The UW Oshkosh women’s volleyball team managed to overcome its loss last Wednesday after the team by picking up three straight wins on the road over the weekend while only dropping one set out of 10 played.

The Titans opened the weekend against UW-River Falls Falcons in a WIAC conference matchup Friday night.

UWO played their second-straight conference match in one week, winning over the Falcons three sets to one. Both teams came into the match with an 0-4 record in conference play and desperately seeking a win.

The two teams were evenly matched with the first three sets going to extra points, but the Titans put the Falcons away 25-22 in the fourth and final set of the match. UWO senior Samantha Jaeke led the team with 11 kills in the match, hitting .360 overall. UWO won the match 27-25, 24-26, 26-24, 25-22. UWO improved their conference record to 1-4 after the win.

The team then traveled to the University of Northwestern in Saint Paul, Minnesota to take on the host team and Saint Mary’s University. UWO swept both teams in three sets.
In the morning match, the Titans took on St. Mary’s University and dominated the first two sets in overall hitting percentage, limiting St. Mary’s to under .150 and out-blocking them as well with 11.5 total team blocks. UWO finished off the Cardinals 25-20, 25-23, 25-20. Senior Tina Elstner lead the team with 12 kills while junior libero Rachel Gardner had 18 digs and Rebecca Doughty had 23 assists in the match.

Gardner has career highs in multiple statistics including digs, kills and blocks and reflected on her stellar season to date.

“I think what has helped me this year is being able to settle into my position, having the experience each year in the same role has helped me not only have more confidence, but also my overall skill has improved every year,” Gardner said.

In the third and final match of the weekend, UWO recorded their third-straight win, taking on the host team Northwestern. The Titans took their team up to the next level after playing a tight first set winning 25-23. UWO dominated in the second set, hitting .393, compared to the .062 that the Eagles hit, 25-18.

The Eagles tried to prevent the Titans from the sweep when they led 22-21 in the third although the teams tied the set up two more times before Carly Lemke finished the Eagles off with a service ace, winning 25-23.

UWO freshman Taylor Allen had an impressive match, hitting .538 with seven kills in the match. The Titans have improved their record 13-12 overall and 1-4 in the WIAC. UWO will head to Mequon for the Concordia University Wisconsin Invitational on Friday, Oct. 19 and 20.

Titans return home to Kolf Sports Center to take on UW-Platteville at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24.