OSHKOSH Wis.- The UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team tied the best start in program history, with a sweep of UW-Platteville on Wednesday night (Oct. 25) at Kolf Sports Center.
The record was previously set by the 2009 team at 29-0. The 2009 squad won the WIAC regular season title and finished third in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Wednesday's win also guaranteed Oshkosh at least a share of the WIAC regular season title.
The Titans (29-0, 6-0 WIAC), ranked No. 2 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, swept the Pioneers (19-7, 4-2 WIAC) with set scores of 25-20, 25-16 and 25-22.
Robyn Kirsch (Jr. • Wausau) led the team with 10 kills. Izzy Coon (So. • Fond du Lac) and Kalli Mau (Sr. • Kimberly) were the team leaders in assists at 22 and 13, respectively. Sami Perlberg (Fr. • Chippewa Falls), nine, and Abby Fregien (Fr. • Waukesha), eight, led the team in digs.
In the first set, Oshkosh jumped out to a 4-1 lead behind three kills from Perlberg. The Pioneers, however, made it a little tough as they had an answer for every Titan run. In the end, the Titans never gave up the lead as they claimed the set one win.
The second set was again all Titans as Oshkosh jumped out to a 7-1 lead to start the set, assisted by five Pioneer attack errors. The Titans handled a big rally as Platteville cut the Oshkosh lead down to 14-13 before responding with a 6-1 run with three combined kills from Kirsch and Riley Kindt (Sr. • Brookfield). The Titans finished the set win in dominating fashion.
Oshkosh trailed for the first time during the match as Platteville scored the first point of set three. The Pioneers did not lead for long, however. After the teams traded punches to start the set, Oshkosh scored five-straight for a 10-5 lead. After that, Oshkosh never relinquished the lead as it was able to close out the set and the match.
The Titans will return next Tuesday (Oct. 31), for their final home game of the regular season at Kolf Sports Center. They will face Alverno College at 7 p.m. for Senior/Parents Night.
