UW-Oshkosh To Host 12-Team Pizza Hut Classic
Three unbeaten teams and one nationally ranked squad are among the 12 women's volleyball participants in this weekend's UW-Oshkosh Pizza Hut Classic in Kolf Sports Center.
Competition begins Friday (Sept. 12) with matches at 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Action continues on Saturday (Sept. 13) with contests at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The event features four courts, with each team playing two matches per day.
With an 8-0 record, UW-Oshkosh is off to its best start since beginning the 2009 season with a 29-0 mark. The Titans captured the WIAC title that year and marched to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Championship.
UW-Oshkosh's eight victories this season feature 3-0 sweeps of Concordia University Texas, Carroll University and Lakeland College. The Titans own 3-2 wins over Texas Lutheran University and Edgewood College.
Brooke Brinkman and Katelyn Malcheski lead the Titans with 90 kills apiece, while Nerissa Vogt follows with 53. Morgan Cizauskas has contributed 229 assists and Mandy Trautmann 161 digs.
Also heading into the tournament unbeaten are Concordia University Wisconsin and Maranatha Baptist University.
Concordia University Wisconsin, which plays UW-Oshkosh at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, improved its record to 5-0 with last Saturday's (Sept. 13) victory over Lawrence University. Maranatha Baptist University raised its record to 9-0 with Thursday's (Sept. 11) triumph over Milwaukee School of Engineering. The Sabercats have won all nine of their matches this season by 3-0 scores.
The College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) is the only nationally ranked team competing at the Pizza Hut Classic. The Blazers are ranked 14th in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association with their 3-2 record.
Completing the list of this year's Pizza Hut Classic competitors are Dominican University (Ill.) (3-2), Finlandia University (Mich.) (2-6), Lawrence University (2-6), Martin Luther College (Minn.) (2-7), Ripon College (7-2), St. Catherine University (Minn.) (6-3), The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) (2-5) and UW-Superior (6-4).
UW-Oshkosh's other match on Friday is against St. Catherine University at 7:30 p.m. The Titans play Dominican University at 12 p.m. and Ripon College at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
A 16-member all-tournament team will be announced following Saturday's matches. A team champion will not be declared.