Season outlook story -- click here

General Information
School Name: Augsburg College
Location: 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.
Founded: 1869
Enrollment: 3,086 (2000-01 figure, undergrad, weekend, graduate)
Nickname: Auggies
School Colors: Maroon and Gray (Pantone 208 maroon, Pantone Warm Gray 9)
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Conference: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
President: Dr. William V. Frame
Athletic Director: Paul Grauer (men), Marilyn Florian (women)
Athletic Phone: 612-330-1249

History
First year of volleyball: 1973
All-time playoff record (NCAA): 0-1
Years in post-season play (NCAA): 1 (1982)
Last postseason appearance (NCAA): 1982 / Result: 0-1
All-time record: 460-509-10 overall

Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Ryan Dehnel
Alma Mater/Year: Augsburg 2001
Record at school (yrs): 11-16 (1 year)
Career record: 11-16 (1 year)
Head Coach's office phone: 612-330-1541
Coach's e-mail: dehnelr@augsburg.edu
Best time/day to reach coach: Tuesdays/Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Assistant Coaches (Name/Alma Mater/Year):
Bethany Baker (Minnesota '00, First year)
Paul Wilson (St. Olaf '95, First year)
Dave Martin (St. Cloud State '00, Second year)
Cassi Van Ausdall (Augsburg '01, First year)

Sports Information
Sports Information Dir.: Don Stoner
SID office phone: 612-330-1677
Home phone: 651-697-1393
SID Fax: 612-330-1780
Press Row phone: 612-330-6430
E-Mail: stoner@augsburg.edu
Athletic Website: http://www.augsburg.edu/athletics/

2000 Match-By-Match Results (* denotes MIAC matches; Home matches in bold)
Sept. 1-2 at Trinity (Texas) Tournament --
vs. Trinity (Texas) (Sept. 1) L 3-0 (15-3, 15-10, 17-15)
vs. Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Sept. 1) L 3-2 (15-8, 15-5, 8-15, 11-15, 15-11)
vs. Southwestern (Texas) (Sept. 2) W 3-0 (15-6, 15-6, 15-10)
vs. Muskingum (Ohio) (Sept. 2) L 3-0 (15-8, 15-8, 15-12)
Sept. 8-9 Augsburg Invitational Tournament
vs. Bethel (Sept. 8) L 3-2 (8-15, 2-15, 15-9, 16-14, 15-13)
vs. Wisconsin-Superior (Sept. 8) W 3-2 (15-5, 11-15, 12-15, 15-4, 15-12)
vs. St. Olaf (Sept. 9) L 3-0 (16-14, 15-10, 15-5)
vs. St. Benedict (Sept. 9) L 3-0 (15-10, 15-12, 15-13)
Sept. 13 vs. Concordia-Moorhead * L 3-1 (10-15, 15-9, 15-12, 15-4)
Sept. 20 at St. Benedict * L 3-1 (15-5, 7-15, 15-13, 15-11)
Sept. 27 at St. Olaf * L 3-2 (15-5, 17-15, 13-15, 12-15, 15-10)
Sept. 29 vs. Carleton * W 3-0 (15-3, 15-5, 15-10)
Sept. 30 at Macalester * L 3-0 (15-4, 15-12, 15-8)
Oct. 4 vs. St. Thomas * L 3-0 (15-10, 16-14, 15-10)
Oct. 6-7 at University of St. Thomas Tournament --
vs. St. Scholastica (Oct. 6) W 3-2 (17-15, 7-15, 15-7, 10-15, 21-19)
vs. Sioux Falls (S.D.) (Oct. 6) L 3-1 (15-7, 12-15, 15-10, 15-2)
vs. St. Thomas (Oct. 7) L 3-0 (16-14, 15-9, 15-7)
Oct. 11 vs. Gustavus Adolphus * W 3-0 (15-13, 15-10, 15-6)
Oct. 13 at St. Catherine * W 3-0 (15-2, 15-13, 15-6)
Oct. 14 at St. Mary's * L 3-0 (15-5, 15-5, 15-9)
Oct. 18 vs. Bethel * W 3-0 (15-11, 15-12, 15-7)
Oct. 21 at Wartburg (Iowa) Triangular
vs. Marycrest International (Iowa) W 3-0 (15-2, 15-10, 15-6)
vs. Wartburg (Iowa) L 3-0 (15-3, 15-7, 15-2)
Oct. 25 vs. Hamline * W 3-0 (15-13, 15-8, 15-10)
Oct. 27 vs. Northwestern-Roseville W 3-2 (15-8, 15-8, 12-15, 3-15, 15-9)
Nov. 3-4 at MIAC Tournament at St. Mary's
vs. Gustavus Adolphus (Nov. 3) L 3-2 (9-15, 11-15, 15-13, 15-10, 15-12)
vs. St. Catherine (Nov. 4) W 3-2 (2-15, 9-15, 15-5, 15-4, 15-12)

2001 Schedule (Date, Opponent, Home/Away, Time)
Aug.31-Sept. 1, at Wisconsin-River Falls Tournament (St. Olaf, Upper Iowa, Marian, Luther)
Sept. 5, Silver and Maroon Match (exh.), Home, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7-8, Augsburg College Invitational (St. Benedict, Wisconsin-Superior, St. Olaf, Wisconsin-Eau Claire), Home
Sept. 12, at St. Mary's *, Away, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14, Alumni Match (exh.), Home, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19, vs. Hamline *, Home, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21, at Macalester *, Away, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22, at Carleton *, Away, 3 p.m.
Sept. 26, vs. Gustavus Adolphus *, Home, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28-29, at Wisconsin-Eau Claire Tournament (Lakehead (Ont.), Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wisconsin-Superior) (note that Lakehead does not count in standings or statistics due to NCAA rules regarding games/matches against Canadian opponents)
Oct. 3, at St. Benedict *, Away, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5, at St. Catherine *, Away, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6, vs. St. Thomas *, Home, 3 p.m.
Oct. 9, vs. Concordia-Moorhead *, Home, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12-13, at Univ. of St. Thomas Tournament (Upper Iowa, Northwestern-Roseville, Presentation (S.D.), St. Thomas)
Oct. 17, vs. St. Olaf *, Home, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24, vs. Bethel *, Home, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26-27, at Wisconsin-Oshkosh Tournament (Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Ripon, Finlandia (Mich.), Marian)

Player & Team Information
Overall record last year: 11-16
Conference record/finish: 5-6 / 8th
Letterwinners returning/lost: 11/5
Starters returning/lost: 2/4
Roster By Year: 2 seniors, 7 juniors, 6 sophomores, 8 freshmen. TOTAL: 23.

Returning Key Players (Name. Pos.. year. ht.. wt. misc. notes: )
Kevina Nakiwala (OH, Jr., Kampala, Uganda/Ashby, Minn., HS), 219 kills and 248 digs (both tops among returners) in 2000, 47 blocks (7 solo).
Paula Pogatchnik (OH, Jr., Finlayson, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS), 161 kills, 35 blocks (8 solo) in 2000.
Lisa Miller (MH, Jr., Buffalo, Minn.), 168 kills, 68 blocks (24 solo) (tops among returners) in 2000.
Anna Piermantier (S/DS, So., Afton, Minn./Stillwater HS), saw action in 18 matches in 2000.
Alli Burgess (DS, So., Sudan, Minn./Tower-Sudan HS), saw action in 11 matches in 2000.

Key Newcomers (Name. Pos.. YR. hometown/HS/last school at: notes):
Kelly Larvick (MH, Jr., Good Thunder, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial HS), all-state/division at Bethany Lutheran (JUCO) in 2000.
Amy Degner (S, Fr., Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins HS), 7 years of elite JO experience, HM all-conference in 2000.
Denise Foster (LS, Jr., Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS), two-year starter at St. Catherine.
Kim Jeska (RS, Jr., Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS), transfer from St. Cloud State, two-time all-conference in HS.
Laura Wagner (MH, Fr., West Bend, Wis./West Bend West HS)
Kristy Larson (MH, Fr., Pine Island, Minn.)

Key Losses (Name. Pos.. ht.. wt.. reason absent (grad/transfer/injury/misc. notes):
Angie Rieger (MH), 2X All-MIAC first team (99, 00), 323 kills, 88 blocks (28 solo), 222 digs in 2000; career totals of 1,030 kills, a .303 attack percentage, 232 blocks (100 solo) and 1,052 digs; Lutheran Brotherhood HM Lutheran College All-American in 2000.
Cassi Van Ausdall (OH), All-MIAC second team in 2000; 313 kills, 435 digs, 31 service aces in 2000; career totals of 1,718 digs, 760 kills, 155 service aces and 82 blocks (27 solo); Lutheran Brotherhood Second Team Lutheran College All-American in 2000.
Emily Walen (S), 2-year starter at setter at Augsburg; 1,010 assists, 36 service aces, 28 blocks (6 solo) in 2000; Augsburg career total of 2,072 assists (10.3 per game).
Jessica Norman (OH/BR), 190 digs, 22 kills in 2000.
Tiffany Lynch (BR), 4-year back-row specialist; 188 digs in 2000; 533 career digs.

Season Outlook and Notes:
MINNEAPOLIS (updated 8/31/01) -- It's a year of new faces in new places for the Augsburg College volleyball team in 2001.

It's Ryan Dehnel's first year as the solo head coach for the Auggies; last year, he served as a co-head coach with Thanh Pham.

It's a year to replace several stalwarts of Auggie volleyball in recent years; four-year starting hitters Angie Rieger and Cassi Van Ausdall, two-year starting setter Emily Walen, and four-year back-row specialist Tiffany Lynch.

It's a year where the bulk of the Auggie roster will be underclassmen, with just two seniors and seven juniors in the mix.

So why is Dehnel so confident entering the 2001 campaign?

Because in spite of the player losses, and the many new faces entering the varsity lineup, Dehnel has a talented group of individuals ready to improve upon Augsburg's consecutive 11-win seasons over the past two years. Augsburg finished 11-16 overall and 5-6 in the always-competitive Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference last season.

Dehnel, entering his third year on the Auggie coaching staff, has promised a new look for the squad this season, as the club will feature the most height it has had up front in recent years. There will be a greater reliance on hitting and blocking this season, compared to recent years of a defensive and freelance style of play, Dehnel said.

"We could be the biggest team, size-wise, in the conference this year," Dehnel said. "We will not only be different at face value, with our roster turnover, but we will be a significantly different type of team."

The key to the sea change in Auggie volleyball is a result of one of the most aggressive recruiting efforts in recent years, which netted three transfers and six freshmen, three of whom are likely to make immediate impacts. Those three freshmen and the three transfers are over 5-feet, 9-inches in height, and all have extensive experience in the style of volleyball that Dehnel wants to play this year.

"The true indicator for us will be team chemistry, the ability to get everyone on the same page," Dehnel said. "We have the talent and desire to contend for the conference title. When you graduate five seniors, you don't expect to say that, but we have a lot of talent coming in, combined with the talent from our returners and the strength of our coaching staff."

Three key junior hitters will not be overlooked in their return to the Auggie lineup this year. Kevina Nakiwala (Jr., Kampala, Uganda/Ashby, Minn., HS) showed tremendous improvement in 2000, finishing third on the team in kills (219) and blocks (47, 7 solo) and fourth in digs (248). Considered one of the hardest hitters on the team, Nakiwala will be a strong presence as she moves from the right side to the left-side hitting position.

"Kevina adds a lot of experience, tremendous athletic ability and a tremendous competitive spirit. She hates to lose," Dehnel said.

Joining Nakiwala on the left side will be Paula Pogatchnik (Jr., Finlayson, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS), a steady presence in the Auggie lineup the last two seasons. Like Nakiwala, Pogatchnik showed strong improvement in both playing time and results in 2000, with 161 kills and 35 blocks (8 solo).

"She's really improved her approach to the game since the middle of last season. She's brought a whole new level of preparation and skill development on and off the court," Dehnel said.

Lisa Miller (Jr., Buffalo, Minn.) may have shown the most improvement of any Auggie last year. With a regular role as a middle hitter, she shined, with 168 kills and 68 blocks (24 solo). She is likely to shoulder a much bigger offensive load this season, and could become one of the most effective middle hitters in the conference, Dehnel said.

"She has improved so much, from being hurt the preseason of her first year to being our hardest worker, on and off the court, right now," Dehnel said. "She will immediately come in and be one of our on-the-court leaders this year."

Joining the three junior hitters will be a group of solid recruits, including three transfers. Kelly Larvick (Jr., Good Thunder, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial HS), a 6-2 middle hitter, joins the program from Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.), where she was an all-state junior college player.

Denise Foster (Jr., Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS), a 5-10 left-side hitter, was a two-year starter at the College of St. Catherine. Kim Jeska (Jr., Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS), a transfer from St. Cloud State University (she did not play collegiately at SCSU), brings a tremendous amount of Junior Olympic experience to the right side, Dehnel said.

Two freshmen who have solid Junior Olympic credentials should also make an impact in the middle hitter role, Dehnel noted -- Laura Wagner (Fr., West Bend, Wis./West Bend West HS) and Kristy Larson (Fr., Pine Island, Minn.).

The setting role will be filled by returner Anna Piermantier (So., Afton, Minn./Stillwater HS) and freshman Amy Degner (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins HS). Piermantier appeared in 18 varsity matches last season as a backup setter and back-row specialist. Degner, a solid all-around player who was featured in a variety of positions in high school volleyball, gained plenty of setting experience through seven years of elite Junior Olympic competition, Dehnel said. Alli Burgess (So., Soudan, Minn./Tower-Sudan HS) should also see time in the back row. She saw action in 11 varsity matches last year.

The team's two seniors, outside hitter Sara Sather (Sr., Birchdale, Minn./Indus HS) and middle hitter Amy Lashinski (Sr., Bowlus, Minn./Upsala HS), will also bring a positive work ethic and leadership role to the squad, Dehnel said.