Pioneers Collect Two More Wins Saturday

ST. PAUL, Minn. – On the second day of the Macalester Invitational, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team continued its impressive start to the season, winning matches against Hamline and Carleton to wrap up the weekend at 4-0. Freshmen Kierney McDonald and Bri Gartner were also named to the All-Tournament Team after their debut weekend in the orange and blue. 

The Pioneers opened the day by sweeping Hamline in the morning before winning 3-1 against Carleton early in the afternoon.

In the opening set against Hamline, the Pioneers capitalized on a six-point run to win 25-16 capped off by back-to-back kills from McDonald and sophomore Madilyn Schultz. UW-Platteville raced out to a four-point lead to start the second set and never looked back, cruising to a 25-15 victory. The Pipers held an advantage midway through the third set before the Pioneers rattled off seven straight points to win 25-19 and collect the sweep.

Sophomore Emma Carlson posted a team-high 11 kills on a strong .435 hitting percentage. Schultz and McDonald each added nine kills with McDonald posting a .615 hitting mark. Gartner led the team with 14 digs while Carlson, senior Sam Rossetti, and sophomore Shea Lauria each finished with nine. The Pioneers totaled 10 service aces as a team, with two each from Lauria, Carlson, Gartner, and freshman Kelsey Ewert.

In the second match, Carleton took the first set by score of 25-23. UW-Platteville responded with a stellar start to the second set, holding an early lead of 14-4 before winning 25-13. The third set was similar to the second, with the Pioneers taking a 10-point advantage to ultimately coast to a 25-15 win. The Knights kept the fourth set close until a late four-point run gave the Pioneers the separation needed to clinch a 25-20 victory.

Carlson posted a double-double, finishing with a team-high 15 kills to go with 10 digs. Junior Claudia Johnson added 14 kills on a .360 hitting percentage while McDonald continued her impressive start to the campaign with 10 kills (.450 hitting percentage). Gartner tallied 14 digs and posted five of the 12 service aces recorded by the Pioneers. UW-Platteville was strong at the net, finishing with two solo blocks and eight block assists.

The Pioneers return to action Tuesday, Sept. 6 when they travel to Beloit for a 7 p.m. match.

Macalester Invitational All-Tournament Team
Maggie Jones, Minn. Morris
Kierney McDonald, UW-Platteville
Bri Gartner, UW-Platteville
Addie Thomas, Nebraska Wesleyan
Kameri Meredith, UW-River Falls
Samantha Hilley, UW-River Falls
Torrance Williams, Macalester

*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.