Pioneers Fall To Warhawks In WIAC Semifinals

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team fell 3-0 to UW-Whitewater in the WIAC Tournament Semifinals on Thursday night inside Kris Russell Volleyball Arena.

A four-point run gave the Warhawks a lead early in the opening set, and the hosts held that advantage for most of set one. The Pioneers rallied late, evening the score at 24, but UW-Whitewater scored the final two points for a 26-24 set one win. The two teams traded points for much of the second set, and the score was tied at 20 apiece late. UW-Whitewater clinched the set two victory by scoring five straight points for a 25-20 win. In the third set, the Warhawks to a quick advantage, but the Pioneers tied the set at 14 behind a 6-1 run. UW-Whitewater regained the lead with a five-point run of its own and later won the set 25-20.

Sophomore Emma Carlson paced the Pioneers with nine kills while posting a .258 hitting percentage. She added 10 digs for the double-double and tallied a match-high four service aces. Freshman Kierney McDonald was second on the team with eight kills on a team-high .333 hitting percentage. Junior Claudia Johnson recorded a team-high four block assists while freshman Bri Gartner led the way with 22 digs. Senior Sam Rossetti finished with 25 assists and 10 digs in the match.

The Pioneers wrap up a strong season in which the program finished 23-9 overall along with a 3-4 mark in the WIAC. UW-Platteville advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2011.