Volleyball takes one of two at first day of Wheaton Invite

WHEATON, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville  volleyball team won a five-set thriller over Carroll University, 3-2, in the Pioneers' first match of the Wheaton Invitational and then fell to host Wheaton, 3-0, in the night cap on Friday.

The Pioneers managed to start their weekend on the right foot winning the first-set 25-19 and then dropped the next two sets, 25-23, 25-20. UW-Platteville pushed a fifth and final set, winning the fourth-set 25-23. The Pioneers revenged their previous five-set loss to CU earlier in the month, winning 15-11.

Junior LeeAnn Mizgalski recorded a match-high 21 kills, followed by sophomore Jennifer Schmidt with 18 kills. Senior Stephanie Kirchner was the only other Pioneer to total double-digit kills with 14. Freshman Lindsey Decker continued her stellar month with a career-high 25 digs. The Pioneer had a 66-55 kill advantage and a 79-72 dig edge.

In UW-Platteville's match versus host Wheaton, the Pioneers loss a tough 26-24 first-set. UW-Platteville couldn't bounce back from the hard fought opening set and dropped the next two sets 25-14, 25-18.

Kirchner led the Pioneers with a season-high .526 hitting percentage and recorded 11 kills. Schmidt tallied 11 kills of her own while Mizgalski registered nine kills.

The Pioneers will wrap up its weekend at the Wheaton Invitational on Saturday as they face off with North Central at 9:00 a.m. then against Mt. St. Joseph at 12:30 p.m.