WVC State Championship Previews (3-11-10)
DIVISION I
UW-Oshkosh proved that it is once again in the Division I national title hunt after it took third-place at the Hoosier-Illini Classic in late February. The Titans, who are currently ranked fourth in the nation registered signature wins over Indiana University, Texas A&M University and the University of Illinois on the first day of competition and then beat the University of Missouri and Lakeland College in single elimination action.
UW-Oshkosh currently sits in first-place in the WVC after going 9-0 (entering a match versus UW-Whitewater) in regular season action. The Titans are attempting to win their second consecutive and eighth WVC state championship this weekend, the most of any team in the WVC.
The Titans are led by Danny Hessling, Nate Sederberg and Aaron Wayne. The senior trio has racked up seven All-WVC first team selections to go along with their seven Division I All-American nods. Last year, Wayne tied former UW-Oshkosh setter Andrew Sederberg with the most All-American selections in WVC history when he earned his fourth honor.
Other key team ingredients for UW-Oshkosh are Tyler Boddy, the 2008 WVC Freshman of the Year, Bill Meidenbauer, a 2009 second-team All-American, and Dan Ruys, a three-year starter that can dominate on offense as well as defense with blocking.
Newcomers to the team include Harris Jorgenson, Marcus Taylor, Eric Xiong and Zach Johnson. Jorgenson has proven to be an offensive leader as a starting left-side hitter, Xiong goes in for Jorgenson in the back-row to give the Titans quickness and ball control and Johnson sees time at all three positions in the front-row. Taylor transferred from the College of DuPage where he led his team to the 2009 Division I-AA national championship as the libero of the year.
Andy Schinner, a reliable setter and serving specialist and Mike Cotter, the 2008 WVC Division II most valuable player round out the UW-Oshkosh Division I roster.
DIVISION II
The UW-Oshkosh II team had its best start in team history as it stormed out of the gate to a 28-0 record entering the University of Iowa tournament last weekend. The Titans, who won the WVC Division II regular season for the eighth consecutive time look to take home the state championship crown for the fifth time in school history after a two-year hiatus.
The Titans have size, power and ball control as they turned heads earlier in the season by winning the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Division II title for the first time. UW-Oshkosh II went 11-0, dropping only one set and beating the University of Illinois II for the title.
The Titans have also captured titles at the University of Michigan Classic and St. Ambrose University Invitational as they look for their fourth consecutive 40-win season.
Jim Hall, the three-time WVC Division II libero of the year, and Jordan Mattingly, the 2009 WVC Division II most valuable player return for the Titans. 2009 WVC Division II first-team selections Luke Coyle, Gus Odorizzi and Chris Schinner are also back for the Titans, as well as starter Matt Maciejewski.
Newcomers that have made an immediate impact are Nick Mueller, a high flying left-side hitter, and Bob Hall, a lefty setter that gives UW-Oshkosh instance offense. Perhaps the biggest impact for UW-Oshkosh II is the presence of middle blocker Parker Gross. Gaining experience as a reserve on the Titans' Division I team last season, Gross now anchors the net both offensively and defensively for the UW-Oshkosh II team.
Solidifying the squad includes three-year member and team president Greg Lulich, 2009 WVC Division II all-tournament team selection David Mills, and Dominic Judkins, an athletic newcomer that can play both front and back row.
DIVISION III
The UW-Oshkosh III team started off the season with high expectations as experience and new talent surrounded the squad. These expectations were realized after winning nine out of its first 11 matches after reaching the semi-finals of the University of Michigan Classic and going 3-1 at the first WVC Division II play date.
Then the injury bug hit. Starters Will Brydon (ankle) and Andy Collins (concussion) and reserves Lang Lee Lee (ankle) and David Catoe (ankle) all suffered periods of missing practice and matches.
Entering the WVC Division II state championship the Titans are healthy again and are led by All-WVC Division II first-team candidates Brian Fox and Alex Reynolds. Fox is one of the best passers and defenders in the league and Reynolds is a four-year starter and offensive threat at the left-side position.
Other leaders for UW-Oshkosh III include Mike Heup, a three-year starter at setter, Evan Fahl, a three-year starter at right-side and Steve Brunelli and Tim Spengler, both second-year players on the team and starters at left-side and defensive specialist, respectively.
Newcomer Eric Brandenburg, who filled in nicely at the middle blocking position, completes the UW-Oshkosh III roster.
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