UWW Preview: Warhawk Volleyball Opens 2024 Campaign this Weekend - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics (2024)

Volleyball 8/28/2024 6:06:00 PM

The 2024 Warhawks return to the court this weekend with a highly experienced squad. UW-Whitewater's team is comprised of a balanced mix of accomplished returners, experienced transfers and talented freshmen.

The Warhawks enter the 2024 campaign ranked 10^th in the first American Volleyball Coaches Association poll of the season. UWW's schedule is one of the toughest in the nation … 13 opponents are ranked or receiving votes in the top 25 including three in the top 10.

The Returners
All-American Jenna Weinfurt (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) makes her return to the squad as a graduate student this season. A 2023 AVCA All-American, Weinfurt was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year last season and is a three-time all-league pick. A hammer on the outside, Weinfurt has led UWW in kills the last three seasons and was ranked twelfth nationally with 463 kills a year ago. Senior Ally Warburton (St. Charles, Ill./North) was part of the power duo on the outside with Weinfurt last season. She pounded down 276 kills, third-most on the team in 2023.

Sophom*ore Aubrie Krzus (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South) returns to the setter position after a phenomenal freshman campaign in 2023. Krzus, the WIAC Newcomer of the Year and an all-conference pick, was the top setter in the league a year ago with 9.75 assists per set – a mark that ranked among the top 20 in Division III.

Sophom*ore Rylee Braunschweig (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) will continue to challenge opponents from the service line. The third-best server in the league a season ago, Braunschweig registered 46 aces in 32 matches played.

At the net, sophom*ore Abbie Dix (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead) was a force to be reckoned with in 2023. Dix was instrumental defensively for the Warhawks last season averaging 0.99 blocks per set for the best blocking team in the nation.

Seniors Ally Longden (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee) and Payton Kuepers (Madison, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) played all 33 matches for UW-Whitewater a season ago. Longden, a defensive specialist, was second on the team in digs while Kuepers tallied 162 kills on the right side. Teammates Emma Bludgen (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) (junior) and Hannah Proctor (Durand, Ill./Durand) (grad student) saw the court in more than half the matches in 2023 at the setter and middle positions.

Sophom*ores Kate Bahrke (Oconto, Wis./Oconto) (setter), Deanna White (Greendale, Wis./Greendale) (middle) and Emily Lego (Rock Falls, Ill./Rock Falls) (right side) also return with junior Sienna Roling (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) (outside hitter).

The Transfers
The Warhawks welcome a wealth of experience in five transfers including three from NCAA Division II institutions. Defensive specialist Jaedynn Evans (Kalona, Iowa/Iowa City Regina) comes to Whitewater from DII Central Oklahoma. A defensive phenom, Evans was the Division II dig leader the last two seasons averaging 6.40 per set in 2023 and 6.62 in 2022. She also led the nation in total digs in 2022 with 775. A two-time AVCA All-American, Evans is one of just three players to earn multiple All-America honors in Central Oklahoma volleyball history.

UW-Whitewater added another powerhouse outside hitter to the roster as Alayna Jansky (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) will wrap her athletic career with the Warhawks. Jansky earned All-MAC Academic Team honors while at Division I Eastern Michigan. After transferring to Winthrop, Jansky led the Eagles in kills en route to earning First Team All-Big South honors in 2022.

Ava Rebarchik (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) made the transfer from Division II Kentucky Wesleyan for her final season. The middle hitter led KW in blocks, was top three on the squad in kills and started every match for the Panthers the last two seasons.

Chloe Werner (Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) appeared in 15 matches for Akron in 2022 as a freshman and 9 matches last season. The outside hitter comes into UWW as a junior.

Holly McDonald (Goodfield, Ill./Eureka) joins the Warhawks' middle unit coming in as a junior from Heartland Community College. McDonald was the Hawks' top blocker and was top three on the team in kills in 2023.

The Freshman
Two freshmen joined the squad this season. Defensive specialist Mia Vassallo (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) is from Sugar Grove, Illinois and a product of Kaneland High School. Amanda Hillmann (Cedarburg, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran), a Kettle Moraine Lutheran graduate, is a middle hitter from Cedarburg.

UW-Whitewater opens the 2024 campaign on their home court in Russell Arena Friday and Saturday. The Warhawks will host the five-team invite with matches against Lake Forest College and Edgewood at 4 and 7 p.m. Friday. Saturday's competition includes matches against Augsburg and Knox and 12 and 2 respectively.