Rachel Gardner helped the Titans defeat their two Minnesota opponents by totaling 28 digs and three service aces.
Rachel Gardner helped the Titans defeat their two Minnesota opponents by totaling 28 digs and three service aces.

Titans Reach 20 Wins With Sweep Of Minnesota Foes

UW-Oshkosh defeated a pair of Minnesota opponents by 3-0 scores to wrap up play at the Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament on Saturday (Oct. 15) in Eau Claire.

The Titans swept the University of Minnesota Morris in sets of 25-16, 25-18, 25-19 and Martin Luther College by results of 25-12, 25-20, 25-22. UW-Oshkosh has won all four meetings with Martin Luther College and both of its two matchups with the University of Minnesota Morris since 1995.

UW-Oshkosh (20-5), ranked 21st in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, reached 20 wins for the fifth straight season and the 17th time in the past 18 years.

After splitting a pair of matches against Minnesota programs on Friday (Oct. 14), UW-Oshkosh concluded its trip to Eau Claire with a 3-1 record. On Friday, the Titans eked past Gustavus Adolphus College, 3-2, and suffered a 3-1 setback to 24th-ranked University of Northwestern-St. Paul.

UW-Oshkosh's Samantha Jaeke earned a spot on the eight-member All-Tournament Team at the Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament. Jaeke collected 36 kills, 22 blocks, 14 digs and 12 service aces during four matches and 15 sets played over the weekend.

In the win over the University of Minnesota Morris (10-13), Tina Elstner led the Titans with nine kills on 18 errorless attempts.

Jaeke and Carly Lemke added eight kills apiece for the Titans, who also received six kills from Shannon Herman, five kills from Nerissa Vogt, 33 assists from Lexi Thiel and 18 digs from Rachel Gardner. Vogt and Lemke contributed six and five blocks, respectively.

UW-Oshkosh hit a season-high .395 by totaling 41 kills against just seven attack errors.

The Titans held considerable advantages in kills (41-30), hitting percentage (.395 to .109), service aces (8-4), digs (42-35) and blocks (10.5 to 0).

The Cougars' Marissa Ekness had a match-high 16 kills while Layne Herrmann amassed 25 assists and Katie Reitsma collected 18 digs.

In the straight-set win over Martin Luther College, Brooke Brinkman led all players with 14 kills on just 24 swings as 15 Titans saw action.

Elstner chipped in six kills and three service aces while Thiel had 26 assists, five kills and two service aces, and Jaeke registered five kills, four blocks and two service aces.

Gardner and Laura Trochinski sparked the UW-Oshkosh back row with 11 and nine digs, respectively.

UW-Oshkosh owned advantages in kills (38-23), hitting percentage (.168 to .097), service aces (9-2) and digs (56-26). After mustering just 10 kills in both of the first two sets, the Titans recorded 18 in the final frame.

Martin Luther College (9-19) was led by eight kills from Kira Grev, 12 assists from Heidi Moldenhauer, five digs from Emily Byhardt and Emily Neeb, and four blocks from Rylee Weisensel.

UW-Oshkosh concludes its regular-season home schedule against 13th-ranked UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday (Oct. 19) in Kolf Sports Center.