Titans Conclude Polito's Classic Unbeaten
Amelia Hust, Riley Kindt and Carissa Sundholm each earned all-tournament team honors to lead the UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team to a pair of home victories on the final day of the Polito's Classic Saturday (Sept. 11) in Kolf Sports Center.
UW-Oshkosh (7-2) extended its winning streak to five matches after claiming the last three sets to slip past Edgewood College, 3-2, and sweeping a 3-0 decision over Wisconsin Lutheran College. The Titans defeated Lake Forest College (Ill.) in three sets during their home opener Friday (Sept. 10) and completed a 3-0 run through the Polito's Classic with Saturday's wins against in-state nonconference rivals.
The Titans have now won their last five meetings with Wisconsin Lutheran College and last eight contests with Edgewood College. UW-Oshkosh edged Edgewood College on Saturday in set scores of 25-27, 20-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-10 and swept Wisconsin Lutheran College in scores of 25-17, 25-20, 25-21.
Hust, the reigning Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, has paced UW-Oshkosh in digs every match this year, including with a season-best 32 during the victory versus Edgewood College.
Sundholm and Kindt collected 22 and 21 total kills, respectively, Saturday as Kindt hit .429 on the day.
During their comeback win over Edgewood College, the Titans held advantages of 56-55 in kills, .207 to .165 in hitting percentage, 20-9 in blocks and 11-5 in service aces. The Eagles had a 97-88 advantage in digs. The 20 blocks were UW-Oshkosh's most since registering 24 during a five-set win against Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) on Oct. 14, 2016.
The Titans held the Eagles to a .022 hitting percentage during the third set before hitting at a .333 rate of their own over the final two frames to complete the comeback.
Kindt led the way with 14 kills on .462 hitting and 26 swings while Kate Nottoli added a career-best 10 terminations, Sundholm had nine, Madyson Pearson eight, Courtney Pearson seven and Olivia Breunig six. Kindt accounted for eight total blocks, Nottoli played a role in five, and Madyson Pearson and Brynna Mayer both recorded four.
Sundholm owned three of the Titans' service aces while Hust, Fregien and Becky Brezen each chipped in two. Hust's 32 digs were the most by a Titan since Rachel Gardner scooped up 32 during the 2019 season finale. Fregien also matched a season high with 11 digs.
Kalli Mau distributed 25 assists and Emma Kiekhofer dished out 16 in co-piloting the balanced Titan offense.
Amanda Carlson and Mackenzie Doherty led three Eagles (7-3) in double figures with 11 kills apiece while Abigail Hoffman contributed 10.
Edgewood College's team leaders also included Taylor Salmon with a match-best 31 assists and Lea Bunch with 34 digs.
In the triumph over Wisconsin Lutheran College, Sundholm established a season high with 13 kills while Kindt and Nottoli followed with seven apiece, and Breunig with five. Sundholm, who hit .423 against the Warriors, has how reached double-digit kills in five matches this year.
UW-Oshkosh owned advantages of 40-31 in kills, .218 to .121 in hitting percentage, 54-50 in digs, 7-6 in blocks and 4-3 in service aces.
Mau registered 21 assists and Kiekhofer 12 in sharing Titan setting duties.
The UW-Oshkosh defense was led by the 19 digs from Hust and the six total blocks by Nottoli.
Wisconsin Lutheran College (1-6) received 11 kills from Jenna Charron, 18 assists from Emily Sarles, 19 digs from Ally Goba and five blocks from Rebecca Chavez.
UW-Oshkosh opens WIAC play at nationally ranked UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Sept. 15). The Warhawks entered the week ranked 19th in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
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Photo by Steve Frommell, UW-Oshkosh Athletics