Titans Register Wins Over Muskies, Pioneers
Katelyn Malcheski led the team in kills in both matches as nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh defeated Lakeland College and Carroll University in women's volleyball matches held Tuesday (Sept. 8) in Sheboygan.
UW-Oshkosh (7-1), ranked 21st in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, won by set scores of 25-17, 25-17, 17-25, 25-23 over host Lakeland College and 25-12, 25-19, 25-19 over Carroll University.
Malcheski had 13 kills against Lakeland College and a season-best 19 kills, including 12 in one set, on .395 hitting against Carroll University.
In the opening match against Lakeland College, Laura Trochinski contributed her 10th career double-double with 10 kills and 16 digs. Nerissa Vogt added nine kills and a match-best six blocks, and Malcheski chipped in five blocks. Lexi Thiel dished out 30 assists and added 17 digs for her 13th career double-double, while Mandy Trautmann paced the Titan back row with 21 digs.
The Titans trailed on just the opening point during the first set and closed the second frame with a 12-2 run, including nine consecutive points after falling behind, 15-13. The Titans received kills from four different players and a pair of combination blocks by Malcheski and Vogt during the nine-point skein.
Lakeland College never trailed while winning Set 3 on the strength of 18 kills. The Muskies built a 20-12 advantage before UW-Oshkosh tallied four straight points, but Lakeland College marked five of the last six points to claim the set.
The Muskies led, 15-10, in Set 4, but UW-Oshkosh scored four consecutive points on three Muskie errors and another double block by Malcheski and Vogt. Trailing 18-15, the Titans seized control of the match with an eight-point run that included two kills and a solo block by Malcheski and a combination block by Malcheski and Tina Elstner. Lakeland College fended off three consecutive match points to climb within 24-23, but a service error by the Muskies ended the contest.
Lakeland College's Caleigh Galvan had a match-high 38 digs, which set a new program record for a four-set match. The Muskies also received a match-high 17 kills and 14 digs from Allison Errthum and 11 kills apiece from Kathy Flanagan and Brittini Scoles. Taylor Levitt led all players with 44 assists and added 16 digs.
Lakeland College held advantages in kills (55-45), service aces (4-2) and digs (107-93). UW-Oshkosh outhit the Muskies, .153 to .128, and had a 12-4 edge in blocks. The Titans' block total established a new season high.
Against Carroll University, the Titans compiled a .481 hitting percentage in the first set before Malcheski took over in the second frame with 12 kills, including terminations on five straight points that provided UW-Oshkosh with a 17-8 cushion. Kills by Malcheski accounted for eight of the Titans' nine points during one span of the second set, and her final kill of the frame came on set point.
UW-Oshkosh carried the momentum into the third set as the Titans never trailed. Tied at 9, UW-Oshkosh scored four consecutive points on three Pioneer attack errors and a service ace by Vogt. Back-to-back double blocks put UW-Oshkosh ahead, 20-13, and Brooke Brinkman's kill completed the sweep.
The Titans hit a season-best .324 and amassed 44 kills compared to a .118 hitting percentage and 33 kills for Carroll University.
Thiel had 34 assists, nine digs and three kills in six errorless attempts, while Trautmann led the Titans with 12 digs.
Carroll University received 13 kills from Kelly Sloyan followed by Caitlin Dolan with nine kills. Taylor Kuehl amassed 29 assists and eight digs for the Pioneers, who accumulated a season-low three blocks and committed nine service errors.
UW-Oshkosh hosts the 11-team Pizza Hut Classic on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 11-12) in Kolf Sports Center. The Titans play Wisconsin Lutheran College and Concordia University Wisconsin on Friday and St. Catherine University (Minn.) and Dominican University (Ill.) on Saturday.
Photo courtesy of Lakeland College Sports Information