Pioneers Drops Two Matches on Day One of Trinity University Fall Classic to Begin 2011 Season

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to Loyola-New Orleans (25-19, 25-23, 25-22) and host Trinity (23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 26-24) on Friday afternoon in the first day of the Trinity University Fall Classic in San Antonio, Texas.

The Pioneers (0-2) were held to a .156 hitting percentage in the 3-0 loss to Loyola-New Orleans to start the day. UW-Platteville senior Briana Kaiser led the attack with a team-high 11 kills and five blocks in the defeat.

Loyola-New Orleans (1-0) hit at a blistering .248 clip in the win. Lauren Brand and Gina Gill and Kailey Tuthill each had double digit kills to lead the Wolfpack Brand had a match-high 12 kills. Plus, setter Samantha Worsham had a double double with 27 assists and 11 digs.

The Wolfpack also had five service aces compared to just one for UW-Platteville in the opening match of the season for both teams.

In the nightcap against host Trinity, the Pioneers took the opening set by a 25-23 margin despite being outhit by a .211 to .157 margin. In the loss, Briana Kaiser led four Pioneers with double-digit kills with a match-high 14. Sister Emily and freshman Lee Ann Mizgalski added 11; in addition, sophomore Stephanie Kirchner. Senior setter Ali Sikic nearly had her first double double of the season with 50 assists and nine digs.

The Tigers (2-0) were led by Madison McMahon, who had a team-high 13 kills. The difference in the match was that Trinity had 14 blocks to the six for the Pioneers. Maddy Hazelwood had nine block assists to lead the Tigers.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. when they face Austin College and conclude the tournament with a 2:30 p.m. contest against Southwestern.