2011 Awards Announced
November 3, 2011
Congratulations to junior Shannon Flogel (pictured right) on being named to the ACCA All-American Second Team, as well as receiving the Academic All-American award! Click here to check out the complete listing of award winners on the ACCA website.
The following players also received awards recognizing their outstanding contributions to the team this season. Great job, ladies, and thanks for an awesome season!
Christian Character Award – Rachel Kinny
Most Valuable Player Award – Candace Krahling
Most Improved Player Award – Katie Koppen
Leadership Award – Shannon Flogel
Hustle Award – Molly Owensby
October 31, 2011
The Lady Eagles closed out the 2011 season with a win on their home court against Crossroads College. “This was a bittersweet moment for us as it was the last time this group will be on the floor together,” said Coach Pitman. “These ladies have worked very hard this year and I admired their desire to play great volleyball until the very end.”
All 13 players contributed to the win as the Lady Eagles made very few errors and were able to control the pace of the match. “We had a fantastic team this year that exhibited a wonderful attitude and testimony,” commented Coach Pitman. “We had some times of triumph and times of adversity and I was proud of how we responded to both.”
The Lady Eagles finish with a 10-14 overall record and went 6-4 in ACCA matches. The future looks promising for Emmaus volleyball as the Lady Eagles are set to return 7 players from this year’s team for the 2012 season.
October 17, 2011
It was an exciting and hard fought match, but the Lady Eagles came up short as they fell to Faith Baptist on Saturday.
With well over 300 fans in attendance (setting a volleyball attendance record), the Lady Eagles looked to be in firm control as they dominated the first set by a score of 25-10. “We played excellent ball in this set and Faith did not,” said Coach Pitman. “Faith is a very well coached and strong program and we knew they would make adjustments to their game in set two.”
Indeed it was a different Faith team that emerged, as the momentum shifted in their favor. Emmaus dropped set two by a score of 15-25.
Sets three and four went back and forth with both teams playing tough ball, but in the end it was Faith who caught the momentum at the end to take the match with scores of 24-26 and 22-25.
“I was very proud of the way our ladies played today. We could really say after the match that we left everything out on the court, and that is all I can ever ask of them,” commented Coach Pitman. “Coach Nihart did a great job of getting his team to perform in clutch situations, which won the match for Faith.”
The Lady Eagles play against NAIA opponent Clarke University this Thursday in a JV match. Emmaus will also host open volleyball at Discover Emmaus Weekend on Friday for potential new players for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
October 11, 2011
Emmaus put forward a valiant effort against Maranatha yesterday in the Pollard Fieldhouse, but dropped the match in three sets (14-25, 11-25, 17-25). “Maranatha is currently ranked #3 in the nation and we knew we had to be on point in every part of our game tonight,” said Coach Pitman. “Even though we didn’t win it was encouraging to see us perform correctly many aspects of our game that we have been focusing on lately.”
The Lady Eagles resume play during the 70th Anniversary Homecoming celebration at Emmaus this weekend, as they host Faith Baptist from Ankeny, IA. The match is set for Saturday at 3:30 pm in the Pollard Fieldhouse.
October 9, 2011
The Lady Eagles placed 4th in the Grace Bible College Classic in Grand Rapids on the weekend.
After a very early morning and a long drive, Emmaus faced off against two strong NCCAA schools back to back, losing to Northland International (16-25, 13-25, 11-25) and the host school Grace (17-25, 17-25, 13-25). “We were sluggish in both of these matches and our opponents took advantage of their opportunities to put points on the board,” said Coach Pitman.
But the Lady Eagles bounced back on Saturday and played with much more consistency against a scrappy Great Lakes team. It looked to be a close match, but Emmaus was able to pull away at the end of all three sets, winning by scores of 25-21, 25-19 and 25-19. “This was a good win for us and I was especially pleased with how our serve receive performed,” commented Coach Pitman.
Emmaus is back on the court tomorrow as they play host to the very strong Maranatha Baptist Lady Crusaders at 7:00 pm.
October 3, 2011
It was a good weekend for Emmaus volleyball as they made a long trip north into Minnesota.
In Friday’s match the Lady Eagles took on North Central, a strong NCAA Division III opponent. “We played really well tonight, even as we are still making adjustments to our rotations,” Coach Pitman said after the match. Emmaus confirmed this week that freshman Candace Krahling would not return to the court this season due to injury (Krahling currently leads the team in kills, kill average, serving percentage and digs). “I thought we made North Central earn the win, especially in sets one and three.” The Lady Rams took the match in straight sets (21-25, 17-25, 22-25).
On Saturday the Lady Eagles made the beautiful drive to Bemidji to take on the Lady Wolf Pack of Oak Hills Christian College in a doubleheader. “Oak Hills is a well-coached team and they are much improved from our last meeting due to some new freshman talent,” Coach Pitman commented. Oak Hills pushed the Lady Eagles in each set, but ultimately Emmaus was victorious in both matches. “Oak Hills did a great job of picking on us in areas we have struggled with, and I was glad to see us fight through it,” said Coach Pitman.
Emmaus is on the road again this upcoming weekend as they head to Grand Rapids for the Grace Bible College Classic.
September 26, 2011
The Lady Eagles fell to 6-9 on the season, losing three matches at home on the weekend.
"We had a big blow this week with injuries, and we are still learning how to deal with adversity as a team," commented Coach Pitman.
Friday night, in a rematch of last week's game with Kuyper, the Lady Eagles lost in straight sets (23-25, 14-25, 18-25) as they couldn't generate any firepower on offense. "We really missed Candace Krahling and Taylor Kaczinski in this match, and the offensive stats showed," said Coach Pitman. Krahling and Kaczinski currently lead Emmaus in kills. Sophomore starter Janae Squires is also suffering from a twisted ankle. "We had a wonderful opportunity for our bench to get in this match and continue to strengthen our team, but we were not able to create any momentum," said Coach Pitman.
Saturday was more of the same for the Lady Eagles as they dropped matches to Kuyper (20-25, 21-25, 22-25) and Calvary (21-25, 16-25, 14-25). "It is never fun be out of synch, but I thought that we developed some character as a team," commented Coach Pitman. "We are now faced with uncertainty for the rest of the season, so it will be up to us as a team to respond correctly and make something out of a less than ideal situation. We have two practices this week to make the necessary changes."
The Lady Eagles are at Loras College (NCAA DIII) for a JV match tonight and head to Minnesota for three matches on the weekend, including two ACCA matches against Oak Hills Christian College.
September 20, 2011
Emmaus went 2-2 on their trip to Chicago over the weekend.
Friday night the Lady Eagles faced off against Kuyper College and continued to play some stellar volleyball, taking the match 3-0 (25-7, 25-20, 25-18). "Kuyper is a good team, but we really focused on our hitting percentage which made the difference in this match," commented Coach Pitman.
In the second half of the doubleheader, Emmaus found themselves up against a very strong Dayspring squad. "Dayspring has the best record (9-1) of any team we have played yet, so this was a test for us, especially on their home court," Coach Pitman said. "We played very well in the second set and the ladies should be proud of their effort." The Lady Eagles fought hard, but fell to Dayspring in three sets (13-25, 24-26, 14-25).
Saturday morning saw Emmaus taking on Great Lakes Christian College at Moody. "We regained our groove and worked really hard on serve receive in this match," commented Coach Pitman. The Lady Eagles won in straight sets (25-16, 25-8, 25-11).
In the final match of the day against Moody, Emmaus hustled and scrambled but succumbed to the Lady Archer's strong attack (14-25, 21-25, 16-25). "We played well against Moody, only losing by four in the second set, but we just couldn't match them on offense," said Coach Pitman.
Emmaus sits at 6-6 for the season. The Lady Eagles are back in action at home this weekend as they play a double header with Kuyper College on Friday night and Saturday, followed by an ACCA match with Calvary Bible College on Saturday afternoon.
September 14, 2011
The Lady Eagles swept their triangular in Ankeny last night in dramatic fashion.
Playing without injured Libero Molly Owensby, Emmaus found themselves in unfamiliar territory. "Molly is such an integral part of our defense and serve receive and we really needed to support each other tonight as we modified our rotations," said Coach Pitman.
In the first match vs. Nebraska Christian in an ACCA matchup, Emmaus put their game plan into practice as they scrambled for every ball. Although they had a tough stretch in the second set, they finished the match in three (25-13, 25-23, 25-12).
The Lady Eagles were pumped before the match with host school Faith Baptist. "Faith has a quality program and Coach Nihart's teams are always strong. The girls knew we were the underdog and we talked before the match about being aggressive and fighting for every point," said Coach Pitman.
It was an exciting 2 hour match that saw the momentum shift back and forth. Emmaus took the first set 25-23, but Faith answered in set two (19-25). The Lady Eagles bounced back in set three, hitting a hot streak to win 25-17. Set four found Emmaus digging a huge hole from poor serve receive that they weren't able to recover from, losing 12-25. "We are learning as a team how to deal with the rollercoaster of volleyball, both the highs and the lows. We had a big mental breakdown in this set, losing all momentum, and going into set five we had to decide how we were going to respond," Coach Pitman commented.
Set five saw the Lady Eagles regain their composure and aggressiveness as they jumped to an 8-3 lead at the switch. The second half was more of the same, and Emmaus closed out the match with a 15-7 win.
"I am so proud of the way the ladies played tonight," said Coach Pitman. "We still have much to learn and a lot to work on, but I appreciated our attitudes and tenacity in this match."
While every player made large contributions in the match, freshmen Taylor Kaczinski, Rachel Kinny and Miriam Rinehart were huge in their back row play as they filled in for Molly Owensby.
Emmaus is back on the road this weekend as they play four matches in Chicagoland.
September 12, 2011
The Lady Eagles went 1-2 on their road trip to Kansas City this past weekend.
Friday night's match vs. the Lady Bears of Barclay College was an exciting one, as the momentum shifted back and forth many times. Both teams had long periods of exceptional play, but it was Barclay that caught a hot streak in set 5 to take the match (25-22, 18-25, 24-26, 25-14, 6-15). "It is always heartbreaking to lose a 5th set, but we showed a lot of tenacity in this match," commented Coach Pitman.
Saturday morning saw the Emmaus cruise to a 3 set victory (25-9, 25-4, 25-6) over St. Louis Christian before facing off against the host school, Calvary Bible College.
"We knew Calvary would bring a strong attack against us and would test our defense," said Coach Pitman. The Lady Eagles fought hard, taking one set from the Lady Warriors, but fell in the match (13-25, 25-20, 17-25, 19-25).
"We didn't end up on the winning side in two tough matches this weekend, but our team is continuing to find itself," said Coach Pitman. "This is the best volleyball we have played to date and I am looking forward to seeing us improve even more."
Leaders for the weekend were Captain Shannon Flogel who posted 62 assists and 12 aces. Freshman Candace Krahling contributed 28 kills, and Rachel Kinny, also a freshman, had 19 kills and 8 assisted blocks.
Emmaus returns to action tomorrow night as they travel to Ankeny to take on Nebraska Christian College and in-state rival Faith Baptist Bible College.
September 6, 2011
Emmaus split their triangular with Central Christian College of the Bible and Dayspring Bible College in their first weekend of action at the Pollard Fieldhouse.
The Lady Eagles started slowly against the Lady Saints of Central Christian on Friday night, finding themselves down 0-1 after losing the first set 12-25. "Our serve receive was not working at all in the first set and CCCB really took advantage of their opportunities to put points on the board," said Coach Pitman.
The second set looked to be more of the same, but Emmaus found their groove halfway through and never looked back. "We started to play with much more emotion and started fighting for every point," commented Coach Pitman. "It is exciting to see our team starting to gel."
After taking the second set 25-22, it was all Lady Eagles in sets three and four as they closed out the match with scores of 25-19 and 25-17.
Hoping to hold on to the momentum from Friday night, Emmaus faced off against a tough Dayspring squad on Saturday. "We struggled with serve receive again early in this match, and put ourselves in a hole that was hard to dig out of, especially against a team like Dayspring," said Coach Pitman.
The Lady Eagles played hard, but could not withstand Dayspring's attack, falling in three sets (17-25, 9-25, 19-25).
"Even though we lost, we still had some positive moments in the match, and contributions from several players off the bench," commented Coach Pitman. "We are hungry to keep improving and are looking forward to a good week of practice."
Emmaus resumes play this weekend as they travel to Kansas City for a quad match vs. Barclay College, St. Louis Christian and Calvary Bible.
September 2, 2011
The Lady Eagles kicked off their season last night in a losing effort against Northland International University (16-25, 13-25, 23-25).
The team was in good spirits after the match, however. "We planned to simply use tonight and the rest of the weekend to gauge our strengths and weaknesses," commented Coach Pitman. "This team has a lot of potential and we saw many positive things happening for our first time on the court together."
Senior captain Shannon Flogel led the way with 4 kills, 10 assists and 7 digs.
The Lady Eagles are back on their home court tonight as they take on Central Christian College of the Bible (Moberly, MO) in an ACCA match up. Game time is 7:00 pm in the Pollard Fieldhouse.
2011 Volleyball Schedule Released
July 22, 2011
We are pleased to announce that the 2011 Lady Eagles volleyball schedule is now available on the web. Emmaus will compete in twenty-two varsity matches this fall, in addition to two local JV opponents.
"I am very excited for great competition once again this season as we continue to establish our program," said Coach Pitman. The Lady Eagles will spend a lot of time on the road this fall as they challenge many tough opponents. "We have a heavy road schedule, which will make team unity even more important," Coach Pitman noted. "I am sure this group of young ladies wearing the blue and white this fall will do a remarkable job with the challenges they will face."
Emmaus will be captained by senior All-American nominee setter Shannon Flogel, and will look for leadership from right side hitter Bethany Scheer and libero Molly Owensby. "Aside from our returning veterans, we have many talented and exciting new players and we are looking forward to seeing great things from them," said Coach Pitman.
The Lady Eagles again hope to culminate the season by winning a bid to attend the ACCA National Tournament in Joplin, MO.
Emmaus went 13-12 last season under coach Neil Pitman and assistant coach Jamie Larsen.
Click here to view the 2011 volleyball schedule.
Koppen Added to Lady Eagles' Roster
July 13, 2011
Katie Koppen is another piece of the puzzle for the Lady Eagles in 2011. Katie has been very active in the sport of volleyball, with some coaching experience and competitive play both at camps and at Emmaus.
"Katie came to tryouts in the spring and impressed us with her talent and potential. She jumped right in and we could tell she would be a great fit for the program," commented Coach Pitman.
A 5'7 middle blocker, Katie is the daughter of Paul and Becky Koppen. She loves to play guitar and watch movies with her friends in her free time. She is a Biblical Studies and Business Administration major.
Krahling Commits for 2011 Season
June 28, 2011
Candace Krahling will join the Lady Eagles' 2011 roster. A 5'6 outside hitter, Krahling received 4 varsity letters for the Omaha Warriors (Omaha, NE) under Coach Christensen. The Warriors earned a 2nd place finish at the National Homeschool Volleyball Tournament her senior year. Candace also received all-tournament team honors during her high school career.
"Candace will be a great addition to our team this season and we are looking for her to have a large impact on our offense," said Coach Pitman.
The daughter of James and Mary Pat Krahling, Candace enjoys cooking, shopping and hanging out with her friends. She will enter the Certificate in Biblical Studies program this fall.
Another Signing for the Lady Eagles
June 20, 2011
Emmaus volleyball is excited to announce that Rachel Kinny will play for the Lady Eagles this fall. Rachel, a 5'8 right side hitter/middle blocker, was a letter winner for Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High (Tyler, MN), playing for Coach Witte. In her time as a Lady Knight, Rachel received the most improved player and team dedication awards.
"We see a lot of potential in Rachel and are looking forward to seeing great things from her this season," commented Coach Pitman.
Rachel plans to complete the Certificate in Biblical Studies program. She is the daughter of Bob and Pam Kinny, and enjoys music, art and sports.
Malchuk Signs On with Emmaus Volleyball
May 31, 2011
Hannah Malchuk has signed on as a Lady Eagle for the 2011 season. The 5'7 right side hitter earned three varsity letters for the FHE Hawks (Winston-Salem, NC) under Coach Penny. She was a large part of the Hawks' two state championships, receiving all-state and team MVP honors.
"Hannah will bring a lot to the table for us this season," said Coach Pitman. "We are excited to have her be part of our 2011 roster."
Hannah is the daughter of Alan and Mary Malchuk. She is enrolled in the Counseling Psychology program, and will serve as an RA on her floor this fall. She enjoys hiking, rock climbing and bonfires.
Lady Eagles Roster Continues to Expand
May 31, 2011
Janae Squires will be a part of Emmaus Volleyball for the 2011 season. The 5'6 outside hitter spent her high school career as a Brodhead High (Brodhead, WI) Cardinal under Coach Ebensperger. During her time at Brodhead, the Cardinals won four regional championships, one sectional championship and made one state tournament appearance.
"Janae brings strong experience to the outside hitter position and she will be an integral part of our new system of play," Coach Pitman said.
Janae will enter the Youth Ministries program in the fall. She is the daughter of Jason Squires and Sara Sanwick, and enjoys singing, art and evangelism.
Middle Blocker Added to Lady Eagles' Roster
May 31, 2011
Miriam Rinehart will wear the blue and white for Emmaus this fall. A 5'9 middle blocker, Rinehart played three years for Coach Hildreth at Ogden High School (Ogden, IA).
"Miriam will take on a great challenge this fall as she steps into the middle for us, and we are confident that she will do a fantastic job," commented Coach Pitman.
Miriam will enroll in the Certificate in Biblical Studies program. The daughter of Greg and Polly Rinehart, Miriam also enjoys playing basketball and golf.
Open Volleyball Date Set
February 16, 2011
The Lady Eagles will host a time of competitive open volleyball as part of Discover Emmaus Weekend. All interested seniors, juniors and sophomores can attend a time of volleyball drills and scrimmages on Saturday, April 2nd at 1:00 pm in the Pollard Fieldhouse. Please contact Coach Pitman if you are planning to attend!
Lady Eagles Finish Strong
November 8, 2010
The 2010 season will be remembered as a defining one for Emmaus' volleyball program. Facing a full tough schedule for the first time, the Lady Eagles exhibited great team unity and wonderful Christian character throughout the season. "We won some tough matches and lost some heartbreakers, but through it all we stuck together and did our best to glorify God," said Coach Pitman. The team verse this fall was Colossians 3:23 & 24:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Two first time accomplishments for the Lady Eagles were a winning record and a national tournament bid, something that they hope they can repeat in the future. "We had such a great time at Nationals, and making the final four and finishing above our seeding was icing on the cake," said Coach Pitman. "Coach Larsen and I were privileged to work with this amazing group of young women and we were blessed by their dedication and testimony all season."
Congratulations, ladies, on a wonderful finish to the season and thank you for representing Emmaus so well!
Click here to view the summary page for the ACCA National Tournament
Below are some photos from Nationals in Kansas City
November 6, 2010
Emmaus ended their season today with a semifinal loss at the ACCA National Tournament. Facing a tough Calvary squad, the Lady Eagles came out strong, taking the first set 25-19. But the momentum shifted as the Lady Warriors applied the pressure to take sets two, three and four (18-25, 17-25, 10-25).
"Our ladies played hard and we are not ashamed of this loss," said Coach Pitman. "Calvary played exceptional volleyball this morning and they deserve a spot in the final. I am so proud of how we played in this tournament and being in the top four is an honor for our program."
The Lady Eagles end their second intercollegiate season with a record of 13 wins and 12 losses.
November 5, 2010
Emmaus secured a second place finish in Pool A at the ACCA National Tournament with a win over Champion Baptist College today. The Lady Eagles were relentless in their attack and kept the Lady Tigers at bay with a 25-12, 25-17, 25-17 victory. The two teams were neck and neck for sets two and three, but Emmaus managed to pull away in the second half of both of them.
"We have executed our game plan in every match of this tournament and I am so proud of our team right now," said Coach Pitman. "The girls have shown tremendous unity on the court and they are having so much fun playing some exciting volleyball.
The Lady Eagles now advance to the semifinals where they will take on the #3 seed Calvary Bible College, who finished first in Pool B. Game time is tomorrow (Saturday) at 11:00 am CST, and you can watch the match LIVE via streaming video here:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/calvary-athletics
November 5, 2010
Emmaus had three players honored at the ACCA National Tournament breakfast today. Senior captain Kristi Bracelin was named ACCA All-American. Kristi also received ACCA Academic All-American honors, along with teammates Hannah Denny and Shannon Flogel. Congratulations, ladies!
November 4, 2010 (part 2)
The Lady Eagles fell tonight in pool play to the #1 seed Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College. Emmaus played a well-fought match but ultimately succumbed to Hillsdale's strong attack 22-25, 20-25, 14-25. "We played a good match tonight but Hillsdale was just too much for us," said Coach Pitman. "I am very pleased with the effort of our ladies tonight."
The Lady Eagles take on a tough #7 seed tomorrow, Champion Baptist. "Every team is talented in this tournament and we can't take any match for granted," commented Coach Pitman. The match will be at 4:00 pm on Friday to close out pool play.
November 4, 2010 (part 1)
The Lady Eagles pulled off an upset in the first pool play match of the ACCA National Tournament! Facing the #4 seeded Lady Patriots of Arlington Baptist College, it looked to be a tight match from the start. With the lead shifting back and forth, Emmaus was able to capitalize on a nice run at end to take the first set, 25-21. The Lady Patriots would establish momentum in the second set, taking an early lead. Emmaus regained the advantage and withstood a furious Arlington comeback, holding on for a 25-23 win. The third set was all Lady Eagles, as they started the game with a run and never looked back, finishing the match with a 25-10 victory. "We played very well this entire match, but we were on fire in set three," commented Coach Pitman. "I am very proud of the way the girls played and conducted themselves today."
Emmaus plays the #1 seed Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College at 8 pm tonight, and can clinch a spot in Saturday's semifinals with a win on Friday against #7 seed Champion Baptist (4 pm start time @ Calvary Bible College).
November 1, 2010
The Lady Eagles closed out regular season play on Saturday with a 3-0 win over the Lady Soldiers of Saint Louis Christian College. Senior captains Kristi Bracelin and Hannah Denny were honored before their final home game. "We will miss both of these young ladies greatly, not just for their talent on the court, but for their leadership and spiritual impact on the rest of the team," said Coach Pitman. The Lady Eagles were in good form as they took the match in convincing fashion 25-6, 25-21, 25-8.
Emmaus faces a tough Clarke University (NAIA) team tonight in a JV match to help them prepare for the ACCA National Tournament. Come back to this page for updates from Kansas City starting Thursday!
ACCA National Tournament Seeding Announced
October 27, 2010
Emmaus volleyball will head into their first ACCA National Tournament as the #5 seed. "We are looking forward to what will be an extremely fun and competitive tournament," said Coach Pitman. "There are a lot of very evenly matched teams competing and I think any team could come away the victor."
Emmaus will compete in Pool A and will face #7 seed Champion Baptist, #4 seed Arlington Baptist and #1 seed Hillsdale Free Will Baptist. The Lady Eagles must finish first or second in their pool to advance to the semi-finals.
Click here to view the tournament information sheet
October 25, 2010
The Lady Eagles went 1-2 on their road trip to northern Wisconsin this past weekend, bringing their season record to 10 wins and 9 losses.
In the first match of the day, the Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Cougars of Kuyper College in straight sets (25-17, 25-14, 25-21). "We were ready to play from the start today," commented Coach Pitman. "Our hitting percentage was up in this match and we executed well on all levels."
Heading into the next match against a tough Grace Bible College squad the Lady Eagles started out strong and were eager to see if they could continue playing the great volleyball that they have been of late. Unfortunately their best laid plans ran aground, as senior captain Hannah Denny went down with an ankle injury after just four rotations. "Losing Hannah was a big blow for us in this match," said a concerned Coach Pitman. "She was able to walk off the court but I was looking out for her safety above all else and sat her the rest of the day. Hannah has worked so hard to improve her game this year and we want her to be able to complete the season with us. She will get her ankle checked out before returning to the court this week."
With different substitutions and rotations in every set, the Lady Eagles fought hard for the rest of the match, but ultimately fell to Grace's pressure serving and consistent attack by a score of 1-3 (23-25, 25-23, 9-25, 22-25).
The final match of the day saw Emmaus take on the talented Lady Pioneers of Northland. The Lady Eagles gave their all but fell in three sets (23-25, 23-25, 12-25). "We played hard all day and simply ran out of steam in the final set of this match," said Coach Pitman. "We built a lot of character and exhibited team unity in a tough situation today. I am very proud of our girls, especially Emily Young and Heather Grimm for stepping up and filling the roles we needed them to."
Emmaus faces another tough NCCAA team tomorrow night as they host Faith Baptist Bible College. Game time is 6:00 pm in the Pollard Fieldhouse.
October 22, 2010
Emmaus Receives National Tournament Bid
The Lady Eagles will make their first ACCA National Tournament appearance in 2010! Emmaus (9-7 overall, 7-2 ACCA) will compete in Kansas City November 4-6. The top 8 ACCA teams received a bid; Emmaus is currently ranked 6th.
"We are excited to have a chance to compete in this tournament," said Coach Pitman. "The ladies have been working hard and have played really well through the tough schedule we have. They are very deserving of the chance to compete for a national title."
Seeding for the tournament will be announced soon. Teams competing are listed below in alphabetical order.
- Arlington Baptist College (Arlington, TX)
- Barclay College (Haviland, KS)
- Calvary Bible College (Kansas City, MO)
- Champion Baptist (Hot Springs, AR)
- Emmaus Bible College (Dubuque, IA)
- Grace Bible College (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College (Moore, OK)
- West Coast Baptist College (Lancaster, CA)
October 18, 2010
The Lady Eagles split their two matches this weekend, bringing their season record to 9-7.
In an ACCA match up on Friday night, Emmaus downed the Lady Saints of Central Christian College of the Bible in straight sets (25-11, 25-16, 25-10). The Lady Eagles fell on Saturday to Moody Bible Institute 16-25, 16-25, 23-25. The Lady Archers are currently ranked #5 in the NCCAA DII.
Friday was also the first annual Jam the Gym, and proved to be a smashing success. Over 200 fans came through the doors, (setting an Emmaus volleyball attendance record!) and made for a fun and exciting Friday night. After the Lady Eagles defeated CCCB, they went on to manhandle a team of faculty/staff in an extra set by the score of 21-12. The faculty/staff recovered to take one of two sets from the men's soccer team, in a match that provided lots of comic relief and as well as some exciting and unexpected displays of volleyball skill. We look forward to hosting another Jam the Gym in the fall of 2011!
Emmaus is back on the road this weekend as they travel to Dunbar, Wisconsin for matches against three tough NCCAA teams.
JAM the GYM!
October 14, 2010
Tomorrow night marks the first annual JAM the GYM night for Emmaus volleyball. "We are so excited to present an evening of great volleyball as well as some extra fun events," said Coach Neil Pitman.
At 7:00 pm, the Lady Eagles will face the Lady Saints of Central Christian College of the Bible in an ACCA match up. There will be relay games and drawings between sets. The Lady Eagles are also trying to set an attendance record for a home volleyball match, and are encouraging everyone to make it out to the Pollard Fieldhouse tomorrow.
A game versus the faculty and staff of Emmaus will follow the match, and the men's soccer team will take on the faculty/staff in volleyball as well!
The Lady Eagles will also take on a tough Moody Bible Institute squad on Saturday at 3 pm.
October 4, 2010
The Lady Eagles swept their road trip on the weekend with two key victories against Dayspring Bible College and Great Lakes Christian College. "We were eager for the rematch with Dayspring," said Coach Pitman. "The ladies were prepared to play today and we executed our game plan very well." Emmaus took the match in four sets (18-25, 25-20, 25-12, 25-17).
Against Great Lakes the Lady Eagles continued to roll, winning 25-13, 25-20, 25-19. "Great Lakes pushed us in sets two and three with their defense, but we did a great job controlling the tempo of the match," said Coach Pitman.
Bethany Scheer (pictured) contributed 12 kills and 5 aces to the effort. Kristi Bracelin had 26 kills and 6 blocks, andShannon Flogel set 65 assists.
Emmaus improves to 8-6 on the season as they continue to make their bid for an ACCA National Tournament appearance. The Lady Eagles play against Loras College (NCAA DIII) this Thursday in a JV match.
September 29, 2010
Emmaus improved to 6-6 on the season with a win over a tenacious Nebraska Christian College squad last night. Finding themselves down 5-12 in the first set, the Lady Eagles found their groove and came back to win 26-24. "Nebraska started out strong and refused to let balls hit the floor," said Coach Pitman. "They really pushed us hard and we had to fight to get this win."
Sets two and three found the Lady Eagles more relaxed and confident. "Our offense started rolling and our communication improved throughout the match," commented Coach Pitman. Emmaus took both sets (25-15, 25-19) for the win.
Kristi Bracelin again led the team with 16 kills and 5 blocks. Shannon Flogel (pictured) had 33 assists.
The Lady Eagles travel to Lake Zurich, IL this Saturday for a rematch with Dayspring Bible College as well as a game with Great Lakes Christian College.
September 27, 2010
The Lady Eagles split their two home matches on Saturday, bringing their season record to 5-6.
Emmaus started out slowly against Dayspring Bible College, losing in four sets (19-25, 22-25, 25-17, 20-25). "It took us a long time to find any rhythm in this match, which is something you can't do against a team like Dayspring," said Coach Pitman. "Hopefully we can be better prepared for them next weekend."
In the second match of the day the Lady Eagles took on the Lady Warriors from Calvary Bible College. In a reversal of their last meeting, Calvary had to play back-to-back matches, facing off against Emmaus right after winning a tough five set battle with Dayspring. "We played much better in this match, but Calvary was tired," commented Coach Pitman. "I think if we see them at Nationals it will be a very even match if both teams are well rested." Emmaus took the match in four sets (25-18, 19-25, 25-14, 25-21).
The Lady Eagles end their homestand tomorrow as they face another ACCA foe, Nebraska Christian College. Game time is 5:00 pm in the Pollard Fieldhouse.
September 21, 2010
It was a good weekend for Emmaus volleyball as the Lady Eagles swept all three matches at home.
Facing off against Oak Hills Christian College on Friday night, Emmaus found their groove early and took the match in straight sets (25-8, 25-7, 25-18). Saturday morning saw the Lady Eagles complete the double header with another 3-0 victory (25-8, 25-11, 25-13). "We worked on tightening up every aspect of our game in these matches," commented Coach Pitman. "I was really pleased with the contribution we got from every player on our team."
The Lady Eagles knew they had a difficult task on Saturday afternoon as they took on the Lady Tigers of Grace Bible College. "We talked about what we needed to accomplish in this match, and most of it was making sure our side of the net was generating positive numbers," said Coach Pitman. "Serving, serve receive and attack percentage were the focus points for today."
Emmaus started out strong, taking the first two sets (26-24, 25-21). "We made a lot of good decisions and were very focused early," said Coach Pitman. But as is often the case in volleyball, the momentum of the game shifted in Grace's favor as Emmaus dropped sets 3 and 4 (17-25, 18-25). "Kudos to Grace for pushing us back and controlling the flow of the match in these sets," commented Coach Pitman. "We were forced out of system and generated errors allowing for long runs by Grace."
Facing their third 5th set match of the season, the Lady Eagles felt confident. "We are learning how to respond in pressure situations and that the game is never over until the scoreboard says it is," said Coach Pitman. Emmaus started out with a strong lead but Grace grabbed the momentum in the second half of the set. It went down to the wire, but the Lady Eagles were able to walk away with a 17-15 victory. "This game could have gone either way and I am glad we stuck it out for the win this time," said Coach Pitman.
Leaders for the weekend included Hannah Denny (pictured) with 38 kills, Kristi Bracelin with 29 kills, and Molly Owensby with 27 digs. Shannon Flogel dished out 89 assists and served up 11 aces.
The Lady Eagles resume play this weekend as they host Dayspring Bible College and Calvary Bible College on Saturday in the Pollard Fieldhouse. Games are at 12:30 and 3:30 pm.
September 16, 2010
The Lady Eagles posted their first victory of the season on Tuesday against ACCA rivals, Nebraska Christian College. Coming off their tough weekend losses, Emmaus was able to find their tempo early and take the match in straight sets (25-21, 25-15, 25-19). "We really stepped up our serve receive and offense in this match and it showed," commented Coach Pitman. "It is a great feeling to get the first win of the season under our belt."
The second match of the night saw Emmaus pitted against a tough Faith Baptist Bible College squad. The momentum shifted back and forth with Faith emerging the winner in five exciting sets (25-18, 18-25, 25-20, 18-25, 12-15). "Faith played a great match tonight and I am glad that we stepped up and made it very close," said Coach Pitman. "We made some crucial errors in the final set that cost us the match, but overall this is the best volleyball we have played to date."
The Lady Eagles begin a six-match homestand tomorrow as they take on Oak Hills Christian College at 7:30 pm in the Pollard Fieldhouse. Emmaus will complete the doubleheader with Oak Hills on Saturday morning at 11:00 am and then will face Grace Bible College at 2:00 pm.
September 13, 2010
Emmaus put up a valiant effort on Saturday against the defending ACCA National Champions, Barclay College, but couldn't quite come away with the victory. In a match that took over two hours, both teams fought tooth and nail for every point, but it was the Lady Bears who caught the momentum in the final set to take the match (24-26, 25-23, 26-24, 21-25, 12-15).
Playing back-to-back matches, and without starting middle blocker Marissa Gander, the Lady Eagles had little left for Calvary, as the Lady Warriors cruised to a three set victory (19-25, 16-25, 7-25). The loss dropped the Eagles to 0-4 on the season.
"We were physically and emotionally drained after the Barclay match," said Coach Pitman. "We played some really great volleyball and pushed ourselves in the first match, so we were disappointed that we ran out of gas in the second match. The ladies showed great character and played hard and I am very proud of their effort."
Kristi Bracelin again led the Lady Eagles with 25 kills and 6 blocks. Other leaders for the day included Molly Owensby (pictured) with 15 digs, Hannah Denny with 23 kills and Shannon Flogel with 48 assists.
The Lady Eagles are back in action tomorrow as they travel to Ankeny to face Nebraska Christian College and Faith Baptist Bible College.
September 10, 2010
Emmaus fell to 0-2 on the young season, losing a tough match in straight sets to Maranatha Baptist Bible College on Tuesday (15-25, 18-25, 19-25). "Maranatha will be one of the toughest opponents we see this year and they played a great match," said Coach Pitman. "We were really pleased with our effort, especially how we improved throughout the match."
Shannon Flogel posted 17 assists, while Kristi Bracelin led the attack with 7 kills.
The Lady Eagles travel to Kansas City this weekend to play their first ACCA matches against Barclay College and Calvary Bible College.
September 7, 2010
The Emmaus Lady Eagles saw their first game action on Thursday vs. Northland International University in a losing effort (1-3). "We were really eager to get on the court and see how our new team would perform," commented Coach Pitman. 
Facing a very tough Northland squad, Emmaus was tested right from the start. "I was very impressed with how our team played tonight," said Coach Pitman. "We caught a glimpse of our potential and we all felt good about the match when it was over."
The Lady Eagles came out strong in the first set, pushing Northland to finish it with a final score of 25-22. Northland hit a hot run in set two, taking it 25-13. Emmaus found a groove and took their first set victory of the season in the third with a score of 25-18. Finding themselves down in the fourth set, the Lady Eagles mounted a valiant comeback but were outlasted by the Lady Pioneers, 25-23. Senior captains Kristi Bracelin (pictured) and Hannah Denny each posted 10 kills for the night.
The Lady Eagles are back in action tonight as they travel to Watertown, Wisconsin to face a tough Maranatha Baptist Bible College squad.
Practice Begins
August 24, 2010
The Lady Eagles kicked off the 2010 season yesterday, and have already been working very hard at conditioning and drilling during their two-a-days. "This is a group with a lot of talent and potential and we are looking forward to seeing them develop as team," said Coach Pitman.
The team roster will be announced on the web this Friday. Emmaus opens the 2010 season against Northland International University in the Pollard Fieldhouse on September 2nd.
2010 Volleyball Schedule Released
June 3, 2010
We are pleased to announce that the schedule for the 2010 volleyball season is now available on the web.
The Lady Eagles will play 21 regular season matches this year. "We are excited to be busy this season and have many opportunities to improve our game," commented Coach Pitman. "We have a strong recruiting class coming in that will make a large impact on the team."
Emmaus will face stiff competition however, playing against several high-caliber NCCAA teams, including Moody Bible Institute, Faith Baptist Bible College and Northland International University. The Lady Eagles will also take on the defending ACCA National Champions Barclay College, and face Nebraska Christian College, the National Runner-up. "It is good for us to play against tough teams that will really push us to up our level of play," said Coach Pitman.
The Lady Eagles will also make their first appearance at the ACCA National Tournament as a culmination to their season. "Attending nationals will be a great experience for the players and will help solidify our program," noted Coach Pitman.
This will be the second season of intercollegiate volleyball at Emmaus. The 2009 team finished with a record of 4 wins and 7 losses under Coach Pitman and Assistant Coach Jamie Larsen.
Click here to view the 2010 volleyball schedule.
Ramos Signs with the Lady Eagles
July 30, 2010
Marcela Ramos will be a part of Emmaus volleyball for the 2010 season. The 5'6" Ramos played a variety of positions for Coach Montes at Faith Christian Academy (El Paso, TX), where she earned three varsity letters. 
She also competed for the Rapid Fire Volleyball Club in El Paso.
Marcela was selected to the All-District First Team and the All-City Second Team both as a setter and outside hitter. She was also a member of the Loretto All-Tournament Team. In her time at Faith Christian the Lions were the SWACCA, T-CAL and T-CAF champions.
"We are so glad to have Marcela with us this fall, and are sure her versatility will be a great advantage to our team," commented Coach Pitman.
Marcela is the daughter of Mario and Alicia Ramos. She plans to major in Biblical Studies and Counseling Psychology. Off the court she enjoys art and drawing.
Emmaus Signs Gutierrez
June 1, 2010
Raquel Gutierrez will join the Lady Eagles on the court this fall. A 5'5" outside hitter, Raquel spent her high school career playing for Coach Miguel at Colegio Benito Juarez (Tehuacan, Mexico).
"Raquel will add yet another dimension of strength to our lineup with her athleticism and work ethic," said Coach Pitman.
Raquel likes to read, take pictures and listen to music. She is the daughter of Enrique Gutierrez and Carmen Hernandez Gutierrez, and is majoring in Biblical and Intercultural Studies.
Another Recruit Added for 2010 Season
May 20, 2010
Heather Grimm will be a part of Emmaus volleyball for the 2010 season. Grimm was a 2 year letter winner for Coach Kluge's English Valleys Bears (North English, IA). The 5'6" setter spent 2 years at Indian Hills Community College before transferring to Emmaus.
"We are thrilled to have Heather on board this season," said Coach Pitman. "Heather has back row experience as well as being comfortable in the setting role, which will be an asset to us."
Heather plans to enter the Biblical Studies and Elementary Education program. The daughter of Dave and Deb Grimm, Heather enjoys horses, playing softball and spending time with family.
Emmaus Signs Local Standout
May 7, 2010
Bethany Scheer will wear the blue and white for the Lady Eagles this fall. Scheer has the distinction of playing 5 years of varsity volleyball at Tri-State Christian School (Galena, IL), most recently for Coach Fransman. 
During her high school career Bethany played in 140 matches. The 5'7" Scheer was a 3 time NICC All-Star selection, and received all-conference honors her senior year. In her time as a Husky her team won a conference championship, finished 2nd at the Illinois State Tournament, and made the Final Four at the ACSI Tri-State Tournament.
"Bethany is a versatile player who excels in a number of positions. She also has a lot of experience in pressure situations," commented Coach Pitman. "We expect Bethany to bring a great deal of energy and leadership to the court this fall."
Bethany enjoys reading, playing music and spending time with friends. She is the daughter of Glenn and Patti Scheer, and plans to major in Biblical Studies and Elementary Education.
Lady Eagles Sign Owensby
May 7, 2010
Molly Owensby has signed her letter of intent to play for Emmaus in the fall. The 5'4" libero started for 2 years at Burlington Community High (Burlington, IA) for Coach Wiemann's Grayhounds. 
Molly was a 2009 All-Hawkeye Honorable Mention and was featured in the "Players to Watch" section of the Quad City Times. She also excelled in the classroom, receiving the IGHSAU Excellence in Academic Achievement award, and was a member of the MAC All-Academic team. Owensby also played 4 years of club volleyball for the Burlington Volleyball Club under Coach Heath.
"We are so glad to have Molly be a part of our program," said Coach Pitman. "We are looking for her to be a strong defensive leader and help us develop a great back row."
Molly is the daughter of Rod and Ruth Owensby. She enjoys playing tennis and softball, being outdoors and spending time with her friends and family (including her 5 nephews and 4 nieces!). Molly will major in Biblical Studies and Elementary Education.
Flogel Commits for 2010 Season
April 28, 2010
Shannon Flogelhas signed her letter of intent, adding another dimension of strength to the Lady Eagles' roster. The 3 year Wisconsin Heights High (Mazomanie, WI) letter winner played on 3 conference champion teams and made a trip to the state tournament as a junior. She was voted to the all-conference team her junior year and was team captain her senior year.
Shannon also played one season at Grace College (Winona Lake, IN) before transferring to Emmaus. The 5'8" Flogel will take over the primary setting responsibilities this season.
"Shannon will bring a great deal of depth and leadership to the roster with her experience," said Coach Pitman. "She has been working hard in spring training and we are looking forward to having her on the team."
Shannon is a Biblical Studies and Nursing major, and enjoys camping, hiking, reading and spending time with family. She is the daughter of Ray and Val Flogel.
First 2010 Recruit Signs Letter of Intent
April 26, 2010
Marissa Gander has committed to play volleyball at Emmaus this fall. The 6'0" middle blocker started for 2 years at Wisconsin Heights High (Mazomanie, WI) under Coach Hughes.
"We are very excited to have Marissa be our first signee for 2010," said Coach Pitman. "Marissa will up our level of play at the net with her strength and height."
The daughter of Lee and Kim Gander, Marissa plans to enter the Certificate in Biblical Studies program. Off the court she enjoys sketching and painting.
October 8, 2009
The Lady Eagles finished their regular season schedule on Tuesday in Ankeny, IA against two tough teams.
In the first match against Nebraska Christian, Emmaus came out strong and kept the first two sets close. Nebraska stepped up their game in the last two sets to take the victory 20-25, 25-21, 11-25, 14-25. "We played really well in this match, but once Nebraska's quick offense got rolling we never recovered," said Coach Pitman. "I was really pleased with our play and effort overall."
The second match vs. the home team Faith Baptist was a different story, as the Lady Eagles fell in straight sets 19-25, 11-25, 13-25. "Fatigue set in and it was a tough gym atmosphere for us to play in," commented Coach Pitman. "Faith is a very strong and consistent team and they were just too much for us tonight."
Emmaus will end their inaugural intercollegiate season with a record of 4 wins and 7 losses. The Lady Eagles will play two more matches in Dubuque vs. Loras and Clarke's JV teams to finish the season.
Plans are already being made for an even bigger and better volleyball season in 2010. Great job, ladies!
October 5, 2009
The Emmaus Lady Eagles finished 1-2 on their 3 match Chicago trip this past weekend. Friday night saw the Lady Eagles take on a tough Moody Bible Institute squad, currently ranked #4 in the NCCAA Division II. Emmaus played hard, but fell in 3 sets (8-25, 9-25, 17-25). "We played strong tonight, but Moody's attack was too much for us," said Coach Pitman. "It is always great to play against a ranked opponent and I thought we handled ourselves very well."
Saturday the Lady Eagles played 2 matches at Dayspring. Without starting senior setter Sarah Lepisto, it was up to freshman Emilia Godoi to run the offense. "Emilia did a great job and really stepped up in these 2 matches," commented Coach Pitman.
Emmaus battled it out with Dayspring, but couldn't seem to get rolling. "We started slow, and it cost us in the end," said Coach Pitman. The Lady Eagles fell in straight sets (22-25, 19-25, 27-29).
The second match of the day was much better, as the Lady Eagles offense got in a groove. "We kept up a consistent attack against Grace, and it made the difference in the match," said Coach Pitman. Emmaus pulled off the win in four sets (25-17, 25-19, 19-25, 25-22).
Junior Kristi Steinhaus once again led the Lady Eagles with 35 kills, 4 aces, 70 digs and 5 blocks on the weekend. Hannah Denny added 20 kills and 57 digs. Emilia Godoi had 48 assists and 6 aces and libero Alyssa Pfeifer had 48 digs.
September 28, 2009
Emmaus rose to .500 as they swept their double header vs. Oak Hills Christian this past weekend. Both matches were won in straight sets: 25-20, 25-16, 25-19 on Friday and 25-15, 25-20, 25-12 on Saturday.
The Lady Eagles played some of their best volleyball of the season, and had contributions from all 11 players. "Our bench did a very nice job, especially in some clutch situations," commented Coach Neil Pitman. "We also served very well in these matches and did a great job of reducing unforced errors."
Junior Kristi Steinhaus had 21 kills and 38 digs for the weekend. Senior Sarah Lepisto dished up 45 assists. Sophomore Alyssa Pfeifer had 32 digs, and sophomore Hannah Denny added 18 kills and 9 aces.
The Lady Eagles head out on a 3 game road trip to Chicago this weekend, with stops at Moody Bible Institute on Friday and Dayspring Bible College on Saturday. They will also take on Grace Bible College on Saturday at Dayspring.
September 23, 2009
The Lady Eagles faced their toughest opponent to date on Monday as they welcomed Faith Baptist to the Pollard Fieldhouse. Faith, ranked #10 in the NCCAA Div. II coaches' poll, cruised to a 3 set victory (25-7, 25-12, 25-13).
"We actually played well tonight," commented Coach Pitman. "We reduced our unforced errors by a good margin, which was one of our focus points for the match." In the end the Lady Eagles fell to Faith's constant attack.
Emmaus resumes play this weekend with their final home games of the season; a double-header against Oak Hills Christian (Bemidji, MN). Matches are Friday at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 10 am in the Pollard Fieldhouse.
September 21, 2009
It looked to be a tight match all the way, but the Lady Eagles soared in set 3 to earn their first win against St. Louis Christian on Saturday. After two sets that went down to the wire (27-25, 27-25), Emmaus found their groove in the third set and never looked back (25-13).
"We are a team that is hungry to keep improving," said coach Neil Pitman. "Our passing and defense were consistent in this match which helped us stay in system."
Kristi Steinhaus again led the Lady Eagles' attack with 15 kills. Anna Rinehart and Josie Westrum added 5 and 4 kills respectively. Libero Alyssa Pfeifer had 24 digs, and also helped out the offense with 6 aces.
The Lady Eagles play tonight against Faith Baptist (Ankeny, IA) at home in the Pollard Fieldhouse at 6 pm.
September 13, 2009
The Lady Eagles kicked off their inaugural intercollegiate volleyball season this past weekend at the Pollard Fieldhouse.
Friday night saw Emmaus pitted against a consistent Calvary Bible College team. The Lady Eagles came from behind to take the first set in dramatic fashion, but Calvary took the next three sets to defeat Emmaus 3 - 1 (26-24, 10-25, 19-25, 14-25).
On Saturday the Lady Eagles faced off against Dayspring Bible College. The team's performance improved in each set, but ultimately Dayspring pulled out the victory 3 - 0 (14-25, 19-25, 23-25).
"We showed a lot of heart in both of these matches," said coach Neil Pitman. "I am really proud of the way this young team conducted themselves under pressure."
Kristi Steinhaus led the Eagles for the weekend with 22 kills and 5 blocks. Hannah Denny contributed 10 kills, and Alyssa Pfeifer had 36 digs. Freshman setter Emilia Godoi dished up 21 assists.
The Lady Eagles resume play on Saturday, Sept. 19th when they take on St. Louis Christian College at home in the Pollard Fieldhouse at 2 pm.