Pioneers' Volleyball Starts the Season with 2-0 Mark

A combination of youth and experience led the University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team to a pair of wins on the first day of action in New York City.

The Pioneers (2-0) started the season with a 25-17, 25-22, 25-13 win over Stevens. In the win, it was Danielle Cushley, who in her Pioneer debut, had a team-high 13 kills. Samantha Rampart added 10 kills to a UW-Platteville attack that out hit Stevens by a .325 to .094 margin.

In addition, the Pioneers had 13 service aces in the win including eight from Katie O'Malley in her UW-Platteville debut. The UW-Platteville attack also had six blocks as a team with Cushley and Rachel Oldenburg each contributing four block assists to the victory. Brooke Nichols and Stephanie Kirchner each added seven digs to the win.

In the nightcap against Geneseo, the Pioneers continued the highly potent attack as they outhit the opposition by a .255 to a .077 margin. UW-Platteville was victorious by scores of 25-22, 25-13, 27-25.

Rampart led the attack with a match-high 13 kills for her second-straight match with double-digit kills. Allee Yundt and O'Malley added 17 and 16 assists, respectively in the win; plus Nichols added 11 digs. The frontline for the Pioneers proved to be strong with six total team blocks including four block assists by Kirchner.

The Pioneers will wrap up the weekend when they face New Paltz State at 9 a.m. and host New York University at 3 p.m. on Saturday.