Senior night proved bittersweet for the women of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team when they defeated the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titans, 3-2, during the last home volleyball game of the season, Oct. 22.

Amongst a crowd of 300 spectators, Seniors LeeAnne Mizgalski, Andrea Larson and Sara Kolb celebrated a victory over the Titans after an intense five set mash-up.

Sophomore middle hitter, Lidia Frias, lead the Pioneers with 14 kills and seven blocks.

Freshman outside hitter, Merritt Johnson, recorded 12 kills while Lindsey Decker, sophomore libero, and Katie O’Malley, junior setter, had 12 or more digs each.

Jennifer Schmidt, junior outsider hitter, also performed 13 kills and 11 digs.

The first set was troublesome for the Pioneers as they trailed the Titans throughout the duration of the set. With 28 total attacks, 14 kills and five errors, the Pioneers tallied a .321 hitting percentage, giving Oshkosh the win, 25-19.

Oshkosh began the second set with five consecutive points. After a timeout, the Pioneers rebounded and tied it up, 5-5. Platteville then trailed behind Oshkosh until halfway through the set, 11-10.  The Pioneers maintained the lead for the rest of the game. With 29 total attacks and 12 kills, the Pioneers took the set 25-20.

Tied with one win and one loss, the Pioneers began the third set under Titan lead. After six serves, Platteville was able to obtain the lead over Oshkosh. Platteville only observed one error throughout the set among 16 kills, the highest amount throughout the game. With an astonishing hitting percentage of .625, the Pioneers dominated the Titans with a score of 25-14.

The Titans were able to steal an early lead in the fourth set. Platteville was able to tie the set 7-7. Platteville attacked UW-Oshkosh and was able to finish the set 21-25, forcing a fifth set.

With a tied set score, Platteville obtained the lead over Oshkosh until a tie at 8-8 The teams fought neck-and-neck until a Titan error allowed the Pioneers regain the lead. The set resulted in a 15-12 Pioneer victory.

“All I remember thinking throughout the game was that I could not let my team down,” Frias said. “They had a good offense, so I knew I needed to match that.”

UW-Platteville will play the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers in Stevens Point at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.