Titans Move To Semifinal Round Of NCAA Championship
Convincing wins in both the second and third sets propelled UW-Oshkosh to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship with a 3-1 victory over Christopher Newport University (Va.) on Thursday (Nov. 19) in University Heights, Ohio.
UW-Oshkosh, ranked second in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, took the quarterfinal round match from its first-time opponent in set scores of 21-25, 25-13, 25-14, 25-21.
With the win, UW-Oshkosh (39-2) remains in University Heights to meet top-ranked Juniata College (Pa.) at 7 p.m. (EST) on Friday (Nov. 20). The Eagles (35-3) swept Trinity University (Texas) on Thursday in set scores of 25-16, 27-25, 25-23.
UW-Oshkosh and Juniata College met earlier this season, with the Titans posting a 3-2 win over the Eagles on Oct. 31 in San Antonio, Texas. UW-Oshkosh lost a 3-0 decision to Juniata College (Pa.) in the quarterfinal round of last year's NCAA Division III Championship.
Other quarterfinal round winners on Thursday were Washington University (Mo.) and Hope College (Mich.). Both teams recorded 3-1 victories as Washington University defeated Colorado College and Hope College ousted Tufts University (Mass.). Fourth-ranked Washington University (32-4) and sixth-ranked Hope College (34-3) battle at 4:30 p.m. (EST) on Friday in the other semifinal round contest.
The national championship match of the 62-team tournament takes place at 7 p.m. (EST) on Saturday (Nov. 21).
Christopher Newport University (36-7) overcame an early 5-3 deficit to grab the first set from UW-Oshkosh. The Captains tied the score at six and tallied 12 of the next 15 points to take an 18-9 lead. UW-Oshkosh closed to within 23-21, but Christopher Newport University ended the set with two straight points.
The teams split the first four points of the second set before UW-Oshkosh staged a 17-5 scoring run to take a 19-7 lead. The Titans remained in control the rest of the way, finishing the set on a kill by Katelyn Vara (Sr. • New Berlin).
UW-Oshkosh pulled away from a 9-9 tie in the third set with a 16-4 scoring spree. The Titans counted eight straight points during the run to take a 24-12 lead. UW-Oshkosh ended the set on a kill by Katie Beining (Sr. • Brookfield).
Christopher Newport University built an 8-6 lead in the fourth set, but UW-Oshkosh answered with seven consecutive points to take a 13-8 lead. The Captains rallied back by recording 11 of the next 17 points, but the Titans closed the set with an 8-2 scoring run, including a match-ending kill by Jacque Ray (Sr. • Richland Center).
UW-Oshkosh outhit Christopher Newport University, .165-.046. The Titans also posted advantages of 52-39 in kills, 6-2 in service aces, 91-70 in digs and 12-11 in blocks.
Ray led the Titans by hitting .375 with 17 kills, nine blocks and eight digs. UW-Oshkosh also received 11 kills, 10 digs and two service aces from Beining, 10 kills, 16 digs and two service aces from Andrea Smith (Jr. • Fond du Lac), 40 digs from Christina Cahoon (Jr. • Watertown) and 38 assists, six digs and four kills from Vara.
Christopher Newport University was led by the .526 hitting percentage, 11 kills and 11 blocks from Caitlyn Jansen. The Captains, who concluded their seventh NCAA Division III postseason appearance, also received 27 assists, 19 digs and six kills from Jessie Heavenrich, five kills and 11 digs from Cory Harris and 18 digs from Abby Hogge.