RIVER FALLS Wis.- UW-River Falls gave the UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team a competitive match on Friday night (Oct. 20), but the Titans' record remains unblemished after a five set win.
The Titans (27-0, 5-0 WIAC), staying at No. 2 in this week's United Volleyball Coaches Association poll, edged out the Falcons (17-8, 2-3 WIAC) in a 3-2 win with set scores of 25-22, 25-18, 24-26, 11-25 and 15-8. Sami Perlberg (Fr. • Chippewa Falls) and Riley Kindt (Sr. • Brookfield) led the team in kills on the night, as Perlberg recorded 13 and Kindt notched 12. Kalli Mau (Sr. • Kimberly) and Izzy Coon (So. • Fond du Lac) led the team in assists, with both recording 20. Abby Fregien (Jr. • Waukesha) paced the Titans with 13 digs, followed by Amelia Hust (Sr. • Verona) with 11.
Titans never trailed in the first set, jumping out to a 9-5 lead to start the set thanks to two kills each from Perlberg, Kindt and Robyn Kirsch (Jr. • Wausau). The Falcons never allowed the Titans to pull away as they had an answer for every Oshkosh run, however they were never but ahead as Oshkosh won set one.
Oshkosh jumped out to another 9-5 lead behind two kills from Perlberg and four Falcon attack errors in the second set. Unlike the first set, the Titans never allowed the Falcons to get the score closer than five points.
Set three was back and forth, as neither team could build a lead higher than two points. Oshkosh was in position for the match win with a 24-23 lead before the Falcons went on a three-point spurt to take the set.
The Falcons owned the fourth set, cruising to a 2-2 set tie and forcing Oshkosh's fourth five-set match of the season.
As they have done all season long, the Titans once again did not let adversity get the best of them. The Falcons tried their best to upset the Titans, keeping the score close until Oshkosh pulled away on a 9-2 run to win the set and match. Riley Dahlquist (So. • Sussex) scored the match winning point with an ace.
The Titans will return to action Saturday (Oct. 21) for the UW-Stevens Point Papa Johns Invite, as they face North Park University (Ill.) at 4 p.m.
