Senior Farewell

After a disappointing loss Wednesday evening, the St. Catherine University volleyball team hoped to find a way to close out the season on a high note to send off a senior class that has left an impressive mark on the program. Well, the senior class and the rest of the Wildcats made their final match of 2015 one to remember as they posted an incredible 16 blocks to defeat Hamline University 3-1 (25-18, 25-13, 22-25, 25-15) Friday evening in the Butler Center. 

"This was a great finish to our season," said Head Coach Corey Phelps. "I'm proud of the way the team rebounded after our last match. This win really shows how far we've come this season and our hard work has paid off. Our seniors were great tonight and they deserved to end their career with this win."

The win helped the Wildcats finish the MIAC season with a 4-7 record that is the best finish since 2012. Overall, the Wildcats compiled an 18-13 record ties the best record since Phelps arrived at St. Kate's. 

The Wildcats' season-high blocking performance was courtesy of senior Amber Zeiher (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) who set a new school record for blocks in a single season ending with 119 blocks. Heading into the match, Zeiher needed nine blocks – a tall order for anyone – to make a new mark. She surpassed that in the first three sets and opened set four assisting on three-straight blocks to set a new career-high for a match with 12 total blocks. Zeiher's 12 blocks are also tie for the most blocks in a single match by a Wildcat since Maria Hoffman recorded 12 in 2009. 

Not only was Zeiher a monster at the net, she ended her career with eight kills and no hitting errors for a .444 percentage. Her hitting performance was overshadowed, though, by first-year Sabrina Astar (Hastings, Minn./Hastings) who posted a career- and Wildcats' season-high 25 kills in just four sets played – an average of of 6.25 per set. She had just three errors hitting .478 on the night and contributed on seven of the Wildcats' blocks. 

Seniors Alyssa Besch (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) and Zoe Barr (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) ended their careers with strong performances that helped the Wildcats to victory. Besch posted 10 kills, six digs, three assists, two block assists and two solo blocks for a complete stat line. Barr had eight kills with just two errors while also contributing on three blocks. 

Defensively, Shanee Herd (Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson) concluded her storybook season with a match-high 23 digs, while Megan Lindenfelser (Nowthen, Minn./Anoka) had 14 digs and Abby Palmer (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes) had 11. 

Hayley Levenhagen (Pewaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial) posted her first collegiate double-double with a match-high 28 assists and 12 digs. Maria Davis (West St. Paul, Minn./St. Agnes) also helped set up the offense with 18 assists. 

For the Pipers, Julia Zolnosky led with a 15-kill, 15-dig double-double. Beth Goodman and Jena Meyer each added nine kills and Miquel Green had 23 digs. 

Seniors Besch, Zeiher and Barr ended their careers with impressive marks on the Wildcat program. In 2015, Besch ranked in the top 15 in the MIAC throughout the season in multiple hitting categories. She ranks No. 5 all-time at St. Kate's for career blocks (188), No. 6 for career kills (719), and No. 7 for career attack attempts (1877).Her total 286 kills this season also ranks No. 13 all-time at St. Kate's. 

In addition to her new record set Friday, Zeiher owns the No. 9 and No. 14 spots in program history for blocks in a season from 2013 and 2014, respectively. She also ranks No. 2 all-time for career blocks (298), No. 8 for career kills (576) and No. 9 for career attack attempts (1751).

Barr – who missed her sophomore season due to injury – ends her career No. 15 all-time for career blocks (97) and No. 24 for career kills (281). She also recorded a career-high 13 kills against Wisconsin Lutheran College in September. 

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