Titans Oust Pioneers In WIAC Opener

The UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team won its WIAC opener for the eighth time in nine years with a 3-1 victory over UW-Platteville on Friday (Sept. 20) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (9-4/1-0 WIAC) took the contest in set scores of 25-20, 19-25, 25-22 and 25-21.

Jessica Fischer led UW-Oshkosh with 10 kills, while Hayley Rickmeier and Nerissa Vogt tallied eight each. Fischer also counted 10 digs and Rickmeier four service aces.

The Titans, who hit .162 for the match, also received 19 assists and 14 digs from Alison Tomczyk, 11 assists and nine digs from Alexis Thiel and 28 digs from Mandy Trautmann.

UW-Platteville (5-8/0-1 WIAC) owned a pair of match bests as Jennifer Schmidt totaled 16 kills and Katie O'Malley 38 assists. The Pioneers also received 12 kills from Leeann Mizgalski and 24 digs from Lindsey Decker.

UW-Platteville out hit UW-Oshkosh in three of the four sets and finished hitting .184.

The first set was back and forth, featuring eight ties. The score was locked up for the final time at 13 before the Titans reeled off five consecutive points to take a 22-16 lead.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the second set and managed to stay in control throughout.

UW-Oshkosh bounced back to claim the third set. Trailing 19-16, the Titans took a time out and proceeded to score nine of the next 12 points.

The Titans built leads of 9-3 and 16-7 in the fourth set. UW-Platteville fought back to within 22-20, but the Titans were able to close out the set and take the match.

UW-Oshkosh, which has defeated its last eight opponents, continues WIAC play with a matchup against UW-Superior on Saturday (Sept. 22) in Kolf Sports Center.

By Ryan Smith, UW-Oshkosh Sports Information