Pioneers Sweep Carthage and Millikin Saturday

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – At the Pioneer Invitational on Saturday, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team (18-3) picked up sweeps over Carthage (10-8) and Millikin (13-6) to increase the team's win streak to six matches.

In the match against Carthage, the Pioneers pulled away in each of the three sets to win by scores of 25-20, 25-17, and 25-17. UW-Platteville was consistent across all three sets, hitting a solid .250 with 38 kills on 96 total attacks. The Pioneers were strong at the net in the win, finishing with 20 block assists, highlighted by seven from sophomore Kierney McDonald.

Junior Emma Carlson posted a match-high 18 kills while hitting a team-best .378 on 37 attacks. Senior Camryn Johnston was next on the team with eight kills and senior Claudia Johnson added six. Sophomore Bri Gartner finished with 13 digs and senior Sam Rossetti tallied 18 assists in the win.

Against Millikin, the Pioneers raced out to a 22-11 lead in the opening set but the Big Blue responded with a 12-1 run to tie the game at 23 apiece. UW-Platteville survived the rally with a kill by Johnson and an error by Millikin to take set one 25-23. Set two went to the Pioneers by a score of 25-17 and the team completed the sweep with a strong third set to win 25-17.

The Pioneers finished with 46 kills in the sweep and put together a .388 hitting percentage. Carlson led the team with 13 kills while hitting .444 and Johnson and McDonald each added eight kills of their own. Sophomore Gracie Gibbens posted a team-high 10 digs and senior Sam Rossetti finished with 27 assists.

UW-Platteville recorded 20 more block assists against Millikin along with one solo block. Johnson led the way with five block assists and one solo block, while McDonald added another five block assists.

The Pioneers continue WIAC play on Wednesday when they welcome UW-Whitewater to Williams Fieldhouse at 7 p.m.