OSHKOSH, Wis.- The nationally fifth-ranked UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team will begin its pursuit of a sixth WIAC Tournament championship on Thursday (Nov. 12) when the top-seeded Titans host fifth-seeded UW-Platteville in the semifinal round at 7 p.m. inside Kolf Sports Center.
UW-Oshkosh (24-4, 6-1 WIAC) enters the tournament after capturing its 17th WIAC regular-season championship and fourth consecutive outright conference title, becoming the first program since 1983 to accomplish the feat. The Titans, who opened the season with 11 consecutive victories, have recorded six wins over nationally ranked teams or teams receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.
The Titans are seeking their sixth WIAC Tournament championship and second consecutive tournament crown, looking to capture back-to-back titles for the first time since the 1990 and 1991 seasons. The winner of the conference tournament will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship.
Offensively, UW-Oshkosh is led by
Samantha Perlberg (Chippewa Falls/Chippewa Falls), who has totaled 370 kills (3.52 per set) this season, while
Grace Juergens (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Community) has added 317 kills (3.05 per set) and a team-leading 34 service aces. Perlberg became the program's all-time kills leader in the rally-scoring era, which began in 2008, with her 13th and final kill against the University of Northwestern (Minn.) on Sept. 19, surpassing Katelyn Malcheski.
Lauren Grier (Fond du Lac/Fond du Lac) leads the Titans with a .353 hitting percentage and 118 total blocks, while
Callie Panasuk (Oak Creek/Oak Creek) has collected a team-high 404 digs (4.04 per set).
UW-Oshkosh has accumulated 1,374 kills (13.09 per set) and 176 service aces in the regular season while hitting .220 as a team. Defensively, the Titans have recorded 1,710 digs (16.29 per set) and 218 total blocks (2.08 per set), holding opponents to a .126 hitting percentage.
UW-Platteville (19-9, 3-4 WIAC) advanced to the semifinal round after rallying from a two-set deficit to defeat fourth-seeded UW-Whitewater, 3-2, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday (Nov. 10). The Pioneers are led offensively by Brooklyn Radecke, who has totaled 334 kills (3.09 per set), while Bria Johnston has added 288 kills and a team-leading 36 service aces. Delali Amankwa leads Platteville with 727 assists, while Kennedey Barber has collected a team-high 458 digs.
The Titans defeated the Pioneers, 3-1, in their regular-season meeting on Oct. 28 in Platteville, winning by set scores of 25-15, 25-15, 20-25 and 25-14. UW-Oshkosh enters Thursday's matchup with an 8-1 record inside Kolf Sports Center this season, while Platteville holds a 6-3 record in road contests. The Titans have won 12 of the last 13 matches in this series.
Should UW-Oshkosh advance past UW-Platteville, the Titans would host the WIAC Tournament championship match on Saturday (Nov. 14) at 7 PM inside Kolf Sports Center.
