River Falls, Wis.
ON THE LINE: Every game is important in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a league race that is expected to be very tight. Both UW-Stout and UW-River Falls are coming off lopsided wins, with Stout taking a 35-7 homecoming win over UW-Eau Claire, while the River Falls wishbone snapped UW-Platteville, 39-0. With a 3-0 conference record, the Falcons hold a one game lead over second place UW-La Crosse, which has a 2-0 record. In a league where teams were averaging well over 30 points per game, Stout and River Falls were the only teams to score more than 24 points in their games last week.

LAST TIME OUT: Stout: After getting severely toasted by La Crosse two weeks ago, the Blue Devil defense rose out of the ashes to put on a defensive show on their way to a 35-7 win over Eau Claire. The Stout defense, which gave up 589 yards and 58 points against La Crosse, gave up only 297 yards and one TD against the Blugolds. Stout also forced two fumbles and three interceptions, as well as stopping the Blugolds on a fourth and goal on Stout's 3-yard line to completely turn the momentum around. The defensive resurgance gave the Stout offense a chance to get in gear and, after trailing 7-0 at halftime, quarterback Matt Bunyan (Sr, Janesville) put together another mythic performance, throwing for five touchdowns and a school record 444 yards. Shawn Lund (Jr, Ashland) scored on a 47-yard pass play, then closed up the third quarter with a 7-yard scoring pass reception. Jesse Diaz (Jr, Cottage Grove) opened the fourth quarter with a 47-yard scoring reception, followed by a 50-yard scoring reception by Jesse Witcraft (Sr, New Lisbon). Diaz put the final nail in the coffin with a 1-yard scoring reception. Bunyan went 19-for-32 with two interceptions and completed passes to seven different receivers. Lund had six receptions for 152 yards, Diaz five grabs for 106 yards and Witcraft three catches for 129 yards. Joe Verstegen (Sr, Little Chute) had two interceptions.

River Falls: The Falcons had little trouble with Platteville, scoring in every quarter on their way to a 39-0 win at Platteville. Not suprisingly, the run-happy Falcons got all of their scoring on the ground. Nick Scribner (So, Clayton) opened the scoring with a one-yard dive in the first quarter, then Andrew Kruger (So, St. Peter, Minn) scored twice in the second. Quarterback Randy Johnson (Sr, Burnsville, Minn), who finished with a game-high 112 yards rushing - including a 56-yard scamper - scored in the third, while Cory Mueller (Jr, Lannon) capped off the game with a 3-yard run in the fourth. The Falcons finished with 503 yards of total offense, 440 on the ground, while holding the lowly Pioneers to 133 total yards.

LAST YEAR: Stout and River Falls play in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and are affiliated with the NCAA Division III. After finishing seventh in 1996, the Blue Devils finished in a tie with La Crosse for second. Stout was 6-4 overall 5-2 in league play. River Falls finished at 5-5 overall, 3-4 in the WIAC, good for a fifth place tie. The Blue Devils snapped a six game losing streak to the Falcons last year with a 42-34 homecoming win. Jesse Witcraft scored three TDs and racked up 193 receiving yards on four catches, but Stout still needed a 21-point fourth quarter to notch the win.

THE SERIES: River Falls leads the series - the longest series of any Stout opponent - 62-21, with the Falcons winning the first contest in 1911, 13-11. River Falls has won eight of the last 10 meetings. The last time Stout was in River Falls, they lost 45-2.

STOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Matt Bunyan (Sr, Janesville) 194-115-7, 1547 yds (309.4/g); 18 TDs, set school record last week for most passing yards in a single game with 444; WR Jesse Diaz (Jr, Cottage Grove) 30 rec, 448 yds, 14.9 yd/rec, 5 TDs; TE Andy Mutch (Fr, Bloomington, Minn) 12 rec, 131 yds, 20.9 yd/rec, 1 TD; TB Shawn Lund (Jr, Ashland) 360 yds, 67 carries, 5.4 yd/carry, 19 rec, 287 yds, 5 TDs; CB Corey Morning (Sr, Bloomer) 38 tackles, 21 solo, 4 passes broken up; LB Eric Lund (So, Ashland) 41 tackles, 14 solo, 9 tackles for losses of 37 yards, 5 passes broken up; DE Bill Berg (Sr, Washburn) 10 tackles, 9 solo, 7 tackles for losses of 26 yards, 2 sacks for 17 yds; LB Josh Gawlik (So, West Bend) 22 tackles, 9 solo, 2 tackles for losses of 6 yards, 1 int; Blue Devils avg 432.6 total ypg, 122.4 rushing, 310.2 passing; give up 373.0 total ypg, 199.6 rushing, 173.4 passing.

RIVER FALLS PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Randy Johnson (Sr, Burnsville, Minn) 34-15-1, 266 yds (53.2/g), 511 yds rushing, 85 carries, 5 TDs, 6.0 y/carry, 102.2 y/game; FB Andrew Kruger (So, St. Peter, Minn) 284 yds, 48 carries, 5.9 y/carry, 94.7 y/game; Nick Scribner (So, Clayton) 261 yds, 31 carries, 8.4 y/carry, 52.7 y/game; HB Michael Grant (Jr, Minneapolis, Minn) 245 yds, 6.6 y/carry, 49 y/game; DB Tim Sukalski (Jr, Blue Earth) 40 tackles, 27 solo, 6 pass break ups; DB Ben Kolstad (Jr, Green Bay) 32 tackles, 9 solo, 8 tackles for losses of 33 yards, 2 sacks for 11 yards, 2 int, was QB, moved to DB this year; LB Matt Norstad (So, Cannon Falls, Minn) 32 tackles, 19 solo, 6 tackles for losses of 22 yards, 2 sacks. Falcons avg. 425.3 total ypg, 372.2 rushing, 53.2 passing; give up 311 total ypg, 116 rushing, 195 passing.

OFFENSIVE LOOK: River Falls: Wishbone; Stout: multi-pro set which incorporates a West Coast style offense. DEFENSIVE LOOK: River Falls: 3-4; Stout: 4-3

COACHES: Stout coach Ed Meierkort (22-33 career) is in his sixth year. River Falls' John O'Grady (61-30-3) is in his 10th season.

STOUT COACH ED MEIERKORT SAYS: "(The win over Eau Claire) as far as respect, puts us back to where we thought we should be. We really didn't let Eau Claire get any rhythm. We were dealing with a team that, offensively the last two to three years, has been pretty awesome. We wanted show the kids that we were confident in their abilities, so we kept the game plan pretty much the same. As the game moved along, we let them feed off each other and by the end of the game, they all wanted to make the play. There were three factors that figured into this game. One, we wanted to play ourselves back into the conference race. Two, we wanted to show we were a solid defensive team. Three, the rivalry.

"Now we jump from the frying pan into the fire (with River Falls). Here is a team that is undefeated in the conference, and their only loss is to a true Division II team (Washburn, Kansas). Some teams line up in the wishbone. River Falls runs the wishbone. They are a physical team. They are not large, but they play hard. Their asset is their tenacity. We will have to get down and dirty with them. We will need to get the ball out of their quarterback's hands. We will have to outrun them to their point of attack. And we will have to try to get them to do something they haven't done, and that is turn the ball over. Our key is to protect the quarterback and we must be able to run."

RADIO: WMEQ 880 AM, Jake Bostrom, Jay Fahl, Dick Lowery

October 10, 1998

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's Matt Bunyan (Sr, Janesville) was just like a locomotive. After a relatively slow start, Bunyan completed 19-of-32 passes for a school record 444 yards as the Blue Devils downed previously undefeated UW-Eau Claire, 35-7, Oct. 10 for the Blue Devils' homecoming.

After trailing 7-0 for almost all of the first half, the Blue Devil defense stopped the Blugolds time-after-time, and gave the offense their opportunity in the third quarter - and Bunyan made the most of the opportunity.

Bunyan hit tailback Shawn Lund (Jr, Ashland) on the sideline, and Lund raced 47-yards for the score.

Three plays later, Tony Spencer (Sr, Milwaukee) forced Eau Claire quarterback Sean Hoolihan to fumble and Ehrich Shaw (Sr, Menomonie) pounded on the ball at the Eau Claire 33. Bunyan hit Lund for his second TD pass in three minutes, this time a 7-yard jog into the end zone.

Possibly the biggest play of the game came late in the third quarter, when on fourth and 3 at the Stout 3 yard line, defensive back Tony Beckham (Fr, Ocala, Fla) stopped BJ Jones at the 2-yard line to turn the ball over to Stout.

After the change of quarter, Stout (3-2, 1-1) moved down the field, largely on a 59-yard pass play from Bunyan to Jesse Diaz (Jr, Cottage Grove). Diaz fumbled the ball at the Eau Claire 27, but recovered on the 23. Three plays later, Bunyan hit Diaz in the end zone, and the locomotive was properly fired up.

The Blugolds (4-1, 1-1) went three plays and out, and Stout, despite an almost costly penalty, moved the ball well. Bunyan connected with John Bekish (Jr, Park Center, Minn) on an ice cream cone-type 21-yard catch up the middle to the Eau Claire 49, then found Witcraft, who raced 50 yards for the score.

Stout's defense, which had been humbled last week by UW-La Crosse, rose again to force another Hoolihan fumble. This time Josh Gawlik (So, West Bend) hit Hoolihan and Bill Berg (Sr, Washburn) did the pouncing at the Eau Claire 39.

Bunyan needed only seven plays to move 39 yards, with Lund getting 29 yards on a pass play. Bunyan capped off the drive, and his record setting day, with a 1-yard scoring pass to Diaz.

Eau Claire moved the ball on the ensuing drive, but the Stout defense showed their teeth again, forcing Hoolihan to throw an interception to Jerad Marsh (Fr, Seymour) and the Blue Devils had their first win over Eau Claire in three years.

Stout amassed 480 total yards, but held the generally prolific Blugolds to 297 yards.

Lund caught six passes for 152 yards, while Diaz grabbed five for 106 and Witcraft had three grabs for 129. Joe Verstegen (Sr, Little Chute) had two interceptions on the afternoon.

After a four-game homestand, the Blue Devils will hit the road to travel to UW-River Falls Saturday, Oct. 17 for a 1 p.m. game at Ramer Field.

Soccer

October 9, 1998

MENOMONIE - After a scoreless first half, the doors to the nets flew wide open as Edgewood College downed UW-Stout, 3-2, in non-conference soccer action Friday, Oct. 9 at the River Heights Elementary field.

The Blue Devils (6-7-1) spent much of the first half in the Edgewood zone, but came up just short or wide several times.

Just five minutes into the half, Edgewood's Shonna Lybeck put in the first goal of the game. Julie Veloff of Edgewood put in the next goal shortly after with a pass from Kate Zomboracz.

Stout answered back with Jessica Unterweger (Jr, Nashotah), scoring off a pass from Alyssa Halverson (Sr, Rochester, Minn). Egdewood (13-1) put another away from Lybeck again with the pass from Julie Veloff. Stout scored the final goal of the game with Halverson picking up her second goal of the night.

Stout outshot the Eagles, 23-11.

Stout will play their last home game of the season Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. against Bethel College.

October 7, 1998

MENOMONIE — Never before has the UW-Stout soccer team played UW-La Crosse so close. The Eagles downed the Blue Devils, 2-0, Wednesday, Oct. 7 in Menomonie.

The Eagles, who have given the Blue Devils some of their worst whipping over Stout's four year history, needed to wait until well into the second half before they pierced the Blue Devil defense. Jackie Layden scored at the 66th minute, and Jenny Tischaefer scored in the final minute to seal the win.

The shot chart was virtually even, with La Crosse taking 14 shots to Stout's 13, and corner kicks were even with four apiece.

Both teams goalkeepers played a solid game with many hard saves. Stout's Nikki Bezak (Jr, Coon Rapids, Minn) recorded eleven saves off the 14 shots taken on her. La Crosse's Jessica Gammey recorded nine saves.

Volleyball

October 10, 1998

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout was not a good host at their own volleyball invitational, as the Blue Devils breezed to two wins, with both matches needing only three games apiece.

Stout, the No. 8 ranked team in the Central Region, opened up the tournament by barely breaking a sweat in downing Macalester College, 15-6, 15-5, 15-8, then had a little more trouble with Bethel College, taking the Royals, 15-11, 17-15, 15-6.

Stout (13-2) came up with a balanced attack in both matches, with Monica Cyrus (Sr, Farmington, Minn), Tori Feit (Jr, Rushmore, Minn) and Heather Cassell (So, Lake Geneva) getting nine kills against Macalester.

Balance continued against Bethel, with Stoddard and Cassell each getting 15 kills. Cassell added two service aces, 20 digs and one assisted block. Feit added 11 kills and Cyrus chipped in nine.

The Blue Devils stay home this week, hosting Viterbo College Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Stout will take to the road next weekend, traveling to UW-Stevens Point Friday, Oct. 16 and taking on St. Norbert College and Carthage College in a triangular at St. Norbert in DePere.

Results of UW-Stout Volleyball Invitational
UW-Stout def. Macalester College, 15-6, 15-5, 15-8
UW-River Falls def. Bethel College, 14-16, 15-2, 15-4, 15-5
UW-Stout def. Bethel College, 15-11, 17-15, 15-6
UW-River Falls def. Macalester, 15-7, 8-15, 15-11, 15-10

October 7, 1998

MENOMONIE - The games got progressively more difficult, but the UW-Stout volleyball team went on to down UW-Superior, 15-5, 15-7, 17-15, Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

After breezing to wins in the first two games, Blue Devil coach Jill Jolliff substituted liberally, allowing her subs to come from behind, 15-14, to take the 17-15 win.

Gina Schwederske (Fr, Almena) provided the fire power in the third game, blasting five kills on 16 attacks. Hollie LaVallie (Fr, Owatonna, Minn) played the entire game, recording 15 assists.

On the evening, Stacy Stoddard (Sr, St. Paul, Minn) again led the Blue Devils (11-5, 4-2) offensively, recording 14 kills. Superior (7-15, 0-7) was led by Jackie Heiskari with nine kills.

Laura Huntoon (So, Byron, Minn) broke the Yellowjackets in the first game when she served up two consecutive service aces.

Men's Cross Country

October 9, 1998

COLFAX - The UW-Stout men's cross country team used three top 10 finishes to place second at the Blugold Invitational Friday, Oct. 9 at Whitetail Golf Club near Colfax.

Josh Johnson (So, Oregon) finished seventh in a time of 26:38 to lead the Blue Devils, but he had teammates Clint Latz (Fr, Lublin) and Ethan Webinger (So, La Crescent, Minn) right on his trail. Latz clocked a 26:40, while Webinger came in at 26:43.

Host UW-Eau Claire used four top 10 finishes to take the meet.

The Blue Devils return to action Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Jim Drews Invitational hosted by UW-La Crosse in West Salem.

Blugold Invitational team results
1. UW-Eau Clarie 24; 2. UW-Stout 64; 3. UM-Duluth 105; 4. Macalester 119; 5. St. Mary's 133; 6. St. Thomas 159; 7. Hamline 178; 8. UW-Superior 212; 9. Eau Claire Alumni 222; 10. UW-River Falls 278; 11. St. Scholastica 295.

Individual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)
1. Jason Finch (Eau Claire) 25:33; 7. Josh Johnson 26:38; 8. Clint Latz 26:40; 9. Ethan Webinger 26:43; 14. Ryan Hill 26:54; 26. Bryan Ott 27:35; 28. Eric Hanson 27:47; 34. Bryan Walvohd 27:49; 40. Jamie Block 27:49; 67. Alex Anderson 27:39; 72. Mike Schumann 28:13; 90. Aaron Haas 28:53; 95. Corey White 29:04; 99. Seth Kaste 29:13; 102. Jason Kirch 29:19; 107; tim King 29:31; 120. Ben Vezzetti 20:43; 127. Mike Western 31:21.

Women's Cross Country

October 9, 1998

COLFAX - Katie Jacobson (Sr, Eau Claire) finished second and Katy Olsen (Sr, Rice Lake) finished third to lead the UW-Stout women's cross country team to a third place finish at the Blugold Invitational Friday, Oct. 9 at Whitetail Golf Club near Colfax.

Jacobson clocked a time of 18:34, while Olsen cruised the course in 18:41.

The Blue Devils return to action Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Tori Neubauer Invitational hosted by UW-La Crosse in West Salem.

Blugold Invitational team results
1. UW-La Crosse 71; 2. St. Thomas 92; 3. UW-Stout 117; 4. St. Benedict's 126; 5. St. Catherine 135; 6. UM-Duluth 141; 7. UW-Eau Claire 154; 8. Macalester 177; 9. UW-Superior 189; 10. UW-River Falls 249; 11. Winona 297; 12. St. Mary's 341; 13. Hamline 415; 14. St. Scholastica 439

Invidividual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)
1. Sarah Anderson (Superior) 18:22; 2. Katie Jacobson 18:34; 3. Katy Olsen 18:41; 27. Katie Kuffel 19:49; 47. Heather Meyers 20:12.; 58. Amy Arndt 20:21; 97. Jamie Souza 21:00; 111. Dana Piper 21:20; 129. Coryn Delaney 21:39; 152. Ellen Everson 22:19.

Women's Tennis

October 10, 1998

STEVENS POINT - UW-Stout's Lauren Mader (Jr, Neenah) won at No. 1 singles and Mader teamed up with Ann Jackson (So, Eau Claire) to win at No. 1 doubles as the Blue Devils fell, 7-2, to UW-Stevens Point Saturday, Oct. 10 at Stevens Point.

Mader breezed to her singles win, downing Amy Oswald, 6-2, 6-3, and Mader and Jackson had almost as easy a time at No. 1 doubles, taking Jenny Oelke and Oswald, 6-3, 6-4.

Stout (0-6, 0-4) returns to conference play next weekend when they travel to UW-La Crosse Friday, Oct. 16 and to UW-Eau Claire, Saturday, Oct. 17.

UW-Stevens Point 7, UW-Stout 2
Singles: No. 1: Lauren Mader (St) def. Amy Oswald, 6-2, 6-3; No. 2: Tammy Byrne (SP) def. Ann Jackson, 6-1, 6-0; No. 3: Anne Renken (SP) def. Sarah Lundquist, 7-5, 6-4; No. 4: Jenny Oelke (SP) def. Lauren Johnson, 6-3, 6-1; No. 5: Jen Derse (SP) def. Sara Hesli, 6-3, 6-2; No. 6: Heather Janssen (SP) def. Megan Schwanbeck, 6-0, 6-2. Exh: Laura Henn (SP) def. Jodi Anderson, 6-4, 6-4; Andrea Hoffman (SP) def. Carrie Pasko, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles: No. 1: Mader/Jackson (St) def. Oelke/Oswald, 6-3, 6-4; No. 2: Janssen/Renken (SP) def. Lundquist/Hesli, 6-3, 6-3; No. 3: Byrne/Laura Henn (SP) def. Johnson/Jodi Anderson, 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

October 6, 1998

MENOMONIE - Things looked good after the UW-Stout tennis team won two doubles matches, but the Blue Devils could manage only one singles win and fell, 6-3, to UW-River Falls in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Lauren Mader (Jr, Neenah) and Ann Jackson (So, Eau Claire) teamed up to down Lindsey Oberg and Meghan Mulligan, 7-6, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles, and Lauren Johnson (So, Hamel, Minn) and Jodi Anderson (Fr, Anoka, Minn) took the No. 3 doubles match, 6-3, 6-2, from Rory Holmquist and Sadie Rasmussen. Mader was the only singles winner for the Blue Devils (0-5, 0-3), downing Oberg at No. 1, 6-3, 6-0.

UW-River Falls 6, UW-Stout 3
Singles: No. 1: Lauren Mader (S) def. Lindsey Oberg, 6-3, 6-0; No. 2: Chrissy Kraft (RF) def. Ann Jackson, 6-4, 6-1; No. 3: Meghann Mulligan (RF) def. Sarah Lundquist, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4; No. 4: Julie Willkom (RF) def. Lauren Johnson, 6-2, 6-1; No. 5: Shauna Nelson (RF) def. Sara Hesli, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3; No. 6: Rory Holmquist (RF) def. Megan Schwanbeck, 6-3, 7-5; Exh: Sadie Rassmussen (RF) def. Jodi Anderson, 6-3, 6-0; Laura Hanson (RF) def. Carrie Pasko, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles: No. 1: Mader/Jackson (S) def. Oberg/Mulligan, 7-6 (3), 6-2; No. 2: Kraft/Willkom (RF) def. Lundquist/Schwanbeck, 6-1, 7-6; No. 3: Johnson/Jodi Anderson (S) def. Holmquist/Sadie Rasmussen, 6-3, 6-2; Exh: Hanson/Steph Stande (RF) def. Jenny Anderson/Dana Rozmenoski, 6-0, 0-6, 6-4.

Women's Basketball

October 4, 1998

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its Academic Top-25 Team Honor Roll today and UW-Stout ranked No. 1 on the list.

The Blue Devils finished the 1997-98 season with a team grade point average of 3.713, almost two-tenths of a point higher than second place Gustavus Adolphus.

Two years ago, the Blue Devils ranked 10th in the inaugural honor roll listing.

With the honor roll, the WBCA recognizes the nation's highest NCAA Division III team grade point averages, based on nominations submitted by WBCA-member coaches.

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport of women's basketball and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls.

UW-Stout will open their 1998-99 season Friday, Nov. 20 at the Alma, Mich., College Tournament.

1998 WBCA Academic Top-25 Team Honor Roll
(Rank, Institution, GPA, Coach)
1. UW-Stout, 3.713, Mark Thomas; 2. Gustavus Adolphus, 3.534, Peg Moline; 3. Otterbein, 3.515, Connnie Richardson; 4. Wartburg, 3.501, Monica Severson; 5. Eureka, 3.494, Sandy Schuster; 6. Messiah, 3.483, Mike Miller; 7. Millikin, 3.475, Lori Kerans; 8. Defiance, 3.472, Renne Kudia; 9. Luther, 3.469, Jane Hildebranch; 10. Illinois Wesleyan, 3.450, Mandy Neal; 11. Ithaca, 3.439, Christine Pritchard; 12. New York University, 3.414, Janice Quinn; 13. UW-Oshkosh, 3.411, Pam Ruder; 14. Buena Vista, 3.407, Janet Berry; 15. Cornell, 3.390, Jon Herbrachtsmeyer; 16. Central, 3.388, Gary Boeyink; 17. Drew 3.377, Linda Yost; 18. University of Redlands, 3.366, Micki McAulay; 19. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 3.348; 20. Russell Sage, 3.348, Sue Roarke; 21. St. Benedict, 3.338, Mike Durbin; 22. Hardin Simmons, 3.328, Julie Goodenough; 23. Wellesley, 3.313, Kathy Hagerstrom; 24. Emory & Henry, 3.311, Joy Scruggs; 25. Bethel, 3.310.