LAKER WOMEN #1 SEED IN REGIONALS

The Laker Women’s Volleyball Team will begin regional competition next Tuesday at home in Estherville.

The women are 33-7 overall and 13-0 in the region. 

Coach Scott Tschetter said the team seemed to start where they left off last year which put them in a good position for the season.

“With many returning sophomores, including an All-American and two other All-Region players, we expected to have a successful season, said Tschetter.  “The key to our success is going to be contingent upon our ability to stay aggressive.”

Sophomore team members include:  Jamie Gerdes, a 5’11” outside hitter from Forest City; Ashly Heikes, a 5’9” setter from Hartington, Neb.; Nichole Hendrickson, a 5’9” outside hitter from Jackson, Minn.; Stacie Stindtman, a 5’7” libero from Blue Earth, Minn.; Ashley Weller, a 5’9” right side hitter from West Bend; and, Nicole Wilder, a 5’10” opposite/defensive specialist from Mabel, Minn.

Freshmen team members are: Alicia Bata, a 5’11” middle hitter from Woodbury, Minn.; Chareleen Cruchelow, a 5’6” defensive specialist/outside hitter from Waukee; Kacie Erickson, a 6’1” middle hitter from Lakefield, Minn.; Jessie Heyes, a 5’10” outside hitter from Burt; and Amber Sackett, a 5’5” defensive specialist/setter from Taylorsville, Utah.

Starters include Bata, Erickson, Gerdes, Heikes, Henricksen, Stindtman and Weller.  Last year, Hendricksen was named an All-American.  Gerdes and Heikes were named All-Region.  At the current time, Heikes is number 2 in the nation in assists averaging 12.477 assists per game.  Hendricksen is sixth in the nation in kills, averaging 4.11 kills per game.

In the last two years the Laker women have finished second in regional competition.  Game time for Tuesday’s match is 7 p.m. in the gymnasium at the Estherville Campus.