Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Last season, the Royals made postseason play for the first time since 2005-06, and by defeating Gustavus Adolphus in the first round, secured their first ever MIAC playoff victory. The win was Head Coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer's first ever against the Gusties, his alma mater. "For the last eight years, we've been trying to build a program that can compete with the best teams in the region," said Coach Herbrechtsmeyer, "and for us to play as well as we did, go on the road to Gustavus, and to win in the playoffs was a huge step for us."

After such a successful season, the 2009-10 Royals will have to count on an influx of freshman to step up. Almost 75 percent of the team's scoring from a year ago will have to be replaced. The Royals have graduated perennial All-Conference selection, Annegret Nautsch, and after being one of the taller teams in the conference a year ago, the Royals will be looking for a more up-tempo lineup to take charge. "This is a different team," said Coach Herbrechtsmeyer, "we don't have the size we had last year, but we have way more speed. We'll be different, but 'fun' different."

Guard Taylor Shelley (So., Backus, Minn.) scored 281 points, pulled down 103 rebounds, and came up with 56 steals in her first season at Bethel. Shelley, along with All-MIAC Honorable Mention  forward Kristen Wolters (Sr., St. Cloud, Minn.), the leading returning rebounder, are going to be counted on to successfully guide a smaller and more inexperienced team to victories. Shelley stepped up her game in the second half of last season and played well in the postseason, contributing 14 and 12 points in Bethel's two playoff games, and leads all returning scorers at 10.4 points per game. Junior guard Shana Grejtak (Jr., Franklin, Minn.) is another returner that will need to provide a steady hand at the helm of the Royal offense and on the glass. She shot 46-percent from the floor last season, leading all Royals, and grabbed 5.3 rebounds per game. Incoming transfer Kristi Nye (So., Nashville, Tenn.) will also be asked to contribute immediately at the guard position.

Freshmen centers Scotti Moats (Fr., Waconia, Minn.), Amy Werner (Fr., Three Lakes, Wis.) and Katie Norlein (Fr. Blaine, Minn.), all over six feet tall, provide much needed size down low for a team replacing 6-3 Nautsch and 6-1 Erica Hormig.

Overall, nine of the 15 rosters spots are freshman, which could lead to growing pains, but hope for a very successful team when all is said and done. "We may get our nose bloodied in November or December by a good team," says Coach Herbrechtsmeyer, "but if we can be consistent in January, February, we'll play really good basketball, on par or better than last season."

A young roster brings renewed hope for the Carleton College women’s basketball team, which will seek to take full advantage of its youthful energy, athleticism, and enthusiasm during the 2009-2010 campaign. The Knights need a number of players to step into the voids in the lineup created when three starters graduated in the spring. Head coach Tammy Metcalf-Filzen is unfazed by the challenge. “It happens every year. You lose seniors, and you have to figure out how to replace them. What it will mean for us is a little different look, and a different style without the dominant post presence.”

Overall, Metcalf-Filzen is thrilled by the 2009-10 team’s strong work ethic and infectious excitement. The squad’s three upperclassmen have already excelled in providing leadership and fostering a palpable sense of connectedness that has carried over to the court in practices.

The group’s most experienced returners are Megan Mileusnic (Sr./Orono, Minn./Orono) and Ally Weaver (Jr./Iowa City, Iowa/West), the team’s second-leading scorer in 2008-09, averaging 10.9 points per contest. Weaver will be looked upon to shoulder much of the Knights’ offensive workload, and the Knights are optimistic that her deadly outside shooting will help create scoring opportunities for other players on the floor.

Annie Eckhoff (Sr./Northfield, Minn./Northfield) will be a critical pieces for the Knights in 2009-10, as she is faced with much of the responsibility of filling the void down low. Eckhoff is no stranger to stardom on the hardwood, as she excels for the Carleton volleyball team in the fall. For her to realize the same degree of success this basketball season, she will need to bring her size and speed into the post.

Megan Erlandson (So./Minneapolis, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) is one of the veterans called upon to step into a more prominent role this season. She will take the reigns of the offense and run the point. As a rookie, she was first guard option off the bench, playing nearly 23 minutes a night. Carleton’s more guard-oriented offense should help Erlandson frequent the free throw line, where she shot an astounding 97.3 percent last year, sinking 36 of her 37 attempts.

Another young impact player who Metcalf-Filzen describes as a “really bright spot” is first-year Akemi Arzouman (Irvine, Calif./University), who has already dazzled coaches and teammates alike with her athletic ability and versatility. Arzouman will anchor the lineup mostly at the forward positions, but could also see some minutes at point guard.

The team is also counting on marked improvement from sophomores Kayla Kramer (So./Clearwater, Minn./Monticello) and Georgia Brown (So./Augusta, Ga./Aquinas), who had their first taste of collegiate level play last year.

Carleton welcomes four other rookies to the fold in 2009-10. Cassie Mullen (Seattle, Wash./Bush) and Katharine Walton (Briarcliff, N.Y./The Masters School) will backup the guard spots, while Megan Bakken (Waterville, Minn./Waterville-Elysian-Morristown) and Jessa Youso (Virginia, Minn.)—who played on Carleton’s volleyball team—offer added depth in the post.

The Concordia women’s basketball team enjoyed a very successful season in 2008-09. The Cobbers went 19-9 finished in second place in the MIAC during the regular season, played in the conference tournament championship game and earned their 16th overall trip to the NCAA Tournament. Concordia seventh-year head coach Jessica Rahman is hoping the experience gained from last year will translate into a coming of age for her deep junior class in 2009-10.

Concordia only lost one player from last year’s national tournament team. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the player was Jenna Freudenberg – the 2009 MIAC Most Valuable Player. Freudenberg led the team in scoring and assists and was second on the team in rebounding. She was also the emotional leader on and off the court and helped the Cobbers in critical situations throughout the season.

The 2009-10 Cobber team will have to find a new leader in pressure situations and someone that can be counted on to pick up Freudenberg’s point production. The leading candidate to fill the leadership role is senior Sara Sorbo (Adams, N.D.). Sorbo has been a three-year starter and is a “lead by example” player. Last year she finished third on the team in scoring with a 9.3 points per game average, led the team in steals and was named to the MIAC All-Conference Honorable mention Team. Her work ethic and non-stop hustle on the court will serve the Cobbers well during the entire season. Sorbo had a difficult off-season as she was diagnosed with cancer in the spring and spent the entire summer going through treatment in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic. Sorbo’s ultimate battling attitude helped her through the ordeal and she is ready to take on the challenge of playing her senior season as a cancer survivor.

Sorbo is one of only two seniors on the team. Fellow guard Anna Matetich (Hibbing, Minn.) will be counted on to pick up some of the scoring left by Freudenberg’s graduation. Matetich has the outside shooting touch to put up big numbers and has been a constant contributor in her first three seasons. Matetich is no stranger to putting up big point totals. Last year she had 19 points against MIAC top tier team St. Thomas on Dec. 3.

The junior class had a pair of players earn conference postseason honors last year. Guard Maggie Bauernfeind (Rosemount, Minn.) was named the league’s Sixth Player of the Year. She led the team in 3-point baskets and averaged 9.1 points last season. Her ability to knock down the long-range jumper at key times will take the pressure off the rest of the CC offense as they look to find their new identity at the beginning of the season. Backcourt teammate Lindsey Schultz (Hitterdal, Minn.) was named to the MIAC All-Defensive Team. She is the team’s shut-down defender and her defensive pressure can take any opponent out of their offensive rhythm. Schultz will be asked to put up bigger numbers on the offensive end of the court. She has the ability to be one of the team’s top scorers as she averaged 7.1 points per game last year and is coming off an 18-point performance in the team’s NCAA Tournament first round game.

Another junior could be next in line as one of the premiere Cobber play making guards. Erica Nord  (Wolverton, Minn.) will likely take over Freudenberg’s duties as the team’s point guard. Her quickness and passing ability make her tough to defend 1 v. 1 in the open court. She was tied for third on the team in 3-point baskets in 2009 and had a career-high 23 points against St. Mary’s on Jan. 11. Despite her 5-7 frame, she has the knack for getting inside and grabbing clutch rebounds. Last year she was fourth on the team in rebounds and finished the year by collecting at least six rebounds in four consecutive games.