St. Norbert (31-9, 8-1 MWC) and Lake Forest (20-13, 6-3), who represented the North and South Divisions, respectively, in the 2004 MWC title match, are both picked to return this season. Both teams were the recipients of four first-place votes, although St. Norbert edged Lake Forest in total voting to take the title of league favorite. The two remaining first-place votes were split between Ripon (21-15, 8-1) and Monmouth (22-12, 7-2), as the Red Hawks topped the Scots by a point for third place. Beloit (26-12, 6-3) fell just two points behind Monmouth to round out the Top 5 and Illinois College (18-22, 4-5) finished one tally behind the Buccaneers to finish in sixth. The #7 and #8 slots were also separated by a single point, as the final four poll positions went to Grinnell (6-29, 1-8), Carroll (8-24, 2-7), Lawrence (8-25, 2-7) and Knox (5-29, 1-8).

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Carroll College announced today the hiring of Annie Glieber as head volleyball coach. She will also serve as the college's Recreation Director.

Glieber spent the last two years as a graduate assistant volleyball coach at Central Missouri State University. CMSU is coached by Peggy Martin, the NCAA Division II leader for wins among active coaches. Glieber will graduate in June with a Master of Science degree in Sports Administration and Management.

She was a four-year starter from 1997-2000 at Austin Peay University, an NCAA Division I institution in Clarksville, Tenn. As a senior she earned second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference and led the NCAA with eight triple-doubles. She finished her career as the schools' all-time leader in assists with 4,885. In addition to other athletic awards, Glieber was routinely on the Ohio Valley Conference Honor Roll, the Dean's List and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education in 2001.

Glieber is a Wisconsin native and starred at Pius XI High School. Her high school honors include third-team All-State recognition as a junior and a second-team selection as a senior in 1996.

APPLETON, Wis. -- Lori Papineau has been named the new volleyball coach at Lawrence University, Director of Athletics Kim Tatro announced Tuesday.

Papineau comes to Lawrence from Lakeland College, where she has served as the lead assistant coach for the past two seasons. Papineau replaces Kendra Marlowe, who resigned last November. Marlowe coached the Vikings for four seasons and compiled a record of 45-83.

"We are certainly pleased to have Lori join our staff," Tatro said. "She brings an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm to the volleyball program. With her knowledge of the game and commitment to excellence, I’m confident that Lori can take our program to the next level."

During Papineau's two seasons at Lakeland, the Muskies won a pair of Lake Michigan Conference championships and made two appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament. In addition to her experience at Lakeland, Papineau has served as the head coach for a pair of club volleyball teams and was a student assistant at Augustana ( Ill.) College.

"I believe Lawrence is a good opportunity for me. It’s a great school that has a lot to offer," Papineau said. "From a volleyball standpoint, I’m excited about the chance to turn the program around."

A native of McHenry, Ill., Papineau was a volleyball standout at McHenry West High School. She attended Augustana and graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Papineau served as captain of the Augustana volleyball team in 2003 and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player that season. She also was a first-team All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection in 2003.

Papineau takes over a team that has finished with an 8-25 record each of the past two seasons. Lawrence does return 10 letter winners, including 2004 All-Midwest Conference selection Kelly Mulcahy.

Anne Slattery has resigned from her position as head volleyball coach at Carroll College, athletic director Kris Jacobsen announced.

Slattery resigned from the coaching position to focus more on her full-time job as an accountant.

Slattery’s tenure at Carroll will mostly be remembered for guiding the Lady Pioneers to the Midwest Conference Championship match during the 2003 championship tournament.  Carroll entered the tournament that year as the #7 seed but defeated the #2, #6 and #10 seeds en route to the finals before losing to Lake Forest College.

In three seasons Slattery compiled an overall record of 34-66, including a 6-23 mark in Midwest Conference regular season play.

“The Carroll College athletic department appreciates the enthusiasm and dedication Anne Slattery brought to the Lady Pioneer volleyball program,” said Jacobsen.  “Her teams gave maximum effort every match and that is a true reflection on her.  We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.”

A nationwide search is underway to find a replacement for Slattery.

BELOIT, Wis. – Ken Yasukawa has been given the reigns of the Beloit College volleyball team for the 2005 season and will serve as head coach, Athletic Director Kim Chandler announced. Yasukawa takes over for Maureen Boyle, who resigned last winter to accept a job at her alma mater, Carroll College, in Helena, Mont.

“Ken has been a vital key to our success with his role in our volleyball program,” Chandler said. “His role has gone beyond the duties of a typical assistant coach because of his experience and knowledge of the game. I feel very confident Ken will pick up where we left off and will transition this program and prepare our student/athletes during the offseason to become Midwest Conference contenders next season.”

Yasukawa was the assistant coach under Boyle for the past two seasons, and also served as an assistant coach for the Buccaneer volleyball program for 14 years, ending in 1995. For three seasons after his first run with the Bucs, he was the head volleyball coach at Beloit Memorial High School, and then served as an assistant at Beloit Memorial. He also has coached a Junior Olympics team

Under the guidance of Boyle and Yasukawa, the Beloit College volleyball team has again become a force to be reckoned with. Last fall, the Bucs finished 26-12 overall and earned a fifth-place finish at The Midwest Conference Tournament. The 26 victories are the second most in College history, trailing only the 1994 squad that went 29-4. In 2003, the Bucs won 12 matches, which was the most victories earned since the 1998 season, and finished fourth in the conference tourney.

Yasukawa came to Beloit in 1980, and currently is the chair of the College’s Biology Department.

Chandler said a search for a new softball coach will begin immediately. Boyle served as the Bucs softball coach during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Ron Splan, who coached Beloit for the 10 years previous to Boyle’s tenure and was her assistant the past two years, is the head coach for the 2005 season.