2003 Volleyball Player Biographies

Meet the Falcons

Kristin Brandt
#11, 5-9, Senior, Middle Hitter
Woodbury, Minn.
Woodbury High School

Kristin Brandt played a significant role during the 2002 season and might be the team's most improved player. The Falcons look for Brandt to contribute significantly in the middle position where she has become a very tactical player. It will be important for the Falcons to get her involved in the offense. The Falcons look for her to take another step this season to help the team secure one of the top spots in the WIAC. She is the daughter of Kevin Brandt and Deb Casurella. She is majoring in elementary education.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 95 139 1.46 53 403 .213 5 .05 25 .26 23 2 111 1.17 13 1.09 104

2001 24 18 .75 15 75 .040 2 .08 0 .0 2 5 29 1.21 5 .58 9

Totals 119 157 1.31 68 478 .186 7 .05 25 .21 25 7 140 1.17 18 1.10 113

Jennifer Braun
#6, 5-4, Senior, Libero
Morristown, Minn.
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School

One of the best liberos in the WIAC. Jennifer Braun was named to the 2002 All-WIAC Defensive team after leading the Falcons with 545 digs. She has amazing ball control, which is a key component for her position as libero. Look for Braun to pick up where she left off last season as she guides the Falcon passing and defensive teams. She is the daughter of Bruce and Valerie. She is majoring in psychology.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 119 30 .25 9 137 .153 19 .16 7 .06 7 48 545 4.58 0 .00 1

2001 115 218 1.90 105 911 .124 20 .17 21 .18 13 34 406 3,53 4 ,20 19

2000 61 12 .20 4 37 .216 3 .05 2 .03 3 8 91 1.49 0 .00 0

Totals 295 260 .881 118 1,085 .131 42 .14 30 .10 23 90 1042 3.53 4 .01 20

Krystle Brune
#7, 6-0, Senior, Outside Hitter
Oakdale, Minn.
Tartan High School

A veteran of three years Krystle Brune bring the most experience to the Falcon line up. One of the top hitters for the Falcons, she collected 407 kills and was named to the All-WIAC in 2002. Brune is on the verge of surpassing Melissa Mattson on the Falcon career hitting stats. She is the daughter of Ron and Kathy. She is majoring in health and human performance.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 125 407 3.26 121 1,210 .236 17 .14 1 .01 4 6 91 .730 10 .08 53

2001 129 382 2.96 130 986 .256 38 .29 11 .09 3 11 90 .70 8 .54 62

2000 135 413 3.06 178 1222 .192 5 .04 40 .30 54 26 246 1.82 18 .44 41

Totals 389 1202 3.09 429 3418 .226 60 .15 52 .13 61 43 427 1.10 36 .09 166

Sarah Halverson
#9, 5-6, Senior, Outside Hitter
Apple Valley, Minn.
Apple Valley High School

Sara Halverson is a solid volleyball player and is one of the best passers and defensive players on the Falcon team. With great instincts for the game, she thrives on competition and will provide valuable skill and experience to the game. Halverson will play a significant role in igniting the Falcon offense. She is the daughter of Jane Halverson. She is majoring in marketing communications.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 111 44 .40 33 189 .058 6 .05 33 .30 14 33 298 2.68 2 .06 5

2001 126 4 .03 4 31 .000 11 .09 55 .44 23 42 316 2.51 1 ,01 0

2000 85 2 .02 1 6 .167 1 .01 20 .24 21 16 152 1.79 0 .00 0

Totals 322 50 .15 38 226 .053 18 .05 108 .33 58 91 766 2.30 3 .01 5

Amy Lundberg
#1, 5-3, Senior, Setter
Bloomington, Minn.
Kennedy High School

Coming off an injury plagued 2002 campaign Amy Lundberg returns to the Falcons as one of the top setters. It is likely the Falcons will return to a 6-2 offense utilizing her great instincts for running the potent Falcon offense. She is the daughter of Dave and Sue. She is majoring in communicative disorders.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 42 1 .01 0 4 .250 173 4.12 11 .26 9 0 52 1.24 0 .00 0

2001 133 7 .05 3 36 .111 838 6.30 72 .54 16 2 311 2.34 0 .01 2

2000 32 1 .03 0 6 .167 45 1.41 5 .16 6 10 46 1.44 0 .00 0

Totals 207 9 .03 3 43 .139 1056 5.10 88 .42 31 12 409 1.97 0 .01 2

Erin Oberholtzer
#12, 5-6, Senior, Setter
Fargo, N.D.
North High School

Erin Oberholtzer enters the 2003 season as the Falcons top setter from a very successful 2002 season. This veteran will take on the challenges of running the Falcon offense against some of the top regionally and nationally ranked teams. Her experience will be a definite advantage. She is the daughter of Carl and Carol. She is majoring in health and human performance.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 125 36 .29 14 120 .183 1204 9.63 44 .35 50 2 297 2.38 1 .19 23

2001 16 1 .06 0 3 .333 1 .06 0 .00 8 5 22 1.38 0 .0 0

Totals 141 37 .262 14 123 .186 1205 8,54 44 .31 58 7 319 2.26 1 .17 23

Molly Schock
#4, 5-7, Senior, Setter/Libero
River Falls, Wis.
River Falls High School

During the 2002 season Molly Schock moved from setter to defensive specialist posiion where she collected 255 digs and helped the Falcons claim a share of the WIAC title. Known for a lethal serve she has the ability to change momentum throughout a match. Schock is a great leader and with her guidance the Falcons look towards a repeat for the WIAC title. She is the daughter of Ron and Debbie. She is majoring in health and human performance.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 93 5 .05 2 14 .214 232 2.49 55 .59 45 6 255 2.74 0 .01 1

2001 130 3 .02 5 28 -.071 594 4.57 57 .44 44 0 338 2.60 0 .01 1

2000 18 0 .00 0 0 .00 2 .11 6 .33 8 1 12 .67 0 .00 0

Totals 241 8 .33 7 42 .023 828 3.43 118 .48 97 7 605 2.51 0 .01 2

Melissa Tvrdik
#19, 5-11, Senior, Outside Hitter
Farwell, Minn.
Minnewaska Area High School

One of the top hitters for the Falcons and the WIAC Melissa Tvrdik will be one of the Falcons biggest threats offensively. During the 2002 season Melissa guided the Falcon offense with 3.18 kills per game and a .345 hitting percentage. The talented player was rewarded for her efforts when she was named to the All-WIAC first team and to the AVCA second All-American unit. Tvrdik's presence on the court from a leadership standpoint will be a plus, and her work ethic in practice is going to bring the younger players up another level. She is the daughter of Douglas and Theresa. She is majoring in psychology.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 130 414 3.18 94 927 .345 14 .11 49 .38 45 3 135 1.04 17 .13 116

2001 122 301 2.47 113 721 .261 5 .04 3 .02 2 2 102 .84 14 .91 97

2000 17 19 1.12 9 40 .250 0 .00 0 .00 0 0 6 .35 0 .24 4

Totals 269 734 2.73 216 1,688 .307 19 .07 52 .19 47 5 243 .90 31 .12 217

Gina Anderson
#8, 5-8, Junior, Middle Hitter
Deer Park, Wis.
Clear Lake High School

A mid-season injury to middle hitter Kristin Brandt thrusted Gina Anderson into the Falcon line-up where she adjusted very well. She has great athletic ability and drive, which helped her to adapt to that very challenging position. Look for Anderson to make more strides throughout the 2003 campaign. She is the daughter of David and Susan. She is majoring in business and finance.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 39 44 1.13 18 143 .182 2 .05 8 .21 13 1 24 .62 2 .56 22

Logan Kiesch
#5, 5-8, Junior, Outside Hitter
Delano, Minn.
Delano High School

Logan Kiesch red-shirted during the 2002 season and it will pay great dividends. She is a fierce competitor with great athletic ability, which has helped her to settle into a starting role for the Falcons. All indications are that Kiesch will pick up where her predecessor, AVCA third team All-American Karen ZumMallen, left off and help guide the Falcons toward a top ranking in the WIAC and nationally. She is the daughter of Manfred and Carol. She is majoring in elementary education.

Nina Petersen
#15, 5-11, Junior, Rightside Hitter
Byron, Minn.
Byron High School

Nina Petersen returns to the Falcon line-up after a very successful sophomore season when she was given honorable mention to the All-WIAC team. The lefty has improved tremendously throughout the off-season and is positioned to take her game to another level this season. She has increased her power and strength that enables her to hit balls that are extremely difficult to dig. Petersen is making similar improvements on her blocking which will help the Falcon defensive part of the game. She is the daughter of Jeff and Kay. She is majoring in pre-medicine.

Year GP K KPG E TA PCT A APG SA SAPG SE RE DIG DPG BS BSPG BA

2002 128 289 2.26 141 792 .187 45 .35 0 .00 4 7 91 .71 8 .81 104

2001 56 69 1.23 45 216 .111 10 .18 0 .00 0 1 14 .25 3 .55 28

Totals 184 358 1.94 186 1008 .170 55 .65 0 .00 4 8 105 .57 11 .77 132

Melissa Jude
#3, 5-8, Sophomore, Outside Hitter
Sauk Rapids, Minn.
Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

Melissa Jude joined the Falcons last spring after a short sabbatical from the game. As a player she has great instincts for the game. Jude came a long way throughout the spring season and will definitely add depth to the outside hitting position. She is the daughter of Brad and Mary. She is majoring in finance.

Andrea Geehan
#13, 6-1, Freshman, Middle Hitter
St. Paul, Minn.
Como Park High School

A 2003 graduate of Como Park High School in St. Paul, Minn., Andrea Geehan will be a big surprise to a lot of people. She is a very solid middle and has all the tools to compete with the Falcons as a first-year player. A very athletic with a good all-round game, she will gain more experience at the middle position playing against All-American Melissa Tvrdik every day in practice. Look for Geehan to become a dominating middle for the Falcons. She is the daughter of Bob and Sheila. She is majoring in sociology.

Kathryn Krtnick
#2, 5-5, Freshman, Setter/Outside Hitter
Fridley, Minn.
Fridley High School

Kathryn Krtnick joins the Falcons after a very successful high school and club career. At Fridley High School she was named to the All-Metro Alliance Conference team three straight years. She was also name to the Twin Cites All-Metro and Minnesota All-State teams. Krtnick is an all-round athlete who has tremendous savvy for the game. A great athlete who is very good at both digging and passing, look for her to challenge for the libero or outside hitting position. She is the daughter of Dan and Teri. She is majoring in biology.

Katie Thompson
#16, 5-9, Freshman, Outside Hitter
Forest Lake, Minn.
Forest Lake High School

A 2003 graduate of Forest Lake, Minn., High School, Katie Thompson and twin sister Molly come to the Falcons ready to contribute as first year players. She is a dependable and steady player and there is no doubt that when the Falcon line up needs a different look, she will be called upon to compete. She is the daughter of Todd and Maruta. She is majoring in marketing communications.

Molly Thompson
#10, 5-8, Freshman, Outside Hitter
Forest Lake, Minn.
Forest Lake High School

A talented freshman, Molly Thompson comes to the Falcons after a great career at Forest Lake, Minn., High School where her team placed sixth in the 2002 Minnesota State Tournament. She is a solid volleyball player and has good court sense. She will be looked upon to add depth to either the outside or right side hitting position. Her twin sister, Katie, is also a member of the team. She is the daughter of Todd and Maruta. She is majoring in marketing communications.

Kiah Sagami
#20, 5-11 Freshman, Middle Hitter
Mazomanie, Wis.
Wisconsin Heights High School

A red-shirt freshman, Kiah Sagami is an excellent athlete with a good work ethic. She has come in and picked up the skills necessary to adapt to the challenging position of middle hitter. She will need another year of experience, but could see some time as a reserve middle during the 2003 season. She is the daughter of Dennis and Sue. She is majoring in conservation.