2005 MINNESOTA STATE VOLLEYBALL TABLE OF CONTENTS & MEDIA NOTES To The Media: This publication has been Weekly Releases: A press release and prepared by the MSU Athletic Communica- cumulative statistics will be e-mailed or tions Office for use by members of the faxed every Monday. Requests to receive media and friends of MSU Volleyball. The the release and other materials should made book is designed to supply you with the through the MSU Athletic Communications basic information needed as you follow the Office. MSU’s releases, statistics and other Mavericks thought the current season. Per- pertinent material will also be posted on the mission is granted to quote any portion of MSU Athletics Web site: this publication in day-to-day coverage. For more information contact: www.msumavericks.com Paul Allan People with special needs who will be Assistant AD/Communications attending any Minnesota State University, Man- Minnesota State University kato Athletics event should call 507-389-6111 175 Taylor Center 24-hours in advance. This publication is also Mankato, MN 56001 available in alternative formats upon request. Tiffany Graham, the team’s only senior, Office Phone: 507-389-2625 will lead the Mavericks in 2005. Home Phone: 507-257-2146 Photography Area: Credentialed pho- E-mail: [email protected] tographers are permitted to shoot from the side of the court opposite the official’s table. MSU Volleyball Quick Facts ....IFC Credentials: Working press box creden- Courtside flash photography is not permit- Media Notes................................. 1 tials shall be issued only to accredited news- ted. Photographers should direct requests Head Coach Dennis Amundson... 2 papers, magazines, radio and television re- for credentials to MSU Athletic Communi- Assistant Coach Heather Bitz ...... 2 porters. Please make all requests for creden- cations. Coaching Staff & Records ........... 3 tials in advance by phone or mail to MSU 2005 Season Outlook ................... 4 Athletic Communications. Credentials can Q & A With Coach Amundson ... 4 be mailed or picked up the day of the match Player Bios............................... 5-8 at Taylor Center. 2004 Statistics & Results ............. 9 Parking: A limited number of parking 2005 Roster & Team Photo ....... 10 passes are available for working media and MSU Volleyball Records .......... 11 will be issued on a first-come, first-serve North Central Conference.......... 12 basis. Contact MSU Athletic Communica- 2004 NCC Standings & Awards 13 tions for availability. 2005 NCC Composite Schedule 14 MSU Volleyball Records .......... 15 Press Row: The working press row for Year-By-Year Stat Leaders ....... 16 MSU volleyball matches is located courtside MSU Letterwinners ................... 17 in Taylor Center. Check with a member of Directions to MSU ..................... 17 the MSU Athletic Communications staff for MSU Series Records.................. 18 seating. Opponents Match-By-Match 18-19 MSU Year-By-Year................... 20 Interviews: Head coach Dennis Taylor Center .......................... IBC Amundson is available in his office during 2005 MSU Schedule ............. OBC the week in the morning. After games, play- ers and coaches are available upon request. Middle insert contains information on city Arrangements should be made with a MSU of Mankato, Minnesota State University Athletic Communications staff member. Player interviews during the week should be On The Cover: Head Coach Dennis academics and athletics, MSU’s national set up through MSU Athletic Communica- Amundson with senior Tiffany Gra- team and individual champions, MSU’s tions. North Central Conference team champion- ham. ships, MSU staff bios & directory and MSU Cover design by Wendy Johnston of University Printing Services. facilities. www.msumavericks.com 2005 Maverick Volleyball 1 2005 MINNESOTA STATE VOLLEYBALL COACHING STAFF Dennis Amundson, the seventh pearances (‘87, ‘98, ‘91). head coach in the history of the Min- “Across the state of Minnesota nesota State University volleyball and throughout the upper Midwest, program, comes to MSU after spend- Coach Amundson has established a ing the 2004 season as an assistant reputation as being a premier coach, coach at the University of St. Tho- strategist and clinician,” MSU Di- mas. There, he was responsible for rector of Athletics Kevin Buisman technical training, scouting, defen- said.“He is highly regarded by sive systems and recruiting. Prior to coaches and student-athletes at both his stint with the Tommies, he en- the high school and college level and joyed eight seasons as a volunteer is renowned for his ability in terms of assistant coach at the University of player development. His experiences Minnesota. From 1996 to 2003, he have put him in contact and allowed helped lead the Gophers to seven him to train some elite players in this NCAA tournament appearances, five region, including some that have com- Sweet 16 appearances, one regional peted at the Olympic level. and Big Ten title and an appearance “Coach Amundson has estab- in the Final Four. Amundson has lished an outstanding array of per- been involved with club volleyball sonal contacts, and his network will programs in the upper Midwest since make him an invaluable asset to our Dennis Amundson 1987, guiding the Mosquito Coast program. He comes to us highly rec- Head Coach junior Olympic team during that time. ommended by many of his peers, and He also guided St. Paul Harding High I am confident that MSU volleyball School to three state tournament ap- will flourish under his direction.” A Warrod, NDSU in 2003, was an assistant coach the North Central Conference, and Minn., native, with the women’s volleyball program we feel fortunate to have Heather on Heather Bitz at the College of St. Benedict during board as we work towards establish- comes to Min- the 2003-04 school year and served ing Minnesota State as a champion- nesota State as a student assistant coach at NDSU ship program.” University af- in 2002-03. ter a success- A veteran coach with the Junior ful volleyball Olympic volleyball programs in career at Fargo, N.D., Warroad, Minn., and Heather Bitz North Dakota Maple Grove, Minn., Bitz spent the Assistant Coach State Univer- 2004 season playing professional sity from volleyball in Evreux, France. 1998-2001. During that time, the Bi- “Heather is a self-made player son earned three North Central Con- who comes from a championship pro- ference championships, captured two gram and knows what it takes to NCAA regional titles and made two compete at the highest levels,” MSU Head Coach Dennis Amundson speaks with NCAA Division II Elite Eight ap- head coach Dennis Amundson said. Perry Dyke of KEYC during a press confer- pearances. Bitz, who graduated from “She is familiar with competition in ence announcing his hiring. 2 2005 Maverick Volleyball www.msumavericks.com 2005 MINNESOTA STATE VOLLEYBALL COACHING STAFF & RECORDS MSU Volleyball Year-By-Year Year Record Pct. Conference Finish Coach 1968 7-1 .875 Georgene Brock 1969 12-0-1 .962 Georgene Brock 1970 12-1 .923 Georgene Brock 1971 15-2 .882 Georgene Brock 1972 13-1 .929 Georgene Brock 1973 8-4 .667 Georgene Brock 1974 6-10 .375 Georgene Brock 1975 8-24 .250 Georgene Brock 1976 17-17-1 .500 Georgene Brock 1977 12-17-3 .422 Georgene Brock Lori Rittenhouse 1978 12-17-1 .417 Georgene Brock 1979 22-14 .611 Georgene Brock Graduate Assistant Coach 1980 14-17-2 .455 Pat Wagner 1981 8-22 .267 Pat Wagner Lori Rittenhouse is entering her 1982 14-22 .389 Rosie Stallman 1983 14-13 .519 Rosie Stallman first season as graduate assistant 1984 20-22 .476 Rosie Stallman 1985 25-13 .658 5th Mary Willerscheidt coach for the Mavericks. As a stu- 1986 21-22 .488 6th-tied Marge Burkett 1987 26-16 .619 3rd Marge Burkett dent-athlete, she played volleyball 1988 24-12 .667 5th-tied Marge Burkett for the University of Wisconsin from 1989 15-9 .625 4th-tied Marge Burkett 1990 17-15 .531 3rd Marge Burkett 1999-2003 where she was a four- 1991 4-20 .167 9th Marge Burkett 1992 28-9 .757 7th Marge Burkett time All-Academic Big Ten selec- 1993 23-10 .697 7th-tied Marge Burkett 1994 14-16 .467 8th Marge Burkett tion, aiding the team to two Big Ten 1995 13-19 .406 9th Marge Burkett 1996 15-13 .536 7th-tied Marge Burkett Conference championships. 1997 13-15 .464 6th Marge Burkett A Mankato, Minn., native, 1998 16-13 .552 6th-tied Doug Tully 1999 18-15 .545 6th-tied Doug Tully Rittenhouse attended Mankato West 2000 10-22 .313 8th-tied Doug Tully 2001 19-12 .613 5th Doug Tully High School where she participated 2002 24-7 .774 3rd Doug Tully 2003 20-9 .690 3rd Doug Tully in volleyball, basketball and track. 2004 10-17 .370 6th Doug Tully MSU All-Time Volleyball Coaching Records Coach Years Record Pct Georgene Brock 1968-79 (12) 144-108-6 .570 Pat Wagner 1980-81 (2) 22-39-2 .365 Rosie Stallman 1982-84 (3) 48-57 .457 Mary Willerscheidt 1985 (1) 25-13 .658 Marge Burkett 1986-1997 (12) 213-176 .548 Doug Tully 1998-2004 (7) 117-95 .552 Jamie Skadeland Volunteer Assistant Coach Jamie Skadeland begins the Georgene Brock Pat Wagner Rosie Stallman Mary Willerscheidt 2005 season in her first year at MSU. 1968-79 1980-81 1982-84 1985 Prior to MSU, she played volleyball for the University of North Dakota, helping the team to back-to-back NCAA Division II Championship ap- pearances in 2002 and 2003. She earned All-North Central Conference Marge Burkett Doug Tully Dennis Amundson honors in both 2003 and 2004. 1986-1997 1998-2004 2005 www.msumavericks.com 2005 Maverick Volleyball 3 2005 MINNESOTA STATE VOLLEYBALL 2005 SEASON OUTLOOK Jamie Skadeland (North Dakota ‘05). Although many unfamiliar faces QQ && AA will make up this season’s MSU With MSU Volleyball Head coaching staff, a few familiar faces Coach Dennis Amundson will return to the court.