Volleyball downs Clarke before dropping five-set thriller

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team started the UW-Platteville Tournament with a 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 26-24, 29-27) victory over Clarke and then dropped a five-set thriller to Augustana 3-2 (26-24, 16-25, 20-25, 25-22, 15-12) in the nightcap on Friday at the Williams Fieldhouse. 

The Pioneers played one of their best sets of the year in the opening set versus Clarke, tallying 16 kills and eight blocks and didn't record a serves error. UW-Platteville scored the first three points of the match. The Crusaders managed to rebound from the slow start and tied it up at 7-7. A kill by the Pioneers' Allison Jensen and a pair of CU errors helped give the Pioneers a 17-13 lead. Clarke fought back to make a one-point game, 22-21, but the Pioneers never allowed CU to retake the lead, taking the first set, 25-22.

After winning the first point the Pioneers never lead in the second set. Nine attack errors hindered the Pioneers, as Clarke tied it up at a set apiece, 25-22.

The Pioneers cruised for most of the third set, earning set point 24-20, but a pair of kills and a block assist by CU's Michaela Bleeker helped Clarke tie it up, 24-24. After a Pioneer timeout, junior Jennifer Schmidt came up with a big kill to give the Pioneers a match-point again. A CU ball handling error gave the UW-Platteville the third set 26-24.

The Pioneers fended off Crusader three match points in the fourth set to win, 29-27. 

The Pioneers had four players with double-digit kills, and were led by Lidia Frias with 13, who ended up with a .600 hitting percentage. Jensen tallied 12, while Schmidt recorded 10 kills. Senior LeeAnn Mizgalski registered her second double-double of the season with 12 digs and 10 kills. Junior Katie O'Malley and freshman Allie Carter splitted the setting duties and both recorded 27 assists. Sophomore Lindsey Decker posted a game-high 21 digs. 

Even with a -.026 hitting percentage the Pioneers managed to get two set points in the first set. But the Vikings surged past to take the opening set 26-24.

The Pioneers didn't let the first set setback get them down, and rolled to a 25-16 second set victory. 

UW-Platteville trailed early, 6-3, in the third set, but fought back to take a 15-11 lead. The Pioneers cruised to take the set 25-20.

UW-Platteville looked like it was going to finish off the Vikings off in four sets, but a 10-1 run turned the tides, as Augie took a 17-12 lead. The Vikings held off a late Pioneer comeback, taking the set 25-22.

With the final set tied at 3-3, Augie rattled off four consecutive points, taking a 7-3 lead. The Pioneers battled back and a big kill by Mizgalski made it a one-point game 13-12. Then a pair of kills by Augie's Martha Murray shut the door on the Pioneer comeback, 15-12.

Jensen and fellow rookie Merritt Johnson each tallied 12 kills for the Pioneers. Decker recorded 23 digs, while Mizgalski registered 20 digs.

The Pioneers will wrap up their tournament on Saturday against conference foe UW-River Falls at 10 a.m. and then 23rd-ranked Carthage at 2 p.m.