MOORHEAD, Minn. (8/30/09)-- At some point in time you would think Concordia head coach Tim Mosser would stop trying to play the game “Can You Top This?” After all, the Cobbers have been to the NCAA Tournament for six straight seasons and have been ranked in the top 25 of the nation for over 50 consecutive weeks. Both streaks are currently the longest in the MIAC and their consecutive weeks of being ranked in the nation is an MIAC volleyball record. Concordia is also coming off their best run in the national tournament as the team advanced to the NCAA Regional Final in 2008 for the first time in program history. After losing a pair of All-Region players to graduation you would think Mosser would be content to sit back and continue the trend of getting to the postseason and staying at the top of the MIAC. Guess again. Mosser states this year’s team goal with purpose when he says, “we want to get to the Elite Eight.”

In order to accomplish that lofty task, Concordia will have to count on a very young crew stepping up their play. The Cobbers enter 2009 with only one junior or senior on the team. Senior Dana Wermers (Rapid City, S.D./Stevens HS) is the lone player on the team with more than one season of collegiate experience. Last year Wermers was fourth on the team in kills but her biggest role for 2009 will come in the form of leadership and helping the youngsters avoid the ups and downs of the MIAC season.

Wermers will not be the only returning player who has pressure-match experience. Sophomores Jenna Green (Dilworth, Minn,/D-G-F HS and Katie Vohnoutka (Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the team in kills and points in 2008. Green was named the league’s Rookie of the Year and Vohnoutka had at least 10 kills in seven of the team’s 10 matches including all three NCAA Tournament matches. The two will be a dominant force at the net and carry on the tradition of outstanding Cobber hitters. After those three, Concordia will rely on other sophomores and a talented group of freshmen to help with the attack in 2009.

Leading the Cobber offense from the setter position will be left up to sophomore Amy Sykora (Rapid City, S.D./Stevens HS) and freshman Danelle Loomis (Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY HS). Sykora led the team with 593 assists last year and was named the tournament MVP of the Colorado College Invite. Loomis is a highly decorated first-year player who was a Minnesota All-State player in 2008.

Loomis is one of 11 freshmen on this year’s roster. Mosser is excited about the potential of this crew and calls the last two recruiting classes his best back-to-back groups in recent memory.

Perhaps the biggest role to fill will come from the graduation of libero Anna Tinkham. Tinkham was the vocal leader for the Cobbers last season and earned All-Region honors for her performance. If Mosser can find someone to fill Tinkham’s shoes on the defensive side of the net, then Concordia’s lofty goals for 2009 could well be within reach.

2009 MIAC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
1. Saint Benedict (6)
2. St. Thomas (4)
3. Concordia (2)
4. Gustavus
5. St. Olaf
6. Saint Mary's
7. Carleton
8. Augsburg
9. St. Catherine
10. Bethel
11. Hamline
12. Macalester

2009 AVCA Division III Preseason Poll
1. Emory (20)
2. Juniata (1)
3. La Verne (2)
4. UW-Oshkosh
5. Washington-St. Louis (1)
6. Ohio Northern
7. Carthage
8. Southwestern (Texas)
9. Wittenberg
T10. St. Benedict (Minn.)
T10. St. Thomas (Minn.)
12. Trinity (Texas)
13. Pacific Lutheran
14. Cal Lutheran
15. UW-Whitewater
16. Calvin
17. Concordia (Minn.)
18. Colorado College
19. Puget Sound
20. UW-Eau Claire
21. Gustavus
22. Hope
23. Eastern
24. Haverford
T25. Simpson (Iowa)
T25. Williams

Others Receiving Votes and listed on two or more ballots: Stevens 41; Mount Union 19; Salisbury 19; Austin 13; Illinois Wesleyan 12; Wisconsin-La Crosse 11; Mount St. Joseph 9; SUNY New Paltz 7; Springfield 5; Texas-Dallas 5