Pioneers Fall to Big Blue Friday

AURORA, Ill. – In the opening match of the Jim Coleman Memorial Classic, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team fell 3-0 to Millkin inside the Thornton Gymnasium at Aurora University.

The Pioneers fall to 9-2 on the season with the loss while Millikin improves to 8-2.

The Big Blue took an early lead behind a six-point run to win the opening set 25-16. The Pioneers were able to get within four late in the set, but Millikin scored the final five points to hold off the potential comeback. In the second set, the Big Blue pulled ahead early to win 25-13. UW-Platteville fell behind in the third set but cut the deficit down to three. But Millikin went on a 6-1 run to extend the lead sweep the Pioneers 25-15.

Junior Claudia Johnson led the team with seven kills while posting a .333 hitting percentage and sophomore Emma Carlson added five kills. Senior Sam Rossetti tallied a team-high 10 digs and 17 assists. The Pioneers finished with eight block assists, with Johnson, junior Camryn Johnston, and freshman Kierney McDonald each recording two.

UW-Platteville will play two more matches at the Jim Coleman Memorial Classic tomorrow, competing against host school Aurora at 11 a.m. followed by a match against Rose-Hulman at 1 p.m.