Sundholm Joins 1,000 Kills Club
Wauwatosa, Wis.- The No. 12 UW-Oshkosh Titans women's volleyball team won both of their matches on Saturday in Wauwatosa, as they faced the Carroll University Pioneers (Wis.) (14-15, 3-5 CCIW) and Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors (11-12, 7-6 NACC) in the 2022 Warrior Invitational.
With the two wins on Saturday, the Titans' winning streak has been extended to 19 matches, their longest since winning 29 straight in 2009. The team made it to 30 season wins as well, joining eight teams since 1998 to win at least 30 matches. Their most recent 30-plus win campaign was a 39-3 2009 season.
Titan Leaders
Sundholm led the Titans in both matches with 13 kills against Carroll and 14 kills against Wisconsin Lutheran. Riley Kindt was right behind her with 10 kills in both matches. Kalli Mau had the most assists in each match with 16 and 15, respectively. Amelia Hust tied a career high 6 aces against Carroll, last serving 6 aces at North Park Univ. (Ill.) on Oct. 16, 2021.
Pioneer Leaders
Katie Jensen led Carroll with 6 kills. Cora Riffle had a team-high 11 assists. Caitlin Laird had 12 digs, leading the team.
Carroll Set Summary
The Titans scored seven straight to start the first set against the Pioneers with three aces from Hust. The teams traded points for a few rallies after the start lost some steam before Oshkosh went on a four point kill run, with Izzy Coon assisting all four kills. After the run ended, the Titans were up 15-5. The teams went back to trading points after, with no team scoring more than two in a row. Oshkosh won the first set 25-10.
Set two was a similar start for the Titans, with them scoring six straight, this time getting three aces from Kalli Mau. After trading a couple points, the Pioneers went on a run of their own, scoring five-in-a-row to bring the score to 9-6. The Titans quickly rebounded win a Sundholm kill that started their own four-point run. Now up 13-6, the Titans traded points with the Pioneers the rest of the set; each team having a single three-point run the rest of the set. The Titans won set two, 25-15.
The Titans finished their sweep of the Pioneers with a 25-18 third set. Settling for a four-point opening run, the Titans scored two points in a row just once before finding themselves with a three-point lead after a kill from the Pioneer's Kaitlin Gawelski. Continuing the trend of the match, the Titans went on a four-point run to put the set and match out of Carroll's reach, ending the match with Hust's sixth ace of the day.
Warrior Leaders
Jenna Charron led Wisconsin Lutheran with 9 kills. Emily Sarles paced the team with 13 assists. Rebecca Chavez had 3 solo blocks to go with a block assist. Kayla Wigley had a team-high 16 digs.
Wisconsin Lutheran Set Summary
Wisconsin Lutheran put up a fight, not allowing the Titans to go on a long scoring run early in the set. They kept it within three until Oshkosh went on a 6-0 run to go up 11-3. After trading points to make the score 14-5, the Warriors went on an eight-point run to bring the set back within one. In that run, Kylee Gnabasik served three aces in a row. After a Gnabasik service error, the Titans would outscore the Warriors 11-6, scoring four points in a row then ending the match scoring five in a row. The last three points in the Titans' 25-19 victory were kills from Carissa Sundholm.
After tying up at two then getting back within one at 4-3, the Titans went on an 8-0 run to quickly put the set away. They would outscore the Warriors 13-5 the rest of the way in a lopsided 25-9 second set victory. Sundholm reached 1,000 career kills in the set as well, with a kill to make the score 16-4 from a set put up by Abby Fregien.
The Titans won their fourth match in a row in straight sets with a close 25-23 third set victory over the Warriors. Oshkosh scored six of the first eight points of the set before Wisconsin Lutheran scored three to make the score 6-5. The Titans responded by going on a 7-1 run. The teams didn't score more than three in a row again until the Warriors scored five to tie the set up late at 22. The Titans scored three of the next four points, and Sundholm finished off her career day with one last kill.
Sundholm Makes History
Carissa Sundholm eclipsed 1,000 career kills on Saturday with 27 kills on the day. She is currently at 1,007 kills, which places her at 14th in program history, joining thirteen other Titans in the 1,000 kills club. Her 441 season kills ties her with Cassie Uttech's 2002 season, good for 13th in program history.
WIAC Tournament Outlook
The Titans have secured the No. 2 seed in the WIAC tournament, so they will have a bye in the first round. They will play the winner of the No. 3/No. 6 match on Thursday at home in Kolf Sports Center.