Pioneers Drop Match In WIAC Tournament To Falcons

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team (21-8, 5-2 WIAC) dropped a 3-2 match to UW-River Falls (20-9, 3-4 WIAC) in the opening round of the WIAC Tournament on Tuesday night inside Williams Fieldhouse.

An 8-1 run gave the Pioneers a seven-point lead in the opening set which later led to a 25-14 set one victory for the home team. UW-Platteville held the Falcons to a negative hitting percentage, and made five blocks, including one by junior Madelyn Cooley and sophomore Kierney McDonald that capped the set.

UW-River Falls answered with a 25-19 set two win, highlighted by an 8-0 run. In the third set, the Falcons pulled ahead early and led by early multiple times. The Pioneers were able to get back into the set with a 9-1 stretch to tie it at 22, but UW-River Falls scored three of the final four points to win 25-23.

UW-Platteville extended the match with a 25-20 set four win, highlighted by 10 total kills from the trio of Cooley, McDonald, and junior Emma Carlson. Neither team was able to pull away for much of the fifth set, but the Falcons scored four straight points to close the match with a 15-12 win.

Cooley led the Pioneers with a season-high 16 kills on a .344 hitting percentage. McDonald and Carlson also reached double figures in the match with 11 kills apiece. Senior Claudia Johnson added nine kills as UW-Platteville totaled 54 kills as a team.

Senior Shea Lauria recorded a season-high 27 digs as one of four Pioneers to reach double digits in the category. Carlson and Bri Gartner each finished with 14, while sophomore Gracie Gibbens tallied 11. Gibbens led the team with 21 assists, with senior Sam Rossetti adding 17.

Lauria and freshman Jacquelyn Gladstein each had three service aces as UW-Platteville finished with 13 as a team. At the net, the Pioneers had one solo block and 10 block assists, highlighted by three from McDonald.

With the win, the Falcons advance to the WIAC Semifinals on Thursday and will face second-seeded UW-Whitewater.