Titans Split Matches For Second Straight Day

The UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team split two matches at the Pizza Hut Classic on Saturday (Sept. 12) in Kolf Sports Center.

The Titans (9-3) defeated St. Catherine University (Minn.), 3-0, by set scores of 25-13,-25-21,-25-21 in the first match of the day before Dominican University (Ill.) downed UW-Oshkosh, 3-1, by set scores of 25-19, 25-23, 21-25, 25-19.

UW-Oshkosh, ranked 21st in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, concluded its home tournament with a 2-2 record, including a 3-0 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran College and a 3-2 setback to Concordia University Wisconsin on Friday (Sept. 11).

In Saturday's first match, UW-Oshkosh raced out to a 12-2 lead over St. Catherine University in the opening set that featured 17 kills by the Titans to just eight for the Wildcats. The Titans received four kills apiece by Brooke Brinkman and Katelyn Malcheski in the first frame.

The second set was tied for the 10th time at 12 before UW-Oshkosh scored three consecutive points on a kill by Nerissa Vogt, an attack error and a combination block by Vogt and Laura Trochinski. The Titans maintained their lead the rest of the set, but St. Catherine University pulled within one point one three occasions. A kill by Allison Rueger gave the Titans a 22-18 advantage, and a termination by Malcheski gave UW-Oshkosh the set victory.

Trailing 19-18 in the final set, UW-Oshkosh earned its first lead of the frame at 20-19 on back-to-back kills by Brinkman and Trochinski. The duo sparked a six-point run that included three straight Wildcat errors and a block by Vogt for a 24-19 advantage. A service ace by St. Catherine University made the score 24-21, but Trochinski preserved the Titans sweep with a kill on the following point.

Malcheski led the way with 13 kills, followed by Trochinski with nine kills and Brinkman with eight.

UW-Oshkosh held advantages in kills (44-37), digs (74-62), blocks (7-3) and hitting percentage (.277 to .099).

Lexi Thiel had 38 assists and nine digs for the Titans, who also received 23 digs from Mandy Trautmann and 15 digs from Eilish Regan. Brinkman contributed a team-best three blocks.

Amber Zeiher had 11 kills for St. Catherine University (4-2). Hayley Levenhagen and Maria Davis dished out 21 and 14 assists, respectively, for the Wildcats while Shanee Herd compiled a match-high 25 digs.

In UW-Oshkosh's final match of the weekend, Dominican University's Alex Kisten pounded down 22 kills and Carri Chambers added 19 kills on 50 errorless attempts to lead the Stars to the upset win.

Dominican University's Christina Wilson ran the Stars' high-powered offense with a season-high 60 assists to go along with 11 digs.

Chambers and Caitlen Foote both contributed a team-best 22 digs.

Dominican University (6-1) had 71 kills and hit .272 while UW-Oshkosh managed 46 kills on a .192 rate. The Stars racked up 19 kills in Set 1, 18 in Sets 2 and 4 and 16 in Set 3.

Malcheski led the Titans with 14 kills. Brinkman had 10 kills and four blocks, while Vogt contributed 10 kills on .526 hitting and a match-high five blocks.

Thiel compiled her 15th career double-double with 36 assists and 16 digs. Trautmann registered a match-best 28 digs and two service aces.

Brinkman and Trautmann were named to the 16-member all-tournament team. Brinkman had 31 total kills on .294 hitting and 19 blocks during the Titans' four matches over the weekend while Trautmann amassed 99 digs in 15 sets played for an average of 6.6 digs per set.

Joining Brinkman and Trautmann on the Pizza Hut Classic all-tournament team were Klaudia Basierak from the University of Dubuque (Iowa); Danielle Benusa, Kariana DeYoung and Kortney Morrin from The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.); Hannah Buntrock from Marian University; Halie Ferry from St. Norbert College; Rebecca Gasper and Lexi Pingel from UW-River Falls; Kisten from Dominican University; MacKayla Menges from Wisconsin Lutheran College; Kaily Moegenburg and Lauren Nevinski from Concordia University Wisconsin; Alison Renz from Maranatha Baptist University; and Amber Zeiher from St. Catherine University.

Although no team champion was determined, The College of St. Scholastica concluded the Pizza Hut Classic with a 4-0 record. Dominican University, which only participated in Saturday's slate of matches, went 2-0.

[Pizza Hut Classic Schedule and Results]

UW-Oshkosh remains at home to face Ripon College on Tuesday (Sept. 15) at 7 p.m. in Kolf Sports Center.