UW-Whitewater's Volleyball Championship Page

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater lost to Washington University (MO) 3-2 (30-24, 23-30, 30-22, 28-30, 15-13) in the championship match of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Women's Volleyball Championship at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. 

"I am proud of the way we handled many different pressure situations, like the way were able to battle back and take game four, forcing game five," UW-W coach Stacy Boudreau said.  We are very proud of the effort the girls had tonight."

Game one was tied 8-8, but Washington went up 15-10 and maintained the lead the rest of the way, holding a five point bulge three times.

With the score 7-7 in game two, Whitewater out-scored the Bears 6-1 for a 13-8 lead   From that point to the end of the game UW-W managed two seven point leads.

Game three was tied nine times, the last at 18-18.  From that point on it was a 12-4 margin for WU, ending in the 30-22 victory to lead 2-1 in games.

Whitewater grabbed  4-0 lead in the fourth game and never gave up the lead.  However, the Bears tied the game at 28-28 before a service error and a hitting error put the last two points on the board for UW-W and evened the games at 2-2.

The decisive fifth game had just one lead of more than two points, and that was 14-11 Washington.  A block by Carley Polk (Dousman/Mukwonago), followed by a kill by Polk, pulled UW-W within one at 14-13, but Wash U got a kill to win the game, the match, and the championship.

Kelly Sorensen (Madison/Memorial) led UW-W with 16 kills, with Rebekah Nelson (Delavan/Williams Bay) 15 and Carley Polk (Dousman/Mukwonago) 14. Kate Lazotte (Stoughton/Stoughton) passed for 57 assists, and Abby Schultz (Appleton/Kimberly) led the team with 29 digs. Polk also contributed nine blocks (1 solo). 

It was a great experience," Polk said.  Two top teams meeting, and we've been here twice so we can't complain.  We left it all out on the court and it is still an awesome feeling."

 

The team stats were as close as the game scores. Washington hit .163, Whitewater .123. UW-W had nine service errors, Wash U thirteen. Ball-handling errors were 2-3 in Whitewater's favor, and the Bears led in reception errors, 3-4. 

UW-W ends the season 36-5, and Washington closes the season 33-5.

Five seniors concluded their career at UW-W, compiling a 145-21 record in their tenure. 

"Our players have some big shoes to fill," noted Boudreau.  The best thing about our seniors is their leadership.  They really brought the team together and explained what they wanted to do this year.  The team wasn't made up of individuals.  We will miss their leadership and the big hitters and blockers, but we are really excited for the girls coming up."

Whitewater was making its sixteenth consecutive NCAA III tournament appearance. The Warhawks have finished first, third and second the last three years. 

 

UW-Whitewater had defeated Washington earlier this season, winning 3-1 September 15 in a tournament hosted by the Bears.