Spending Summer in Puerto Rico Helps Doane Prepare for 2018 Season

CRETE – Doane College might be opening the season as the #18 team in the nation, but the NAIA power really got its season started during the summer in Puerto Rico.

The Tigers, which just missed the NAIA National Championships by two spots in the rankings last fall, played some club teams this summer in Puerto Rico along with doing some sightseeing and community service work.

According to coach Gwen Egbert, that really helped bring the team closer together over the summer and will pay dividends for the Tigers.

“That was a great way for our team to start our season,” Egbert said. “With only one senior in 2017 we are returning experience in several positions and hope to be in the top four of a tough GPAC conference in 2018.”

Finishing in the top four in the GPAC is a loft goal when you consider that the conference could easily have between six teams make the national championships. Doane was picked to finish fifth in the conference, behind Dordt, Northwestern, Hastings and Midland – all of which are ranked in the top 11 in the nation.

Here is a position-by-position look at Doane College for 2018.

Setters

Sadie Finnegan, 5’8, Soph., Newcastle, Neb.

Sarah Klobuchar, 5’8, Fr., Broookfield, Wis.

Madison Pryor, 5’8, Fr., La Juanta, Colo.

Demi Sakalosky, 5’2, Fr., Omaha, Neb.

Doane must replace second-team All-GPAC setter Alex Neff, but brings in a super-talented freshman in Sarah Klobuchar, who played for one of the top club programs in the nation at Milwaukee Sting.

Pin Hitters

Marissa Haynes, 5’9, Sr., Adams, Neb.

Madison VanHousen, 5’10, Soph., Hampton, Neb.

Kali Horky, 5’8, Jr., St. Paul, Neb.

Allison Kuenle, 5’10, Jr., North Platte, Neb.

Jesse Coble, 5’6, Fr., Mullen, Neb.

KiAnna McCabe, 5’7, Fr., Kayenta, Ariz.

Reagan Petersen, 5’7, Fr., Syracuse, Neb.

Kennedy Scheele, 5’6, Fr., Plymouth, Neb.

Madison Shoemaker, 5’10, Fr.,. Kearney, Neb.

Doane has perhaps the best returning 1-2 punch at outside hitter of anyone in the GPAC with Kuenle and VanHousen. Kuenle was a First-Team All-GPAC player a year ago and  Honorable Mention All-American after leading the Tigers with 418 total kills (3.8 per set) and adding 366 digs and 73 total blocks.

Middles

Kristen Compton, 5’8, Soph., Sultan, Wash.

Alexis Dale, 6’2, Jr., Ravenna, Neb.

Rebecca Nozicka, 5’8, Soph., Ravenna, Neb.

Allison Skala, 5’10, Soph., North Platte, Neb.

Emma Ryan, 5’10, Fr., Minden, Neb.

Genna Ryan-Piasecki, 5’11, Fr., Castle Rock, Colo.

Dale was an Honorable Mention All-GPAC performer last year for Doane as one of the top middles in the conference with 156 kills (1.42 per set) and having a team-high 94 blocks.

Liberos/DS

Erin Warren, 5’6, Sr., Papillion, Neb.

Joslyn Crow, 5’5, Fr., Hershey, Neb.

Katie Ellard, 5’7, Soph., Ogallala, Neb.

Madysyn Holloway, 5’6, Fr., Laurel, Neb.

Payton Stadler, 5’5, Fr., Omaha, Neb.

Taegan Stewart, 5’6, Soph., Grand Junction, Colo.

Ellery Stuart, 5’4, Fr., Papillion, Neb.

Ciera Wilkinson, 5’5, Fr., McCool Junction, Neb.

Warren has been a standout at Doane for multiple years and was an Honorable Mention All-GPAC performer last year when she led the Tigers’ back row with 518 digs. She also led the Tigers in ace serves with 34 and was second on the team in assists with 57.