UW-Platteville Volleyball Picked to Finish Fifth in the WIAC

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league's sports information directors.

The Pioneers, who return 12 letterwinners from a 2011 team that finished fourth, were picked behind UW-Stevens Point - who received eight of nine first-place votes, UW-Whitewater, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Oshkosh.

UW-Platteville is led by head coach Deb Schulman, who enters her 25th year as the head coach of the Pioneers. She has posted 577 career wins which ranks tied for 14th among active NCAA Division III coaches. Leading the attack for the Pioneers will be junior Stephanie Kirchner, who earned first team all-WIAC honors in 2011 and honorable mention recognition in 2010.

On the schedule, in addition to the rigorous play in the WIAC, is a trip to open the season to New York City, where they will play two matches on Friday, September 7th and two more on September 8th as a part of the NYU Labor Day Invitational. In addition to the trip to New York City, UW-Platteville will host two in-season tournaments and take part in tournaments hosted by North Central College and Cornell College.