Pioneer Volleyball overcomes two-set deficit

DAVENPORT, Iowa – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team came back from two sets down to beat St. Ambrose, 3-2 (23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 15-11) on Tuesday.

The Pioneers had four players record double-digit kills, and were led by Jennifer Schmidt with a season-high 14 kills. Sophomore Lidia Frias tallied 13 kills and five blocks, while junior Lauren Grady posted 12 kills and four blocks. Senior LeeAnn Mizgalski recorded the Pioneers first double-double of the season with 22 digs and 10 kills, and also registered four blocks. Freshman setter Allie Carter registered a career-high 57 assists without a ball handling error.

St. Ambrose used a 7-1 run to take a 10-4 lead in the first set. The Pioneers made a run of their own and were able to get within one, 18-17, but the Fighting Bees answered with three consecutive point, 21-17. SAU held off any Pioneer run to take the first set 25-23.

The second set went back-and-forth until the Bees used a 5-0 run, taking a commanding 21-16 lead. SAU went on to win the second set 25-23.

The Pioneers used a 7-1 run early in the third set, taking a 10-5 advantage. Four kills by Schmidt and Frias kept the Pioneers from being swept, winning the third set 25-17.

The Pioneers started the fourth set slow, falling behind 7-4, but got their rhythm back and went on to use a 14-5 run, taking a commanding 18-12 lead. UW-Platteville cruised to force a fifth and final set, 25-20.

A  pair of kills by Grady gave the Pioneers a 4-0 lead in the final set. The Fighting Bees managed to tie the set up at 8-8, but kills from Frias and Grady gave UW-Platteville 10-8 lead. The Pioneers went on to win the final set 15-11.

UW-Platteville will play at the Elmhurst Invitational on Friday and Saturday.