DATE
OPPONENT
SITE
TIME/RESULT
Sun., Aug. 26
vs. Rochester
Grand Rapids, Mich.
W 3-0
Fri., Aug. 31
vs. Judson
Chicago, Ill.
L 0-3
Fri., Aug. 31
vs. Spring Arbor
Chicago, Ill.
W 3-0
Sat., Sept. 1
@ Trinity Christian
Chicago, Ill.
L 0-3
Sat., Sept. 1
vs. Mount Mercy
Chicago, Ill.
L 2-3
Sat., Sept. 8
vs. Indiana University South Bend
Grand Rapids, Mich.
W 3-2
Wed., Sept. 12
vs. Cornerstone*
Grand Rapids, Mich.
L 0-3
Wed., Sept. 19
@ Lawrence Tech*
Southfield, Mich.
W 3-2
Fri., Sept. 21
@ Madonna*
Livonia, Mich.
L 0-3
Wed., Sept. 26
vs. Indiana Tech*
Grand Rapids, Mich.
L 0-3
Fri., Sept. 28
@ Indiana Wesleyan
Marion, Ind.
2 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 28
vs. St. Xavier
Marion, Ind.
4 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 29
vs. Grace
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Noon
Sat., Sept. 29
vs. Marian
Fort Wayne, Ind.
2 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 3
@ Cornerstone
Grand Rapids, Mich.
7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 5
vs. Lourdes*
Grand Rapids, Mich.
7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 6
vs. IU - Northwest
Grand Rapids, Mich.
2 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 6
vs. Huntington
Grand Rapids, Mich.
4:30 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 8
@ Rochester
Rochester, Mich.
TBA
Mon., Oct. 8
vs. Ursuline @ Rochester
Rochester, Mich.
TBA
Wed., Oct. 10
@ Concordia*
Ann Arbor, Mich.
7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 12
@ Marygrove*
Detroit, Mich.
7 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 17
vs. Northwestern Ohio*
Grand Rapids, Mich.
7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 19
vs. Roosevelt
Whiting, Ind.
5 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 19
vs. IU East
Whiting, Ind.
7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 20
vs. William Penn
Whiting, Ind.
11 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 20
@ Calumet St. Joseph
Whiting, Ind.
3 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 24
@ Davenport*
Grand Rapids, Mich.
7 p.m.
Oct. 26 & 27
Aquinas/Cornerstone Crossover
Grand Rapids, Mich.
TBA
Tues., Oct. 30
@ Goshen
Goshen, Ind.
TBA
Wed., Oct. 31
@ Siena Heights*
Adrian, Mich.
7 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 2
vs. UM-Dearborn*
Grand Rapids, Mich.
7 p.m.
AQUINAS COLLEGE GENERAL INFORMATION
AFFILIATION: NAIA Division II CONFERENCE: Wolverine-Hoosier (WHAC)
LOCATION: Grand Rapids, Michigan FOUNDED: 1886 NICKNAME: Saints COLORS: Maroon/Grey PRESIDENT: Dr. Juan Olivarez (1st year) ENROLLMENT: 2,518 students STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 15:1
2011 RECORD: 26-12 2011 WHAC RECORD: 6-3 2011 WHAC FINISH: Fourth HOME COURT: Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center
SAINTS VOLLEYBALL HEAD COACH: Katie Vander Meer ALMA MATER: Aquinas College HEAD COACH: Betsy Vander Meer
SPORTS INFORMATION AND ATHLETICS SPORTS INFO DIRECTOR: Mike Wojciakowski SID PHONE: 616-632-2482 MEDIA GUIDE PUBLICATION: Linda Nash WEB-SITES: www.aquinas.edu, www.whac.net VARSITY SPORTS: 24 Sport Opportunities ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: Terry Bocian ATHLETIC PHONE: 616-632-2474 FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE: Gary Karasinski
2012 Volleyball Schedule
Inside Cover
AQ at a glance/Table of Contents
1
Aquinas College
2
Grand Rapids
3
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC)
4-5
Aquinas College 125th Anniversary
6
Roster
7
Season Preview
8
Head Coach Katie and Betsy Vander Meer
9-10
Meet the Team
12-13
1
Aquinas College, an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition, provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizes career preparation focused on leadership and service to others, and fosters a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good. Aquinas College is rooted in the Dominican traditions of prayer, study, community and service, combined with a deep respect for truth, honesty and integrity. In this spirit, we strive to create an environment in which integrity is prized and practiced. We expect all community members to uphold these values through honesty, fairness, and respect for others.
2
Located on the eastern edge of Grand Rapids, Aquinas’ location allows students to reap the benefits of living in Michigan’s second largest city. With over one million people in the greater metropolitan area, Grand Rapids plays host to numerous festivals, concerts and cultural events each year. Aquinas’ campus creates a peaceful environment that is just moments away from the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. Residing on 109 wooded acres, the Aquinas College campus blends early twentiethcentury architecture with modern-day structures. The campus is home to over 107 species of trees and shrubs, winding woodland paths and inviting creeks and ponds. Only 30 miles from beautiful Lake Michigan for a relaxing afternoon.
3
Aquinas College
Cornerstone University
1607 Robinson Rd. Grand Rapids, MI 49506
1001 E. Beltline Rd. Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Founded: 1886 President: Dr. Juan Olivarez Nickname: Saints Colors: Maroon & White Enrollment: 2500 School Web Site: http://www.aquinas.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.aquinas.edu/athletics/
Founded: 1941 President: Dr. Joseph Stowell Nickname: Golden Eagles Colors: Navy & Gold Enrollment: 1850 School Web Site: http://www.cornerstone.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.cugoldeneagles.com
Davenport University
Concordia University 4090 Geddes Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48105
6191 Kraft Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Founded: 1963 President: Randall W. Luecke Nickname: Cardinals Colors: Red, White & Black Enrollment: 800 School Web Site: http://www.cuaa.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.concordiacardinals.com/
Founded: 1866 President: Richard Pappas Nickname: Panthers Colors: Red, Black & White Enrollment: 3500 School Web Site: http://www.davenport.edu Athletic Web Site: http:// www.dupanthers.com
Indiana Tech
Lourdes College
1600 E. Washington Blvd.. Fort Wayne, IN 46803
6832 Convent Blvd. Sylvania, OH 43560
Founded: 1930 President: Dr. Arthur Snyder Nickname: Warriors Colors: Orange & Black Enrollment: 1471 School Web Site: http://www.indianatech.edu Athletic Web Site: www.indianatech.edu/ athletics
Founded: 1958 President: Janet Robinson (Interim) Nickname: Gray Wolves Colors: Orange & Gray Enrollment: 2600 School Web Site: http://www.lourdes.edu Athletic Web Site: http://www.lourdes.edu/ StudentLife/Athletics.aspx
4
Lawrence Tech
Marygrove College
21000 W 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075
8425 W. McNichols, Detroit, MI 48221
Founded: 1932 President: Dr. Virinder K. Moudgil Nickname: Blue Devil Colors: Royal Blue & White Enrollment: 4000 School Web Site: http://www.ltu.edu Athletic Web Site: http://
Founded: 1927 President: Dr. David J. Fike Nickname: Mustangs Colors: Green & Gold Enrollment: 950 School Web Site: http://www.marygrove.edu Athletic Web Site: www.marygrovemustangs.com
Madonna University 36600 Schoolcraft Rd. Livonia, MI 48150
Siena Heights University 1247 E. Siena Heights Drive Adrian, MI 49221
Founded: 1937 President: Sister Rose Marie Kujawa Nickname: Crusaders Colors: Royal Blue, Gold & White Enrollment: 4291 School Web Site: http://www.madonna.edu Athletic Web Site: http:// www.madonnacrusaders.com
Founded: 1919 President: Sister Peg Albert, OP, PHD Nickname: Saints Colors: Navy Blue & Gold Enrollment: 1200 School Web Site: http://www.sienaheights.edu/ Athletic Web Site: http://www.shusaints.com
University of Michigan—Dearborn
University of Northwestern Ohio
4901 Evergreen Dearborn, MI 48128 Founded: 1959 President: Daniel Little Nickname: Wolves Colors: Maize & Blue Enrollment: 8950 School Web Site: http://www.umd.umich.edu/ Athletic Web Site: http://gowolves.net
1441 N. Cable Road Lima, OH 45805 Founded: 1920 President: Dr. Jeffrey Jarvis Nickname: Racers Colors: Red, Black Enrollment: 4000 School Web Site: http://www.unoh.edu/ Athletic Web Site: http://www.unohracers.com/
5
No.
Name
Pos.
Yr.
Ht.
Hometown/High School (College)
1
Anna Fencil
DS
Fr.
5-4
Jenison, Mich./Jenison
2
Jen VanCuren
MH/RS
Fr.
6-3
Rockford, Mich./Rockford
3
Nicci Thomas
S
Jr.
5-10
Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall
4
Rachel Sprenger
S/DS
So.
5-5
Grand Rapids, Mich./GR West Catholic
5
Sierra VanTil
OH
Fr.
5-8
Coopersville, Mich./Coopersville
6
Hannah Mahoney
DS
So.
5-4
Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall
7
Kailey Nelson
S
Fr.
5-7
Holland, Mich./Holland West Ottawa
8
Mikela Caseria
S
Jr.
5-4
9
Jackie Overton
RS/M
Jr.
5-11
Southfield, Mich./Southfield
10
Elle Sturgell
MH/RS
So.
6-1
Grand Rapids, Mich./GR West Catholic
12
Jessica Bredeweg*
DS
Sr.
5-4
East Moline, Mich./South Christian
13
MacKenzie Kolstad*
OH
So.
5-9
RIchland, Mich./Gull Lake
14
Lauren Karpowicz
OH/RS
Fr.
5-10
Grandville, Mich./Grandville
OH/DS
Jr.
5-9
Lakeview, Mich./ Lakeview
RS
So.
6-0
Battle Creek, Mich./Battle Creek
17
19
Amy VonKronenberger*
Megan Toth
7
Mililani, Hawaii/ Mililani High School/Genesee Community College
career spans over 35 years and she has coached at all levels, during which at least 12 of those years included volleyball. In addition to her coaching experience, Vander Meer has also been a certified volleyball official for over ten years. Vander Meer experienced first-hand the positive attributes of Aquinas College watching her daughter Katie complete her degree, and as an assistant coach, see her excel in volleyball. She comments, “I think Aquinas is a great place for a student/athlete coming out of high school to begin a new chapter in their life. I
Head Coach Betsy Vander Meer
watched Katie grow as a person and the quality education that Aquinas College provided was a good
Co-Head Coach Betsy Vander Meer also returns to
fit for her. The newly renovated Sturrus Sport and
the sidelines for the Saints after assisting for 2 ½
Fitness Center is a great venue to compete in.”
years during the 2008-2010 seasons. The dynamic Vander Meer duo of Betsy and her daughter Katie are
Athletic Director Terry Bocian comments, “Betsy
very connected in the volleyball community, and will
Vander Meer is very familiar with our volleyball
mesh well together as they strive to continue building
program as an assistant coach and as a parent. She
the program to be an annual WHAC conference
has extensive experience in coaching at all levels and
contender and a consistent NAIA ranked team.
her enthusiasm for the sport of volleyball is evident if you talk to her. This spring was a smooth transition,
With the graduation of some key players, both coach-
and I am confident that the program will be in good
es realize that they will have a young team next
hands.”
season. Coach Betsy Vander Meer smiles as she comments, “We may be young, but we intend to get the best out of each athlete, be competitive and play aggressively. Katie and I are both very competitive also believing in structure, discipline and a positive atmosphere. I think our coaching styles will provide a good balance, and we look forward to coaching together.” Betsy was a four sport athlete at East Grand Rapids High School, where she excelled in swimming/diving, basketball, softball and volleyball. She was a premier diver and a state champion for EGR. Her coaching
9
scholarship to Michigan State University. After one year in the
Spartan program, Vander Meer felt like
Aquinas College would be a better fit for her. The rest is history. Prior to her senior year and 1st team AllAmerican honors, she was a 3rd team All-American her junior year and an honorable mention AllAmerican her sophomore year. She was a three time Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) 1st team All-Conference
performer. Vander Meer was
also selected as the WHAC Player of the year in 2010 and the WHAC setter of the year in 2008-09 sea-
Head Coach Katie Vander Meer Former Aquinas College first ever 1st
team NAIA
All-American Katie Vander Meer returns to her alma mater as co-head coach.
Vander Meer’s extensive
involvement in playing and coaching volleyball will make for a smooth transition for the volleyball program. Vander Meer will bring the same intensity to the sideline that she exhibited on the court.
She com-
ments, “I have always aspired to be a head coach at the collegiate level. Being able to return to Aquinas College as a head coach is awesome.
tional opportunities and the individualized attention received from my professors. I wasn’t just a
number, but instead my professors took a genuine interest in my well-being. The opportunity to recruit will be easy for me
because I can speak from my
heart, knowing that I had a wonderful collegiate experience in all aspects.”
Kentwood High School, where Vander Meer earned 1st team All-State accolades and was a “Miss Volleyball” she
was
on the floor. Her instincts for the game and ability to make those around her better contributed to the success of the program during her playing career. Vander Meer has been coaching at various levels for several years. She was very involved in the Grand Rapid’s area volleyball club programs, coached at the high school level and was a camp counselor at Notre Dame’s
and
Michigan
State’s
volleyball
camps. Vander Meer adds, “I may be young, but I am Volleyball is in my blood and I have
such passion for the game. It will be a great challenge for me to influence the program as a head coach. I’m eager and I’m ready.” Athletic Director Terry Bocian comments, “Katie Vander Meer was a strong leader as a player in our program. She was a natural leader and was the President of our Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB). I am confident that those leadership skills will
After a successful high school volleyball career at East
candidate,
opportunity to watch
Vander Meer in action on the court, she was a coach
determined.
As a student-athlete I experienced the unique educathat I
sons. For those who had an
offered
a
full-ride
10
athletic
make her an outstanding coach. She knows the game and she has a strong work ethic.”
#3 Nicci Thomas
#1 Ana Fencil
#2 Jen VanCuren
#4 Rachel Sprenger
#5 Sierra Vantil
#6 Hannah Mahoney
#8 Mikela Caseria
#9 Jackie Overton
#7 Kailey Nelson
12
#10 Elle Sturgell
#12 Jessica Bredeweg
#13 MacKenzie Kolstad
#14 Lauren Karpowicz
#17 Amy VanKronenberger
#19 Megan Toth
13