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Women's Volleyball

Riley Kindt had four kills on six errorless attempts in one set played against Hollins University.
Riley Kindt had four kills on six errorless attempts in one set played against Hollins University.

Five-Set Victory Advances Titans To WIAC Tournament Semifinal

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Carissa Sundholm recorded 16 kills and 14 digs, and Emma Kiekhofer and Kalli Mau produced double-doubles of their own, as UW-Oshkosh secured a spot in the semifinals of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament (presented by Culver's) with a thrilling 3-2 triumph over UW-La Crosse during the first round Tuesday (Nov. 2) in Kolf Sports Center.

Fourth seeded UW-Oshkosh (19-11) seized control of a highly competitive match with nine consecutive points during the fifth set that turned a 7-5 deficit into match-point at 14-7. Courtney Pearson, who collected four of her six kills during the Titans' decisive string of nine unanswered points, concluded the match two points later with a termination that sends UW-Oshkosh to the WIAC Tournament semifinals for the 23rd time in the 33-year history of the event.

The Titans defeated fifth seeded UW-La Crosse (20-11) in set scores Tuesday of 12-25, 25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 15-8 to avenge a 3-2 loss to the Eagles on Sept. 22 in La Crosse. UW-Oshkosh has now ousted UW-La Crosse during the first round in two of the last three conference tournaments.

UW-Oshkosh advances to play in the semifinals Thursday (Nov. 4) at top seeded UW-Eau Claire (27-3). Thursday's other WIAC Tournament semifinal features second seeded UW-Whitewater (25-1) hosting third seeded UW-Stevens Point (26-6), which defeated sixth seeded UW-Platteville (13-16), 3-0, during the first round Tuesday. UW-Whitewater is ranked eighth in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association while UW-Eau Claire is 10th and UW-Stevens Point 22nd.

The WIAC Tournament final is set for Nov. 6. The winner of the league event earns the WIAC's automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Division III Championship that begins with first round matches Nov. 10-11.

UW-Oshkosh, playing its program record-tying 11th five-set match of the season, finished Tuesday's contest with advantages of 87-76 in digs and 8-6 in blocks. UW-La Crosse held edges of 57-53 in kills, .130 to .126 in hitting percentage and 5-4 in service aces.

Sundholm, who paced the Titans in kills for the 19th time on the year and tied a season best with 14 digs, hit .265 on 49 swings. The double-double was Sundholm's second straight, sixth this season and eighth career.

Kiekhofer collected 24 assists and a season best 16 digs while sharing UW-Oshkosh setting duties with Mau, who added 17 assists and 13 digs. The double-doubles were Kiekhofer's seventh on the year and 11th career, and Mau's team leading ninth this season.

Riley Kindt had eight kills for the Titans, who improved to 6-5 this season in five-setters, while Olivia Breunig and Kate Nottoli chipped in seven terminations apiece to go along with Courtney Pearson's six and Madyson Pearson's four.

Abby Fregien had 20 digs for the UW-Oshkosh backrow defense, which also received 12 digs from Amelia Hust. Raechel Russo accounted for a season high two of the Titans' four service aces.

UW-La Crosse's Emma Lawrence led all players with 23 kills on 70 attempts to go along with 14 digs. Lawrence's 70 swings are the most by a WIAC player this season.

Brianne Korducki contributed 12 terminations for the Eagles, who also received 20 assists from Megan Adams, 18 assists and 14 digs from Jackie Oetterer, 14 digs and four service aces from Sydney Fedderly, and 12 digs from Sophie Quelle.

UW-La Crosse cruised to a comfortable first set win, outhitting the Titans, .379 to .000, during the frame as the Eagles capped the frame with an 11-2 run.

The second set was tied for the ninth and final time at 21 before UW-Oshkosh closed out the frame with four of the last five points, including two on kills from Sundholm and Robyn Kirsch.

The Titans then stormed back to win the third set despite trailing, 20-17, following an attack error. A Sundholm kill sparked a UW-Oshkosh set ending run of eight consecutive points that were highlighted by a pair of Kindt terminations, kills from both Russo and Madyson Pearson, a double-block by Kindt and Madyson Pearson, and a Mau service ace.

UW-La Crosse knotted the match at two sets apiece after going on a 7-0 run in Set 4 for a 24-19 lead. UW-Oshkosh pulled within 24-22 following a pair of Courtney Pearson terminations and combination block by Kindt and Courtney Pearson. However, the Eagles remained alive after Korducki produced a kill on UW-La Crosse's fourth set-point.

The Eagles then jumped out to leads of 3-1 and 7-5 during the fifth set until the Titans responded with their 9-0 run that started with a UW-La Crosse service error. A double block by Nottoli and Courtney Pearson tied the frame at 7 ahead of a Russo service that gave the Titans an 8-7 lead they would not relinquish. The nine-point run continued with a combination block from Breunig and Nottoli, another Russo service aces and three consecutive Courtney Pearson terminations ahead of a Breunig kill that to set up match-point at 14-7. After a Lawrence kill, Pearson put the finishing touches on the victory with her fourth kill over UW-Oshkosh's final five points.

UW-Oshkosh's semifinal round match at UW-Eau Claire is set for 7 p.m. Thursday. UW-Eau Claire, which boasts a 10-1 home record this season, defeated the Titans by a 3-1 score Oct. 1 in Oshkosh to pick up its fourth straight win in the series with UW-Oshkosh.

2021 WIAC Women's Soccer Tournament Program - First Round

Photo by Steve Frommell, UW-Oshkosh Athletics