Pioneers Sweep Falcons on Friday Night

RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team, ranked No. 18 by the AVCA, swept UW-River Falls on Friday night at Page Arena. The Pioneers (16-2, 2-1 WIAC)defeated the Falcons (8-10, 1-2 WIAC) in three sets behind scores of 25-1, 25-15, and 25-21. 

Although the Falcons jumped out to a 15-9 lead in the first set, the Pioneers rallied and a kill by senior Emma Carlson tied the set 16-16. The set remained closely contested, but back-to-back kills by Carlson and sophomore Kennedy Wenger brought the Pioneers to set-point at 24-21 where a Falcon attacking error secured the win for UW-Platteville. 

The Pioneers dominated the second set, hitting .424 with 16 kills and just two errors while holding the Falcons to a .073 hitting percentage. 

UW-Platteville strung together another quick start in the final set, featuring three-straight kills by freshman Brooklyn Radecke. A kill by Carlson put the Pioneers ahead 17-9, right before the Falcons attempted a comeback. UW-River Falls drew in as close as 19-15, but a service ace by junior Kelsey Ewert and a kill by junior Kierney McDonald extended the lead to 23-15. Back-to-back service errors committed by the Falcons finished the night and solidified the Pioneers second sweep of a WIAC opponent this season.  

Overall, the Pioneers accumulated 46 kills, 40 assists as they outhit UW-River Falls .330 to .168. 

Radecke paced the team with 12 kills, Wenger finished with a career-high 11 and McDonald totaled 10 to round out the three Pioneers finishing in double-digit kills. 

Carlson had a team-high 13 digs and junior Gracie Gibbens finished with 33 assists. 

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Augsburg's Quad for matches against the host team and St. Catherine at 1 and 3 p.m.