Pioneers Sink Vikings Saturday For Tenth Straight Win

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team wrapped up an undefeated weekend with a 3-1 win over Augustana (Ill.) (9-1) on Saturday morning inside the Carver PE Center in Rock Island.

Augustana capitalized on some UW-Platteville mistakes in the opening set to pull away for a 25-18 win. The Pioneers led by five late in set two, but the Vikings rattled off six straight points to take a 24-23 lead. With the score even at 25, junior Emma Carlson put UW-Platteville ahead with a kill and the Pioneers clinched the set on an attack error by Augustana.

An 8-1 run allowed the Pioneers to secure a 25-18 set three victory and move ahead 2-1 in the match. Augustana held a one-point advantage late in the fourth set but UW-Platteville scored the final six points to pick up a 25-21 victory for the match win.

Carlson set a new career high with 29 kills in the match while posting a .381 hitting percentage. The number is the second-most in program history in a single match. Carlson also recorded 10 digs for the double-double.

The Pioneers finished with 61 kills as a team, with sophomore Kierney McDonald's nine good for second on the team behind Carlson. Senior Claudia Johnson and freshman Cassandra Alsum each added eight kills.

Sophomore Bri Gartner paced the team in digs with 31 as four Pioneers reached double digits in the category. Freshman Jacquelyn Gladstein (13) and sophomore Kelsey Ewert (10) also hit double figures.

Senior Sam Rossetti and sophomore Gracie Gibbens combined for 46 of the Pioneers 55 assists in the match. Rossetti led the way with 26 while Gibbens finished with 20.

UW-Platteville dominated Augustana in service aces (12-4) and blocks (7-3) in the match. Carlson, Johnston, and Ewert each recorded three service aces, while McDonald paced the team with four block assists.

The Pioneers will open the WIAC schedule on Wednesday night when they travel to UW-La Crosse for a 7 p.m. match.