Pioneers Earn Pair Of Sweeps To Open Season

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team opened its season at the Macalester Invitational on Friday evening, earning a pair of sweeps over Nebraska Wesleyan and Macalester inside the Leonard Center in St. Paul, Minn.

In the first match, UW-Platteville and Nebraska Wesleyan competed in an extended first set with the Pioneers clinching a 31-29 win on a kill by sophomore Emma Carlson. The Prairie Wolves opened the second set strong and held a five-point advantage before the Pioneers went on a 17-5 run to take a seven-point lead and closed the set with a 25-19 win. Both sides were even for much of the third set before Carlson ended the match with a pair of kills for a 26-24 victory.

Carlson led the way with 15 kills on a .216 hitting percentage and posted a double-double with 14 digs. Sophomore Madilyn Schultz added 12 kills while freshman Kierney McDonald posted an impressive .421 hitting percentage, four solo blocks, and two block assists and tied junior Claudia Johnson for third on the team with eight kills. Freshman Bri Gartner totaled a team-high 18 digs and sophomore Shea Lauria recorded 11 digs and a pair of service aces.

Against Macalester, a late 7-1 run helped UW-Platteville take the first set by a score of 25-19. The Scots raced out to a 10-3 lead in the second set, but the Pioneers rallied to tied the set at 16 apiece before winning 26-24 on a pair of kills by McDonald. UW-Platteville used a 15-5 run in the third set to win 25-16 and earn its second sweep of the day.

Carlson reached double-digits in kills for the second time on the day with 12 in the second game to go along with eight digs. Schultz was second with seven kills while Johnson posted six. Gartner (15), freshman Kelsey Ewert (11), and Lauria (10) each reached double-digit digs and Lauria posted a team-high three service aces. The Pioneers were strong at the net, posting 12 block assists as team led by McDonald who recorded four.

The Pioneers continue play at the Macalester Invitational tomorrow with matches against Hamline at 10 a.m. followed by Carleton at 12 p.m.

*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.