Top-Ranked Titans Knock Off 12th-Ranked Warhawks

UW-Oshkosh's first match as the top ranked women's volleyball team in the NCAA Division III was celebrated with an exciting 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 25-20 victory over UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Sept. 23) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (15-0 /3-0 WIAC), which grabbed the top spot in Tuesday's (Sept. 22) poll conducted by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, became the lone unbeaten team in the WIAC with its win over the 12th-ranked Warhawks (9-4/1-2 WIAC). The victory, UW-Oshkosh's third over UW-Whitewater in four matches, extended the Titans' home court winning streak to 23 consecutive contests.

After UW-Whitewater went ahead 8-5 in the first set, UW-Oshkosh responded with a six-point scoring run behind the serve of Morgan Liebetrau (Fr. • West Bend). The Warhawks closed to within 14-13, before the Titans went on a four-point scoring skein to break ahead 18-13.

UW-Whitewater battled back to trail 20-18 before UW-Oshkosh scored four out of the next five points to hold set point at 24-19. The Titans closed the stanza with a kill after the Warhawks inched to within 24-21.

After UW-Whitewater started set two ahead 3-0, UW-Oshkosh rattled off seven of the next eight points to hold a 7-4 advantage. Ahead 12-9, the Titans did not allow the Warhawks to get within three points for the rest of the set in taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
UW-Whitewater trailed 8-3 and 11-7 in set three before turning on the pressure to force a 15-15 tie. The Warhawks ended set three with a 10-5 scoring run to force a fourth set.

UW-Whitewater came out in set four red-hot, building an 8-2 advantage before UW-Oshkosh went on a 13-6 scoring run to take a 15-14 cushion. After a 15-15 knotted score, the Titans posted five out of the next six points to lead 20-16. UW-Oshkosh held on from there to capture the victory.

Aleisha Bagin (Fr. • West Bend) had a big night offensively for UW-Oshkosh with 16 kills, while adding a key solo block in set four. Christina Cahoon (Jr. • Watertown) scooped up 31 digs and added two service aces. Katelyn Vara (Sr. • New Berlin) dished out 39 assists and added six digs and Katie Beining (Sr. • Brookfield) totaled 11 kills and eight digs.

Jacque Ray (Sr. • Richland Center) tallied 12 kills and three blocks, Andrea Smith (Jr. • Fond du Lac) provided 14 digs and Brittany Cote (So. • Orland Park, Ill.) had 12 digs.

Keri Klotzbuecher had 16 kills and 14 digs to lead UW-Whitewater. Alyssa Bauer added 24 digs, Alyse Karls ran the offense with 49 assists and had 14 digs and Caitlin Hogan and Melissa Zuleger each had 13 kills.

UW-Whitewater held advantages of 56-50 in kills, 51-45 assists and digs 83-76. UW-Oshkosh posted advantages of .161-.131 in hitting percentage. Each team had three service aces, with the Titans incredibly not missing a serve in the match, while the Warhawks only had two serving miscues.

The match was attended by 674 spectators, the largest regular-season crowd in UW-Oshkosh history.