The Warhawk volleyball team, ranked twenty-third according to the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, swept twenty-fourth ranked UW-Platteville 3-0 (25-18, 31-29, 25-21) in the annual Dig Pink/Breast Cancer Awareness match Tuesday night in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Box Score
Photo Gallery (courtesy of Andrew Smith; all photos are for sale)

The first set went back-and forth before a 6-2 Warhawk run gave Whitewater some breathing room. The Warhawks used an 18-8 kill advantage to take set one 25-18.

Whitewater jumped out to a commanding lead in set two going on an 11-2 run to start the set. Platteville battled back with a 15-4 streak of its own to take the lead 19-17. An offensive battle ensued with each team trading kills until UW-W put together back-to-back kills from Sofia Sanchez (Janesville/Craig) and Leanna Lillge (Ixonia/Watertown) to take the second set 31-29 and a 2-0 match lead. The 31-29 win was the longest set Whitewater has played since a 32-30 loss to St. Olaf College in the Simpson Invite October 15 of last season.

Again the Warhawks jumped out to a quick double figure lead at 15-5 but the Pioneers refused to fold putting an 11-3 streak together to pull to within two points. Whitewater held off UW-P winning the final set 25-21.

UW-W pounded down 52 kills in the match, the most of any three set match this season. Defensively, Whitewater posted 73 digs which ties for the second highest this season in a three set match.

Three Warhawks recorded double digit kills led by Lillge's 14. Alivia Holman (South Beloit, IL/Rockton Hononegah) posted 12 and Sanchez added 11. Similarly, three Whitewater defensive players recorded double figure digs led by Kelli Trautmann (Seymour/Little Chute)'s 24, her best in a three set match this season. Sanchez dug up 16 and Kelsey Nobilio (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) added 12. Heidi Buss (Cedarburg/Cedarburg) dished out the majority of assists setting up Warhawk hitters 43 times for a kill.

Samantha Rampart led UW-P with 14 kills. Libero Brooke Nichols posted 21 digs, Platteville's team high in the match.

The Warhawks improve to 16-5 overall and 4-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Pioneers fall to 17-9 overall and 3-2 in league play.

Whitewater will travel to Naperville, Illinois to compete in the Tiffany Robinson Memorial Tournament hosted by North Central College Friday-Saturday, October 14-15. For more information please visit North Central's tournament website.