Three nationally-ranked teams collide when UW-Oshkosh hosts the final four matches of the 2009 WIAC Women's Volleyball Tournament this weekend in Kolf Sports Center. Competition begins Friday (Nov. 6) with two semifinal round games and concludes on Saturday (Nov. 7) with the third-place and championship contests.

UW-Oshkosh (34-1), which went unbeaten against its eight WIAC opponents during the regular season, is the No. 1 seed in this year's six-team tournament. The Titans earned a first-round bye and will open tournament play against fourth-seeded UW-Eau Claire (29-6) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The Blugolds qualified for their semifinal round match with UW-Oshkosh by defeating fifth-seeded UW-River Falls (20-15), 22-25, 19-25, 27-25, 25-23, 15-7, on Tuesday (Nov. 3) in the first round.

UW-Whitewater (29-6) is seeded second in this year's tournament. The Warhawks received a first-round bye and will begin tournament action against third-seeded UW-Platteville (22-12) at 5 p.m. on Friday. The Pioneers advanced to their semifinal round contest with UW-Whitewater by ousting sixth-seeded UW-Stevens Point (13-22), 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23, on Tuesday in the first round.

The winner of the two semifinal round matches will compete in the championship contest at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. A third-place game will be held at noon on Saturday.

The WIAC Tournament champion receives the league's automatic bid to the 62-team NCAA Division III Championship. (More)

The WIAC has named UW-Oshkosh's Ayla Mitchell (Sr. • New Richmond) as its 2009 Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the sport of women's cross country.

Mitchell captured the individual title as UW-Oshkosh finished third at the WIAC Women's Cross Country Championship held Oct. 31 in Whitewater. She also finished first at the meet in 2007 and second in 2008.

With her latest victory, Mitchell becomes the fifth UW-Oshkosh runner to claim multiple WIAC titles. She joins three-time champion Tiffany (Speckman) Ebensperger (1994, 1996-97) and two-time winners Laura Horejs (1990-91), Cheryl Niederberger (1987-88) and Liz Woodworth (2003-04). (More)

Middle blocker Jacque Ray (Sr. • Richland Center) of the UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team has been named the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division III National Player of the Week for her performance in matches held Oct. 26-Nov. 1.

Ray led UW-Oshkosh to wins over three ranked squads at the Trinity University Invitational held Oct. 30-31 in San Antonio, Texas. UW-Oshkosh, which entered the tournament ranked second in the NCAA Division III by the AVCA, tallied wins of 3-0 over eighth-ranked Wittenberg University (Ohio), 3-0 over 18th-ranked Trinity University (Texas) and 3-2 over top-ranked Juniata College (Pa.).

Ray, who received NCAA Division III All-America third team honors a year ago, was named the tournament's outstanding player after hitting .410 with 43 kills, 14 blocks, three digs and two assists.

In UW-Oshkosh's 25-21, 25-16, 26-24 sweep of Wittenberg University on Oct. 30, Ray hit .409 with 12 kills and four blocks. (More)