Titans Conquer Lady Reds
Tina Elstner and Samantha Jaeke recorded double-doubles as the UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team defeated Carthage College, 3-1, at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational on Friday (Oct. 20) in Kolf Sports Center.
UW-Oshkosh (15-14), which snapped a three-match losing streak to Carthage College (15-8), won Friday's contest in set scores of 20-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-22.
Elstner registered 14 kills, 12 digs and three blocks while Jaeke had eight kills, 22 assists, 15 digs and three blocks.
Elstner, who registered her ninth double-double of the season and 20th of her career, tallied a double-digit kill total for the 21st time this season, including her eighth straight match with at least 12 terminations.
Jaeke now has a team-leading 11 double-doubles on the year to go along with a pair of triple-doubles.
Shelby Coron contributed six kills and five blocks for the Titans, who also received six kills and three blocks from Renee Rush, 21 assists from Rebecca Doughty, a match-high 18 digs from Rachel Gardner, and four kills, four blocks and a career-best four service aces from Carly Lemke.
UW-Oshkosh concluded the contest with advantages in hitting percentage (.240 to .160), assists (44-42), service aces (8-4), digs (77-52) and blocks (13-5). Carthage College owned a 47-44 edge in kills.
The Titans, who trailed for just one total point during the second and fourth sets, outhit the Lady Reds during each of the final three frames, including a .370 to .139 margin in the fourth set.
Carthage College took the lead for good in the opening set at 12-11 on a kill. The Lady Reds' lead-changing termination sparked a 7-1 scoring run that extended their advantage to 19-12. UW-Oshkosh closed to within 23-20, but a pair of Titan errors stymied the comeback attempt.
Leading 8-6 in the second set, UW-Oshkosh scored 10 of the next 11 points for an 18-7 lead. The decisive scoring run featured two service aces by Katie Hodges and another ace by Doughty. The Titans collected five blocks in the frame, including a double-block by Coron and Brianna Witter on the third set-point.
The third set was tied for the ninth and final time at 16 as UW-Oshkosh scored eight unanswered points to claim a 22-16 advantage. The Titans trailed, 16-14, before responding with kills from Coron and Rush, and a pair of service aces from Lemke during their eight-point surge. Carthage College cut its deficit to 22-19, but UW-Oshkosh answered with a kill by Rush, and Elstner capped the set with a kill four points later.
UW-Oshkosh scored the first three points of the fourth set and extended its lead to 10-3 on a solo block by Rush. The Lady Reds recorded a kill to pull within 14-12, but Carthage College's ensuing serve went out of bounds, and a kill by Elstner and a block by Lemke provided the Titans a 17-12 lead. UW-Oshkosh reached match-point at 24-19 following a kill from Rush. The Lady Reds cut their deficit to 24-22 before Elstner concluded the match with a kill.
Carthage College's Shannon Kebisek and Ellie LeCount led all players with 15 kills and 28 assists, respectively. Kebisek added 11 digs while Luci Krenzke paced the Lady Reds with 13 digs.
The Titans conclude the UW-Oshkosh Invitational on Saturday (Oct. 21) by taking on Bates College (Maine) and University of Northwestern (Minn.). University of Northwestern, which advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Championship a year ago, is currently ranked ninth in the country by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.