The UW-Oshkosh women’s volleyball team kept its WIAC title hopes alive with a 25-15, 13-25, 25-23, 25-20 victory over UW-La Crosse on Wednesday (Oct. 8) in La Crosse.

UW-Oshkosh trails front runner UW-Eau Claire by one game in the loss column, with the Titans having one more conference match and the Blugolds four on their schedule.

Tied 13-13 in set one, UW-Oshkosh (21-2, 6-1 WIAC) went on an 8-0 scoring splurge to take a commanding 20-13 advantage. The Titans, ranked 11th in the NCAA Division III according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association, took the last three points of the set for the 10-point victory.

Set two was all UW-La Crosse (18-7, 3-2 WIAC) as they sprinted out to leads of 6-2 and 12-4 to start the stanza. After a short 3-0 run closed the gap to 14-8, UW-Oshkosh was outscored 7-2 to fall behind 21-10. Both teams traded side outs to go into the locker room tied at 1-1 in sets.

UW-Oshkosh responded after the break by storming out to a 10-3 cushion in set three. Trailing 15-7, the Eagles used a barrage of short serves to disrupt the Titans offense and knot the score at 17-17 after a 10-2 scoring run. Tied again at 22-22, UW-Oshkosh used a side out and then a service ace by Andrea Smith (So. • Fond du Lac) to take a 24-22 advantage. A kill by Ashley Sullivan (So. • De Forest) ended the set for the Titans after the Eagles closed to within 24-23.

Tied seven times in the early stages of set four, UW-Oshkosh inched out to a 16-12 lead after a kill and then a block by Kelsey Mauer (Fr. • Sheboygan Falls). The Titans’ cushion expanded to 20-14 and 23-17, and the Eagles could not get closer than four points the rest of the way as the match ended on a solo block by Smith. Christina Cahoon (So. • Watertown) added her fifth 30-plus dig performance of the year as she notched 33 to pace UW-Oshkosh.

Sullivan led the team with 15 kills and Mauer tallied 12 kills and four blocks. Smith finished the night with 10 digs, seven kills and four service aces and Stephanie Magnuson (So. • Lake Geneva) had 10 digs. Valerie Yost (Sr. • Oshkosh), honored before the match as the Titans’ lone senior, came off the bench to record six kills on 10 errorless attempts and produced four blocks.

Katie Reimer (Fr. • Fond du Lac) and Katelyn Vara (Jr. • New Berlin) split time at the setting position, producing 24 and 16 assists, respectively.

UW-La Crosse was led by Amber Schoonover who had 16 kills and 16 digs. Liz Schlobohm dished out 35 assists and added four service aces and Melannie Tate had 12 digs. Brianne Stankus had 12 kills and 12 digs and Elizabeth Carlisle had 13 digs.

The UW-Oshkosh women’s volleyball team suffered its first WIAC loss of the season in a 25-23, 25-17, 25-20 defeat to UW-Eau Claire on Saturday (Oct. 4) in Eau Claire. The loss marked the first 3-0 sweep of the season for the Titans.

With the win, UW-Eau Claire (12-9, 3-0 WIAC) remains the only unbeaten WIAC team in conference play as they go for their second conference title in three years. UW-Oshkosh shared the conference title with UW-Eau Claire in 2006 and also won the WIAC crown in 2005 with UW-Whitewater.

UW-Oshkosh (20-2, 5-1 WIAC) could not muster any offensive support for its left side hitters as Ashley Sullivan (So. • DeForest) and Andrea Smith (So. • Fond du Lac) combined for 22 of the Titans' 31 kills.

In its five-set victory over UW-Superior on Friday (Oct. 3), Kelsey Mauer (Fr. • Sheboygan Falls) and Jacque Ray (Jr. • Richland Center) tallied 31 kills, but were limited to just four total against the Blugolds. Sullivan led the Titans with 15 kills on 32 attempts and Smith had seven kills and six digs.

Christina Cahoon (So. • Watertown) continued her torrid hot streak in the back court with 15 digs and Katie Reimer (Fr. • Fond du Lac) dished out 17 assists. Danielle Swindell (Jr. • Hortonville) contributed three service aces and Katie Beining (Jr. • Brookfield) had seven digs.

The Titans, ranked 10th in the NCAA Division III according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association, was playing without kill leader Megan Fischer (Jr. • Manitowoc) who was injured in the match the previous night. The three-set loss was just the second for the Titans in their last 81 matches.

The UW-Oshkosh women’s volleyball team improved to 6-0 in five-set matches on the season in a 25-23, 25-17, 21-25, 24-26, 15-10 victory over UW-Superior on Friday (Oct. 3) in Superior.

With the win, the Titans have now recorded their 10th straight season of 20 or more wins.

UW-Oshkosh (20-1, 5-0 WIAC) won a close first set and dominated the second set to take a quick 2-0 lead in the match. Despite recording 15 kills in the third and fourth set, the Titans were forced to go to a fifth-set for the sixth time this year.

UW-Oshkosh dominated UW-Superior (6-10/0-4 WIAC) in the deciding set as Kelsey Mauer (Fr. • Sheboygan Falls) and Jacque Ray (Jr. • Richland Center) each had three kills. The pair combined for 31 kills in the match from the middle blocking position.

Christina Cahoon (So. • Watertown) set a new career-high with 35 digs in the match to pace the Titans. Mauer also set a new personal standard with 17 kills and added three solo blocks. Ray finished with 14 kills and five blocks and Andrea Smith (So. • Fond du Lac) had 15 digs, eight kills and six service aces. Katie Reimer (Fr. • Fond du Lac) set a career high with 55 assists and 15 digs and Katie Beining (Jr. • Brookfield) contributed nine kills and six digs. Stephanie Magnuson (So. • Lake Geneva) came off the bench for seven digs.

The Titans entered the contest ranked 10th in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. UW-Oshkosh hasn't lost to the Yellowjackets since the 1992 season.

WIAC women’s volleyball teams will participate in a “Dig for the Cure” promotion during the 2008 season in cooperation with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

Each of the nine WIAC teams will be involved in at least one “Dig for the Cure” event during the month of October. Student-athletes will solicit pledges for their own team’s digs with all of the proceeds being donated to the Madison Komen Foundation. The average digs for each WIAC team is close to 20 per set.

The following WIAC matches that will feature the “Dig for the Cure” promotion: UW-Oshkosh at UW-Superior (Oct. 3), UW-River Falls at UW-Stevens Point (Oct. 3), UW-Whitewater at UW-Platteville (Oct. 7), UW-Eau Claire at UW-River Falls (Oct. 8), UW-La Crosse at UW-Oshkosh (Oct. 8), UW-Superior at UW-Stout (Oct. 8), UW-Platteville at UW-La Crosse (Oct. 15), UW-Stevens Point at UW-Whitewater (Oct. 15), UW-Stout at UW-Eau Claire (Oct. 15).

During the designated matches, teams will wear pink warm-up shirts featuring the WIAC “Dig for the Cure” logo, pink shoe laces and pink hair ribbons.

“This promotion is another example of the emphasis that the WIAC and its member institutions place on the involvement of student-athletes in activities that benefit worthwhile causes”, commented WIAC Commissioner, Gary Karner. “Our volleyball teams are very excited to have the opportunity to partner with the Komen Foundation to increase awareness of breast cancer and raise funds that will hopefully lead to a cure of this dreaded disease”, added Karner.  

Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Nearly $1 billion has been invested to fulfill the promise of finding a cure, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

The UW-Oshkosh women’s volleyball team finished the first half of their WIAC slate undefeated with a 20-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-14 victory over UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday (Oct. 1) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (19-1, 4-0 WIAC), which entered the match ranked 10th in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, came back to win the match for the ninth time this season after losing the first set against the Pointers.

Tied at 13-13 in the first set, UW-Stevens Point (8-12; 0-3 WIAC) outscored UW-Oshkosh 7-3 to take a 20-16 lead. The Pointers held at least a three-point cushion in capturing the first set.

The Titans responded in set two, sprinting out to a 7-2 advantage. The Pointers closed to within 14-11 and 16-13 before UW-Oshkosh scored four out of the next five points to take a 20-14 lead. The Titans coasted from there to tie the match.

Set three was a back and forth affair with the score tied eleven times throughout the contest. Knotted at 15-15, UW-Oshkosh went on a 5-1 scoring run to take a 20-16 advantage. UW-Stevens Point responded with a four-point run to tie the score again at 20-20. The Pointers took a 22-21 lead before the Titans ended the set on a 4-1 scoring skein to take a 2-1 lead in sets.

UW-Oshkosh wasn’t threatened in set four, exploding to leads of 9-4 and 13-7. After trading side-outs, the Titans scored six straight points for a 19-8 advantage. The Pointers did not get closer than nine points the rest of way and were limited to a -.147 hitting percentage.

Megan Fischer (Jr. • Fond du Lac) led the Titans with nine kills, followed by Jacque Ray (Jr. • Richland Center) with eight. Christina Cahoon (So. • Watertown) scooped up 16 digs and Katelyn Vara (Jr. • New Berlin) dished out 22 assists and had three service aces. Andrea Smith (So. • Fond du Lac) led the team with six service aces as the Titans produced 15 in the match.

Jennifer Rueter led the Pointers with 15 kills and added eight digs. Amanda Mix tallied 18 digs and three service aces and Pam Nora had 15 digs and nine kills. Chantel York ran the offense to the tune of 31 assists and Michaela Rheineck had five blocks.

In what turned out to be the fourth consecutive five-set battle in the series, the UW-Oshkosh women’s volleyball team overcame conference-rival UW-Whitewater 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 15-13 on Wednesday (Sept. 24) in Whitewater.

UW-Oshkosh (15-0/3-0 WIAC) entered the match ranked ninth and UW-Whitewater (9-5/2-1 WIAC) 11th in the NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The two teams traded identical scores in the first two sets as they combined for 54 kills and a .347 hitting percentage to start the match. UW-Oshkosh forged out to a 2-1 advantage in sets as it dominated the third stanza. The Titans had 12 kills and hit .500 in the set as it held leads of 18-7 and 21-11 before settling for the eight-point victory.

The Warhawks responded by starting the fourth set with leads of 4-0 and 7-2. The Titans managed to tie the score at 11-11 before the Warhawks went on a 5-1 scoring run to grab a 16-12 advantage. UW-Oshkosh again responded to close to within 21-20 before UW-Whitewater tied the contest at 2-2 with a 4-2 run to set up the dramatic deciding set.

UW-Whitewater started the fifth set up 3-1 and 7-5 before UW-Oshkosh made the side switch leading 8-7. Both teams traded side outs until UW-Oshkosh led 10-9. From there, UW-Oshkosh relied on a skill they had been struggling with all night when Danielle Swindell (Jr. • Hortonville) scored three consecutive points, including one on a service ace to give the Titans a 13-9 advantage.

UW-Whitewater would not fold however, closing the gap to 13-11 before the Titans claimed a potential match point at 14-11 on a net violation by the Warhawks. After UW-Oshkosh’s missed another serve to make the score 14-12, UW-Whitewater inched to within one point after a hitting error on UW-Oshkosh.

Trailing 14-13, the Warhawks kept the contest alive with two digs in the rally before the Titans’ Kelsey Mauer (Fr. • Sheboygan Falls) finally ended the two-hour marathon on a kill from the middle. The victory by the Titans marked the six consecutive occasion that the road team has won the match in the series, with five of those matches going to the deciding fifth set.

Megan Fischer (Jr. • Manitowoc) led the Titans with 16 kills on 38 errorless attempts for a .421 hitting percentage. Christina Cahoon (So. • Watertown) had 17 digs and Katelyn Vara (Jr. • New Berlin) dished out 40 assists. Jacque Ray (Jr. • Richland Center) topped the team with seven blocks and Andrea Smith (So. • Fond du Lac) added nine kills and three blocks.

Keri Klotzbuecher led the Warhawks with 14 kills and Caitlin Hogan put down 10. Christina DeGroot added 32 assists and 11 digs and Alyssa Bauer had 22 digs.

UW-Oshkosh held advantages of 13-3 in blocks and .336 - .269 in hitting percentage. UW-Whitewater had cushions of 56-50 in kills, 59-40 in digs and 50-44 in assists. Both teams registered seven service aces with the Warhawks only committing eight missed serves compared to the Titans’ 21.

The UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team swept its second consecutive conference opponent in as many days, with a 25-11, 25-18, 25-22 victory over UW-River Falls on Saturday (Sept. 20) in Kolf Sports Center.

Before its 3-0 win over UW-Stout to open its conference slate on Friday (Sept. 19), UW-Oshkosh had played nine straight matches of three or more sets. UW-Oshkosh (14-0, 2-0 WIAC), ranked 10th in the NCAA Division III according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association found itself down 3-0 to start the first set before responding after trailing 5-2.

After a side-out, the Titans scored four more points on their serve for a 7-5 cushion. Tied 8-8, UW-Oshkosh scored 17 of the next 20 points, including the set's last ten points to take a 1-0 lead in sets in the contest.

Set two was similar to the first stanza as both teams were tied 9-9 before UW-Oshkosh scored nine of the next 12 points to take an 18-12 advantage. From there, the Titans coasted to a 2-0 set lead over the Falcons.

Set three was close throughout as neither team had more than a three point lead until the Falcons scored three consecutive points for a 16-11 bulge. Trailing 17-12, UW-Oshkosh closed the gap to 17-16 before UW-River Falls inched out to 21-19. The Titans put the match away by going on 6-1 scoring skein to end the contest.

In its second straight offensively balanced match, Megan Fischer (Jr. • Manitowoc) led the Titans with seven kills, with Kelsey Mauer (Fr. • Sheboygan Falls) adding six and Andrea Smith (So. • Fond du Lac) five. Katelyn Vara (Jr. • New Berlin) dished out 30 assists and added eight digs and Christina Cahoon (So. • Watertown) had a match leading 14 digs and tallied three service aces. Katie Beining (Jr. • Brookfield) topped the team with four service aces.

Kelsey Scheele contributed eight kills to lead the Falcons. Andria Vetsch had seven kills and Justine Speckel added four. No other UW-River Falls player had more than one kill. Mandy McKenzie scooped up seven digs and Becky Ponick had 12 assists and six digs.

UW-Oshkosh held leads of 34-22 in kills, 33-21 in assists and 11-1 in service aces. There were only five blocks in the match with UW-Oshkosh holding a small 3-2 advantage.

The UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team started its WIAC slate in dominating fashion with a 25-15, 25-20, 25-14 win over UW-Stout on Friday (Sept. 19) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh, who entered the match as the 10th ranked team in the NCAA Division III according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association, held advantage of 34-21 in kills, 12-4 in service aces and 11-1 in total blocks in the three-set sweep.

After UW-Stout (2-9, 0-1 WIAC) closed to within 12-10 in set one, UW-Oshkosh (13-0, 1-0 WIAC) went on a 13-5 scoring run to end the first set. The Titans committed nine hitting errors in the first stanza, but also held a 14-6 advantage in kills and totaled five service aces and four blocks.

Set two saw the Blue Devils inch to a 10-9 cushion before the Titans scored nine consecutive points to vault to an 18-10 lead. The Blue Devils responded with a five-point run of their own to close the gap to 18-15 before the Titans scored four straight points for a 22-15 advantage. UW-Oshkosh coasted from there for a 2-0 lead in sets.

UW-Oshkosh started the third-set up 4-0 and 8-2 before UW-Stout came back to within 13-8. Again the Titans went on a big scoring run, this time a seven-point skein to lead 19-8. The Titans cruised from there as both teams traded side-outs until the final margin.

UW-Oshkosh, who beat UW-Stout for the sixth consecutive time, was led by Kelsey Mauer (Fr. • Sheboygan Falls) with seven kills on 12 attempts and five blocks. Christina Cahoon (So. • Watertown) had a match-high 14 digs and Andrea Smith (So. • Fond du Lac) had six service aces and six digs. Katelyn Vara (Jr. • New Berlin) and Katie Reimer (Fr. • Fond du Lac) shared setting duties with 18 and 13 assists, respectively.

Steph Nichols led UW-Stout with seven kills. Allie Moir tallied nine digs and Kim Labat had 16 assists and six digs.