Pioneers Season Ends in NCAA Sweet 16

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team’s historic season came to a close Saturday night in the NCAA Regional Championship. Making just their second ever Sweet 16 appearance in program history, the Pioneers (27-7) fell in three sets to top-seeded UW-Whitewater in Kris Russell Volleyball Arena. 

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Pioneers Season Ends in NCAA Sweet 16
November 23, 2024

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team's historic season came to a close Saturday night in the NCAA Regional Championship. Making just their second ever Sweet 16 appearance in program history, the Pioneers (27-7) fell in three sets to top-seeded UW-Whitewater in Kris Russell Volleyball Arena. 

"It's hard to speak after a match like that and a season like this because I feel 8,00 emotions right now. I feel sad to not work with them the next day because I love working and training with this team. I feel proud because of everything we accomplished," said head coach Samantha Birkicht. "I'm excited to see we went out as Pioneers." 

The Pioneers have much to be proud of as they were making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2010 and eighth overall. 

"The NCAAs were a dream for all of us," said senior Emma Carlson. "People are going to know what this program is long after I'm gone. That's kind of what I wanted to leave on this program." 

The team's lone senior graduates with an amazing resume as a Pioneer including 1,669 kills and 1,231 digs across four seasons. Carlson's career stats place her second all-time in program kills and 11th in digs, and is just the third Pioneer in program history to reach 1,000+ of both kills and digs in a career.  

Carlson and junior Kierney McDonald were named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. 

The Warhawks (29-5) earned the trip to the Elite Eight in Salem, Virginia by scores of 25-15, 25-15 and 25-19, with the defense tallying 15 team blocks. 

McDonald and Carlson registered seven kills apiece in the match. Junior Gracie Gibbens had a team-high 18 assists and junior Bri Gartner paced the Pioneers with 13 digs.

"When we look back at this season, there's a lot of stats you can keep into play. But when I look back, I remember moments. There were so many moments with this team that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life," said McDonald. "I'm so grateful to be here. So grateful to compete. And really proud to be a Pioneer today."