Titans Give Pointers All They Can Handle

UW-Stevens Point jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the fifth and deciding set as it defeated UW-Oshkosh in the semifinal round of the WIAC Women's Volleyball Tournament held Friday (Nov. 2) in Stevens Point.

The 20th-ranked Pointers registered the 3-2 victory in set scores of 25-21, 14-15, 25-15, 18-25 and 15-8. UW-Stevens Point (29-6) advances to play UW-Eau Claire (24-11) in the championship match of the six-team WIAC Tournament on Saturday (Nov. 3) in Stevens Point.

UW-Stevens Point scored 10 of the first 13 points in the fifth set. The Pointers then allowed two straight points before finishing off the Titans with a 5-2 scoring run.

The first set featured 11 ties before UW-Stevens Point built a 20-16 lead. UW-Oshkosh pulled to within 22-21, but the Pointers ended the set with three straight points.

Morgan Liebetrau (Sr.• West Bend) served the last nine points as UW-Oshkosh won the second set. The Titans trailed 10-9 before jumping ahead by a 16-13 score.

UW-Stevens Point blew the third set open by going on a 10-2 scoring run to take a 17-7 lead. The Pointers went in front, 21-11, before concluding the set with a pair of points.

The fourth set was all UW-Oshkosh as the Titans built leads of 12-2 and 20-9. UW-Oshkosh ended the set with two straight points.

UW-Oshkosh hit just .073 for the match. The Titans received 11 kills from Larissa Krumplitsch (Sr. • Appleton) and 10 from Jordyn Bratel (Jr. • Milwaukee). UW-Oshkosh also acquired 36 assists, 13 digs and three service aces from Liebetrau and 11 digs from Robyn Eggert (Jr. • Woodridge, Ill.).

UW-Stevens Point hit .159 for the contest. Morgan Bartkowiak and Kati Rau led the Pointers with 10 kills each. The Pointers also benefited from the nine kills from Emma Brunkhorst, 39 assists from Alexis Hartman and 14 digs from Sarah Wildish.