Pioneers earn pair of sweeps to close out MSOE Invite

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team swept Nebraska Wesleyan and MSOE to finish 3-0 on the weekend at the MSOE Invitational after defeating Carleton Friday night. The Pioneers never lost a set all weekend at the Kern Center. 

In the first match, UW-Platteville (13-4, 0-2) defeated Nebraska Wesleyan (11-4, 1-0) 25-23, 25-19 and 25-21. The Prairie Wolves led the first set 20-17, but a 7-0 run featuring four service aces from freshman Kelsey Ewert drove the team into position to take the first set with junior Camryn Johnston registering the final kill of the set. 

UW-Platteville coasted to win set two after taking a commanding 15-7 lead. Nebraska Wesleyan answered back and took the lead early in set three where the Pioneers had to rally from an 11-7 deficit. UW-Platteville responded with a 17-6 run to reach match point 24-17. The Prairie Wolves fought back taking the next four points, but an attacking error finished the set and the UW-Platteville sweep. 

In the final match of the day against host MSOE (1-8, 0-1), the Pioneers won with scores of 25-15, 25-23 and 25-17. 

In the first set, the teams were locked 7-7, but a 14-5 run left the Raiders in a 21-12 deficit. Kills by Johnston and sophomore Madalyn Cooley and two errors by MSOE later, the Pioneers took set one. 

UW-Platteville wrote a comeback story in set two after overcoming a 19-11 MSOE lead. Junior Taylor Blake came alive with four kills and three block assists in partner with freshman Kierney McDonald. The set was tied 21-21, but MSOE took the lead again 23-21. MSOE's hopes of a win were diminished when sophomore Claudia Johnson tallied two straight kills before Johnson teamed up with senior Sam Rossetti and Johnston on back-to-back block assists to end the set.

MSOE once again jumped out to a substantial 11-4 lead in the third set, but another 16-3 run gave the Pioneers a 20-14 lead. Johnson and Rossetti tallied the final two kills of the match and UW-Platteville finished its three matches of the tournament 9-0. 

Sophomore Emma Carlson led the Pioneers tallying 25 kills on the day. Johnson finished with 13 kills and seven blocks while Johnston also finished with 13 kills and two block assists. McDonald concluded the day with a team-high of nine blocks, freshman Bri Gartner finished with 34 digs and Ewert ended the day with seven service aces. 

UW-Platteville will return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 27 when they travel to Edgewood College at 7 p.m. 

*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.