Alumni Day Recap 2023
August 26, 2023 | by Taylor Pill
WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The 2023 edition of Alumni Weekend at Maranatha rekindled the energy of not only the season ahead, but also the memories of seasons behind with all of the games and friendships that came with them. The weekend was competitive, as each alumni squad returned to Watertown with a point to prove, and each of the current Sabercat squads was given the chance to display the hard work they have put in over the last two weeks of preseason.
Women's Volleyball (Alumnae 2-2 Sabercats - 22-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22)
The Women's Volleyball alumnae squad always has an impressive lineup, and this year's squad of seven was hardly an exception. Eight NCCAA All-American selections were represented in this year's squad of seven, as national champions, Game Plan 4 LIFE Award recipients, and all-region selections alike were all well-represented.
| 2023 Alumnae: WVB | Notes |
| Julie Allweil | |
| Pam (Borchardt) Fiocchi | NCCAA 2nd-Team All-American |
| Deanna Henkel | |
| Karley (Johnson) Hockema** | NCCAA 2nd-Team All-American |
| Caitrin Kemlo | NCCAA 2nd-Team All-American |
| Stacy (Reinke) Rueb* | NCCAA 1st-Team All-American |
| Kelsey (Johnson) Stevens** | NCCAA DII National Player of the Year, GP4L Recipient |
*Member of an NCCAA National Championship team
The women's volleyball scrimmage is typically a four-set scrimmage regardless of scores, as both squads rotate their players throughout the match.
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Women's Soccer (Alumnae 5-1 Sabercats)
The Women's Soccer game broke open in the first period of 30 minutes, as goals from Jenna Clark and Amelia Schroeder put the Sabercats up 2-0. Clark cleaned up a rebound from a Megan Prigge shot, and Schroeder tapped in a close-range goal off a corner kick from Mallory Willette.
Alyson Clayton pulled one goal back for the Alumnae just a couple of minutes after Schroeder's strike, but Sabrina Heffner looped a shot in for a goal in the second period from a Danelle Habegger pass to put the Sabercats up 3-1.
Just when the game could've gone either way, Schroeder stole the show with two quick goals to complete her hat-trick and seal the win - both shots came from the left side, as Schroeder used her left foot to place it in the right and left corners and keep the goalkeeper guessing.
| 2023 Alumnae: WSOC | Notes |
| Julie Allweil | NCCAA 1st-Team All-American |
| Katelyn Brown | |
| Alyson Clayton | |
| Leah Ng | |
| Nina Riley | |
| Allison Steinhaus | NCCAA 1st-Team All-American |
| Angel Steuerwald* | 2020 National Champion |
| Rachel Swanson | |
| Gabby Torres* | 2020 National Champion |
| Makayla Warner* | 2020 National Champion |
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Men's Soccer (Alumni 2-2 Sabercats)
The last game of the day was high in drama, as the 17-member Men's Soccer Alumni squad fell behind 1-0 after a quality opening goal from Joseph Greene in the first period. The Sabercats then fell behind in the second period after Kevin Vigneault scored a solo goal to equalize and Braeden Hansel drove a left-footed shot into the upper corner from 25 yards away.
The Alumni looked to be in full control of the game until the final moments, when Grant Kirchner slid a shot to the far post to equalize with just seconds left on the clock.
(The two teams insisted on an "unofficial" penalty kick shootout that was drama-packed. A game-winning save from freshman Luke Bishop sealed the 6-5 shootout win for the Sabercats, who fought to the finish and had the result to show for it).
For the soccer teams, the 2023 season begins next weekend with a couple of road trips. To stay current on the teams this year, visit mbusabercats.com/schedule.
