Titans To Host Final Rounds Of WIAC Tournament
Three nationally-ranked teams collide when UW-Oshkosh hosts the final four matches of the 2009 WIAC Women's Volleyball Tournament this weekend in Kolf Sports Center. Competition begins Friday (Nov. 6) with two semifinal round games and concludes on Saturday (Nov. 7) with the third-place and championship contests.
UW-Oshkosh (34-1), which went unbeaten against its eight WIAC opponents during the regular season, is the No. 1 seed in this year's six-team tournament. The Titans earned a first-round bye and will open tournament play against fourth-seeded UW-Eau Claire (29-6) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The Blugolds qualified for their semifinal round match with UW-Oshkosh by defeating fifth-seeded UW-River Falls (20-15), 22-25, 19-25, 27-25, 25-23, 15-7, on Tuesday (Nov. 3) in the first round.
UW-Whitewater (29-6) is seeded second in this year's tournament. The Warhawks received a first-round bye and will begin tournament action against third-seeded UW-Platteville (22-12) at 5 p.m. on Friday. The Pioneers advanced to their semifinal round contest with UW-Whitewater by ousting sixth-seeded UW-Stevens Point (13-22), 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23, on Tuesday in the first round.
The winner of the two semifinal round matches will compete in the championship contest at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. A third-place game will be held at noon on Saturday.
The WIAC Tournament champion receives the league's automatic bid to the 62-team NCAA Division III Championship.
UW-Oshkosh enters this weekend's tournament as the top-ranked team in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). The Titans have won five straight matches and 74 of their last 78. UW-Oshkosh's only loss this season was a 3-1 setback to UW-Whitewater on Oct. 23.
Also mentioned in the AVCA's NCAA Division III poll are seventh-ranked UW-Whitewater and 18th-ranked UW-Eau Claire. UW-Whitewater has won its last two contests and 59 of its last 75. UW-Eau Claire brings a 10-match winning streak into this weekend's event. The Blugolds have gone 53-18 in their last 71 contests.
UW-Platteville snapped a two-match losing streak with its win over UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday. The Pioneers have won 16 of their last 22 games.
UW-Oshkosh is the defending WIAC Tournament champion. The Titans won last year's title with a 25-21, 23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-12 victory over UW-Eau Claire in the championship match.