Titans Handcuffed In Season Debut

UW-Oshkosh struggled with consistency as it dropped 3-of-4 volleyball matches at the season-opening Northwestern College Invitational on Thursday and Friday (Sept. 1-2) in St. Paul, Minn.

The Titans (1-3) notched a win over Northwestern College (Minn.) in their first action before losing to UW-River Falls, Wisconsin Lutheran College and Bethel University (Minn.).

Winning the second, fourth and fifth sets, UW-Oshkosh battled for a 16-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21, 15-11 victory over Northwestern College (0-1). The Titans used 17 kills from Morgan Nick (Fr. • Fond du Lac) to compile a team hitting percentage of .135. Morgan Liebetrau (Jr. • West Bend) totaled a match-best 43 assists, while Robyn Eggert (So. • Woodridge, Ill.) contributed 21 digs and Jordyn Bratel (So. • Milwaukee) 20. Northwestern College was paced by 17 kills from Chelsea Koth and 43 assists from Krista Stoltz.

UW-River Falls dominated the first two sets on its way to a 25-12, 25-18, 15-25, 25-23 triumph over the Titans. The Falcons had four players register double-digit kills, led by 12 each from Erin Green and Kayla Slaikeu. UW-Oshkosh hit .209 while getting a dozen kills from Bratel, 30 assists from Liebetrau and 19 digs by Eggert.

Wisconsin Lutheran College took its match to the limit, finally prevailing by a 26-24, 19-25, 25-16, 21-25, 15-13 tally. The Titans hit .400 during the fourth set to force a deciding game. UW-Oshkosh out-hit Wisconsin Lutheran College, .225-.117, but lost the kills category, 55-47. Nick slammed a match-high 18 kills as Bratel and Danielle Stoppenbach (Fr. • Burlington) booked 16 digs apiece. Kayla Ridgeman kept numerous points alive for WLC in recording 25 digs.

UW-Oshkosh was hampered by 32 hitting errors in its 25-19, 14-25, 25-23, 25-16 defeat to Bethel. Both teams hit .000 in the fourth set, but Bethel University compiled a 50-43 overall edge in kills. The Titans' .154 hitting featured nine kills on 17 attacks by Heidi Gors (Jr. • Madison). UW-Oshkosh also received 27 assists from Maddie Ogden (Sr. • Sheboygan), while Bethel University rode the 34 assists by Kate Smith.

Bratel was selected to the all-tournament team after marking 41 kills, 62 digs and nine blocks in the four matches. The Titans were led by Eggert in digs (77) and Nick in kills (46). Liebetrau ended the event with 112 assists and 25 digs. UW-Oshkosh averaged 10.67 kills per set to post a .176 hitting percentage.

The Titans open up their home schedule against UW-Stevens Point and Elmhurst College (Ill.) on Wednesday (Sept. 7).