Pioneers Win Five Set Thriller Over Blugolds

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team (13-3, 2-0 WIAC) won a five set thriller against UW-Eau Claire (6-6, 1-1 WIAC) on Wednesday night inside the McPhee Physical Education Center in Eau Claire.

After the Blugolds tallied the first five points of the opening set, the Pioneers worked the score back to 16 apiece. The two teams traded points up to 20, but UW-Eau Claire scored the final five points to clinch set one 25-20. UW-Platteville answered with a 25-15 set two victory to even the match, but the Blugolds picked up a 25-22 win in a back-and-forth set three to regain the advantage. In set four, the Pioneers held off a late Blugolds rally to send the match to a fifth set behind a 28-26 win. UW-Eau Claire held a four-point lead in the deciding set, but the Pioneers closed the match on a 10-3 run to win 15-12.

Junior Emma Carlson finished with a match-high 19 kills while senior Claudia Johnson finished second on the team with 15 kills and a .323 hitting percentage. Sophomore Kierney McDonald pitched in with nine kills and senior Camryn Johnston added eight.

Senior Sam Rossetti totaled 46 assists and 13 digs. Sophomore Bri Gartner paced the team with 21 digs, while sophomore Kelsey Ewert (13) and Carlson (12) also reached double digits.

The Pioneers finished with 14 blocks as a team in the match, with Johnson recording eight block assists. McDonald (5 block assists) and Rossetti (4) helped UW-Platteville control the nets.

UW-Platteville will play its first two home matches of the season this weekend while honoring faculty and staff. The Pioneers face Carroll (Wis.) at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday before taking on Macalester later at 4:30 p.m.