Pioneers Advance To WIAC Semifinals With 3-1 Win Over Blugolds

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – After dropping the opening set, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team (23-8, 3-4 WIAC) won three straights set to upset UW-Eau Claire (21-9, 4-3 WIAC) on Tuesday night inside the McPhee Physical Education Center.

UW-Eau Claire was strong early in the first set, using a seven-point run to extend an early to lead to eight at 19-11. UW-Platteville got back within three, but the Blugolds held off the late rally for a 25-21 set win. The Pioneers responded with a five-point lead to start set two and extended that lead to six at 17-11 to force a Blugold timeout. UW-Eau Claire cut the deficit down to one, but UW-Platteville clinched the set 25-23 on an attack error. The Pioneers led throughout the third set and held off a late push by UW-Eau Claire on a set-clinching kill by sophomore Emma Carlson.

After the Blugolds scored the first four points of set four, the Pioneers went on a run to take a six-point lead at 16-10 capped by kills from Carlson and sophomore Madalyn Cooley. UW-Eau Claire scored the next five points and later tied the set at 17 apiece. Both teams traded points until the Blugolds took a 23-22 lead, forcing a Pioneer timeout. Out of the break, kills from juniors Camryn Johnston and Claudia Johnson gave UW-Platteville the lead, but UW-Eau Claire once again evened the set at 24. Johnson gave the lead back to the Pioneers with a kill, and freshman Kelsey Ewert won the game with a perfectly placed service ace to clinch the upset for UW-Platteville.

Carlson posted a match-high 17 kills and added 13 digs for the double-double. Johnston was second on the team with nine kills, while sophomore Madilyn Schultz added eight kills. Freshman Bri Gartner led the team with 21 digs, while senior Sam Rossetti finished with 13 digs and 36 assists. The Pioneers totaled eight service aces, led by three from Rossetti. Johnson finished with four block assists, as the team totaled two solo blocks and 12 block assists.

The Pioneers advance to the WIAC semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 3 when they travel to top-seeded UW-Whitewater (23-6, 7-0 WIAC) on 7 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.