Titans Split With Gorloks, 14th-Ranked Lady Reds

The UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team split a pair of 3-1 decisions at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational on Saturday (Oct. 24), defeating Webster University (Mo.) before falling to 14th-ranked Carthage College in Kolf Sports Center.

The Titans (25-5) won over Webster University (17-9) in set scores of 25-13, 22-25, 25-22, 26-24. Carthage College (24-3) defeated UW-Oshkosh in set scores of 25-14, 25-17, 19-25, 25-14.

Katelyn Malcheski had a season high 19 kills on .357 hitting to lead the Titans past Webster University. Malcheski recorded her 1,000 career kill in the second set and ended the night with 1,025.

UW-Oshkosh held advantages over Webster University in kills (54-46), hitting percentage (.205 to .172), assists (51-39), service aces (7-4), digs (78-71) and blocks (10-8).

Laura Trochinski registered 12 kills and 12 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Allison Rueger added a career-high 10 kills. Lexi Thiel recorded a match-high 44 assists and 10 digs for her sixth double-double in the last eight contests. Mandy Trautmann, who entered the week ranked sixth in the NCAA Division III in digs, collected a match-best 23.

Leading 8-7 in Set 1, UW-Oshkosh scored five straight points on two kills, two blocks and one service ace. The Gorloks, who hit .069 in the set, never got closer than five the remainder of the frame.

Webster University tied Set 2 for the 10th time at 15 and built a 20-15 advantage on a six-point run. UW-Oshkosh pulled within 23-21, but a Titan service error and a Gorlok kill sandwiched around a Malcheski kill evened the match.

Trailing 12-11 in the third set, UW-Oshkosh scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 19-14 lead. Webster University answered with two four-point runs and tied the Titans at 21. Consecutive kills by Malcheski and Rueger and a Gorlok attack error provided three UW-Oshkosh points. A Webster University kill preceded a Brooke Brinkman kill on the final set point.

Webster University recorded three kills and one service ace for an 18-15 advantage in the fourth set. Trailing 20-18, the Titans tallied three straight points on a Gorlok blocking error, a service ace by Danielle Stoppenbach and a combo block by Rueger and Brinkman. The teams exchanged the next seven points for a 24-24 score before consecutive kills by Nerissa Vogt and Malcheski ended the match.

Jenny Howard led Webster University with 14 kills. The Gorloks also received 17 assists and 12 digs from Katie O'Toole.

In the nightcap, Carthage College trailed for just three points in opening a two-set advantage. UW-Oshkosh responded with a convincing Set 3 victory, but the Titans hit -.031 in the final frame.

UW-Oshkosh, which fell to 10-2 at home this season, went into the match with a 10-0 record in four-set matches.

Carthage College had advantages over UW-Oshkosh in kills (51-38), hitting percentage (.266 to .148), assists (49-36), service aces (7-0) and digs (56-39). The Titans recorded nine blocks to the Lady Reds' eight.

Carthage College went on a nine-point run for a 9-2 lead in the opening set and had a match-best 17 kills on .483 hitting. The Lady Reds scored five straight points for a 7-3 edge in Set 2 and led by at least three points the rest of the way.

Tied at 4 in the third set, UW-Oshkosh registered eight of the next 11 points. The Lady Reds tied it at 17, but Malcheski had three kills and one solo block during a six-point run to put the Titans ahead, 23-17. Carthage College responded with the next two points, but consecutive kills by Malcheski and Rueger forced a fourth set. The Titans recorded 16 kills in the third set on .333 hitting.

Trailing 2-0 in Set 4, the Lady Reds claimed the next seven points and never looked back.

Carthage College's Mallory Parsons led all players with 16 kills. The Lady Reds' Karen Chin added a match-high 43 assists and 14 digs.

Malcheski led UW-Oshkosh with 12 kills. The Titans also obtained 30 assists and eight digs from Thiel and 15 digs from Trautmann.

The Titans conclude play at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational against Iowa opponents Wartburg College and Loras College on Saturday (Oct. 25).