The UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team exchanged a pair of five-set wins to close out its own M.V.P. Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 10) in Kolf Sports Center. UW-Oshkosh defeated Bethel University (Minn.), 3-2, before suffering a 3-2 setback to Millikin University (Ill.).

UW-Oshkosh (8-2) extended its winning streak to six matches with a 25-17, 25-22, 17-25, 20-25, 15-11 victory over Bethel. Millikin (6-2) then beat the Titans in set scores of 25-17, 25-16, 17-25, 25-27, 15-12. UW-Oshkosh and Bethel (4-4) are receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll.

UWO 3, Bethel 2
Robyn Kirsch had a career-high 16 kills and Carissa Sundholm had a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs as the Titans fended off Bethel's comeback attempt. The double-double was Sundholm's first this season and ninth career.

Riley Kindt and Olivia Breunig added 15 and 10 kills, respectively, for the Titans, who also received 23 assists and 14 digs from Kalli Mau, 16 assists and 10 digs from Izzy Coon, 22 digs from Abby Fregien, and three service aces from Amelia Hust. Coon notched her first career double-double, while Mau now has three double-doubles this season and 12 career.

UW-Oshkosh owned a 63-51 advantage in kills and a 91-84 edge in digs.

Bethel's Kirstin Cotter collected a match-leading 20 kills and added 14 digs. Hannah Wilhite distributed 31 assists while Kelsie Sealock scooped up 28 digs for the Royals.

UW-Oshkosh never trailed in the first set after racing out to a 5-0 lead. The Titans then rallied from deficits of 19-16 and 21-19 to secure the second frame by scoring six of the final seven points. Kirsch, Breunig, Kindt and Sundholm pounded down kills on consecutive points as the Titans reclaimed a 23-21 advantage during the second set. Another termination from Sundholm two points later clinched the frame.

Bethel went on to hit .351 in the third set and .200 during the second frame en route to tying the match at two sets apiece. However, UW-Oshkosh seized control of the fifth set with four points in a row for a 10-6 cushion following a Kate Nottoli service ace and a combination block by Kindt and Hannah Moe on consecutive points. A double-block from Kindt and Sundholm gave the Titans match-point at 14-10, and a Breunig kill two points later sealed the victory.

Millikin 3, UWO 2
The Titans roared back from a two-set deficit and held a 12-11 lead in the fifth frame, but Millikin responded with the last four points to pull out the hard-fought win.

Sundholm led UW-Oshkosh with 14 kills while Mau amassed 21 assists to go along with a career-high 23 digs and six blocks directing the Titans offense. Fregien and Sophie Illman both established career best with 30 and 13 digs, respectively, for the Titans. Kindt contributed a match-leading seven blocks.

Millikin had three players with double-digit kill totals as Jessi Kreder produced 15 terminations, Kailee Itzenhuiser 13 and Tori Stuart 10. The Big Blue collected 113 digs, including 36 from Sophia Howell, 18 by Itzenhuiser, 17 from Stuart and 12 by Kaitlyn Skowronski.

The Titans forced a fifth set by rallying from deficits of 24-23 and 25-24 during the third frame. UW-Oshkosh sent the match to a decisive set following kills by Hust and Dahlquist ahead of a Big Blue attack error on the final three points.

UW-Oshkosh remains at home to host ninth-ranked UW-Whitewater in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener Tuesday (Sept. 13) in Kolf Sports Center.