Decker and Kirchner double-doubles lead Pioneers past St. Ambrose

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- In front of 917 screaming fans, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team was victorious in a five-set thriller over St. Ambrose, 3-2, in the Williams Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

The Pioneers had to make some pregame adjustments by rotating in two setters and moving their normal starting libero, Lindsey Decker, to outside hitter. When head coach Deb Schulman learned hours before the game that one of her starting outside hitter was unable to play due to illness.

Decker adjusted very well to the change in position as she totaled five of the seven UW-Platteville kills in the first-set. Decker's stellar play wasn't enough as St. Ambrose took the first-set 25-15 and then grabbed a two-set lead with a 25-22 victory.

In the third-set with the game tied up at 7-7, the Pioneers went on a 5-0 run taking a 12-7 lead and never looked back winning 25-22. Senior Stephanie Kirchner led UW-Platteville with five kills followed by Decker with four.

The Pioneers fed off the crowd's energy and kept their momentum and never trailed in the fourth-set. St. Ambrose brought it to a 13-12 but a 8-4 run gave UW-Platteville a 21-16 lead. The Pioneers went on to win 25-21 and forced a fifth and final set.

UW-Platteville didn't give the Fighting Bees any breathing room and jumped out to a 10-4 lead. The Pioneers then cruised to a 15-9 victory and moved to 8-11 on the season.

Decker and Kirchner both recorded double-doubles. Decker tallied 14 kills and 14 digs while Kirchner registered 14 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore setter Katie O'Malley recorded 31 assists and senior setter Allee Yundt totaled 14. Junior Haley Jansen recorded a season-high 23 digs.

UW-Platteville returns to conference play on Friday and Saturday. The Pioneers head north to UW-Eau Claire on Friday at 7 p.m. then to UW-Superior on Saturday at 12 p.m.