Titans Sweep Vikings, Green Knights
UW-Oshkosh evened its women's volleyball season record with victories over a pair of Midwest Conference opponents on Wednesday (Sept. 11) in Kolf Sports Center.
The Titans (4-4) defeated Lawrence University by a 3-1 score in the opener. UW-Oshkosh took the match in set scores of 25-14, 22-25, 25-19 and 25-10.
UW-Oshkosh hit .305 against the Vikings (3-4) as Jordyn Bratel counted 16 kills, Nerissa Vogt 10 and Hayley Rickmeier nine. Alison Tomczyk contributed 28 assists and nine digs, while Jessica Fischer added 14 digs and six kills and Mandy Trautmann 22 digs and four assists.
UW-Oshkosh built a 15-7 lead in the first set and coasted the rest of the way. The Titans' largest advantage was the set's final score. Lawrence University marked 14-of-18 points to take a 17-12 lead in the second set. The Titans rallied to tie the score at 18 before the Vikings notched seven of set's final 11 points.
The third set featured UW-Oshkosh jumping out to an 11-4 lead. The Vikings got as close as 19-16, but the Titans scored the next two points to extinguish the threat. UW-Oshkosh then built leads of 10-2 and 19-8 in the fourth set. The set ended with the Titans scoring the final five points.
Lawrence University hit .065 and was led by the 10 kills and seven digs from Terese Swords, 27 assists and 10 digs from Diane McLeod and the 20 digs and three service aces from Kathleen Rowland.
In the nightcap, UW-Oshkosh swept St. Norbert College by winning sets of 25-22, 25-13 and 25-22.
The Titans were led by the 10 kills from Bratel and the nine from both Vogt and Katelyn Malcheski. Claire Tocco had a match-high 11 kills for the Green Knights.
UW-Oshkosh also received 20 assists and six digs from Tomczyk, 20 digs and three assists from Trautmann, 16 assists from Kyle Hodyl and 12 digs and four kills from Laura Trochinski.
St. Norbert College also acquired 25 assists and four digs from Kaitlin Delahaut and 12 digs from Stephanie Reed.
UW-Oshkosh fell behind 8-4 before bouncing back to tie the first set at 12. Danielle Stoppenbach earned six consecutive points on the serve to give the Titans a 20-16 lead. The scoring was back and forth for the remainder of the set, but the Titans never gave up the lead before scoring the final two points.
Three early scoring runs put UW-Oshkosh ahead 13-4 in the second set. The Titans then scored five consecutive points to go in front, 21-11, before eventually winning by 12.
The Titans once again jumped out to an early lead with a 9-4 start in the third set. St. Norbert College clawed back to take a 13-12 lead before the two teams began trading points.
In a set that featured 10 ties, the score was locked for the final time at 22 before UW-Oshkosh was able to mark the final three points and end the match.
UW-Oshkosh outhit St. Norbert College in the contest, .230-.210.
Next for the Titans will be the UW-Oshkosh Pizza Hut Classic in Kolf Sports Center. UW-Oshkosh faces Concordia University Wisconsin and North Central College (Ill.) on Friday (Sept. 13) before taking on Martin Luther College (Minn.) and Ripon College on Saturday (Sept. 14).
By Ryan Smith, UW-Oshkosh Sports Information