OSHKOSH, Wis.- For the fourth consecutive season, UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball will compete for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) championship after sweeping fifth-seeded UW-Platteville in Thursday's (Nov. 12) semifinal round inside Kolf Sports Center.
The Titans (25-4), ranked fifth in NCAA Division III by the
American Volleyball Coaches Association, earned the victory in set scores of 25-23, 25-20 and 25-19. Oshkosh, which captured its fourth consecutive outright WIAC regular season championship in October, advanced to the tournament championship match for the fourth straight season and will look to claim its sixth tournament title in program history.
Oshkosh recorded a .179 attack percentage with 38 kills and 18 errors on 112 total attacks. The Titans held the Pioneers (19-10) to a .098 hitting percentage with 32 kills and 21 errors on 112 swings. Oshkosh also led Platteville in assists (36-31), digs (50-47), service aces (7-4) and total blocks (7-5).
Grace Juergens (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Community), an All-WIAC selection for the second consecutive year, led Oshkosh with 10 kills and 13 digs for a double-double.
Samantha Perlberg (Chippewa Falls/Chippewa Falls), the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete and an All-WIAC honoree for the fourth time, followed with eight kills and a match-high 15 digs while adding a service ace.
Lauren Grier (Fond du Lac/Fond du Lac), also an All-WIAC selection, recorded six kills on a .308 hitting percentage and led the Titans with six block assists.
Clare McEniry (North Aurora, Ill./Rosary) added six kills on a .250 clip, while
Maren Motz (Hartland/Arrowhead Union) contributed four kills and five block assists.
Alex Hopp (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton Community) directed the offense with a match-high 18 assists and added a service ace, while
Ava Van Hammond (Kimberly/Kimberly) finished with 13 assists, seven digs and a match-high five service aces.
Callie Panasuk (Oak Creek/Oak Creek) contributed eight digs and three assists.
The opening set featured nine ties and five lead changes as both teams struggled to find offensive consistency. Oshkosh recorded 10 kills but committed nine attack errors on 42 swings for a .024 hitting percentage, while Platteville countered with 12 kills and 10 errors for a .050 clip. The Titans relied on their defense to remain within striking distance throughout the frame before edging the Pioneers, 25-23, to take the early advantage.
Oshkosh found its offensive rhythm in the second, putting down 14 kills with just four errors on 33 attacks for a match-best .303 hitting percentage. Juergens and Perlberg helped pace the Titan attack, while Grier and Motz contributed to a strong defensive presence at the net. The Pioneers recorded 10 kills and hit .147, but Oshkosh controlled the frame without surrendering the lead, taking the set, 25-20, to move within one of the championship match.
The Titans carried that momentum into the third, recording 14 kills with five errors on 37 swings for a .243 hitting percentage. Oshkosh's defense limited Platteville to 10 kills and forced six attack errors, holding the Pioneers to a .105 clip. Van Hammond continued to apply pressure from the service line, while Grier and Motz helped lead the defensive effort at the net. Oshkosh secured the final set, 25-19, to complete the sweep and clinch its fourth consecutive trip to the WIAC Tournament championship match.
The Titans will host two-seeded UW-Eau Claire in the WIAC Tournament championship match for the second consecutive season on Saturday (Nov. 14) at 7 p.m. inside Kolf Sports Center. Oshkosh, which defeated the Blugolds in five sets on Oct. 24 in Eau Claire, has won seven consecutive meetings against UW-Eau Claire and will look to capture its sixth WIAC Tournament title in program history. The winner will receive the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship.
