UW-Platteville Volleyball Sweeps No. 2 Titans

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team upset No. 2 nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh, 3-0, on Wednesday night in Williams Fieldhouse. The victory marks the Pioneers' (11-2, 1-1 WIAC) first win against the Titans (13-3, 1-1 WIAC) since the 2014 season. 

UW-Platteville also becomes the first team to sweep UW-Oshkosh this fall. Overall, the Pioneers stacked up 43 kills, 37 assists, 10 total blocks, seven aces and 48 digs, holding advantages in all categories over the Titans. 

UW-Platteville raced out to an early lead in the first set and never looked back. They put together a pair of four-point runs and reached 24-13 following a 5-0 run. After a kill by Oshkosh, senior Emma Carlson's kill closed out the 25-14 first set victory.  

The first three points of the second set went the Pioneers' way, but the Titans recovered and kept the set tight until they took the lead 12-11. UW-Oshkosh pulled ahead 18-14, but a 3-0 run drew the Pioneers within one. UW-Platteville trailed 22-19 and the Pioneers rallied with six straight points to claim a 2-0 lead in the match. 

Keeping the energy rolling, the Pioneers strung together early 4-0 and 3-0 runs to take a 9-6 lead in the third set. The Titans closed in within one point midway through the final set, but a pair of kills by junior Kierney McDonald was part of a five-point run to take a 22-17 advantage. A kill by junior setter Gracie Gibbens forced match point, 24-18 and an attacking error by the Titans sealed the win. 

McDonald finished with 10 kills and tallied four block assists and one solo block. Carlson finished with 14 kills, three service aces and three block assists. 

Gibbens concluded the match with 35 assists, three kills and two block assists.  

The Pioneers will return to action this Friday, Sept. 27 when they host Wartburg and Augustana in a home triangular at 3 and 7 p.m.

*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.