OSHKOSH — The third time was not the charm for UW-Whitewater’s women’s volleyball team.
After losing to Carthage College twice during the regualar season, the Warhawks again fell short against the Redmen in the NCAA Division III regional semifinals here Friday. Whitewater bounced back from 25-23, 25-17 losses in the first two games with 25-19 and 25-23 victories, but Carthage took the tie-breaker, 15-8, for a 3-2 win in the five-set match.
The victory sent Carthage (32-4) into tonight’s 7 o’clock title match against UW-Oshkosh (39-2) at Kolf Sports Center.
Oshkosh, the WIAC tournament champion, advanced to the regional final by beating Heidelberg (Ohio), 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-22).
Whitewater, the national runner-up to Washington University of St. Louis last year, finished with a 30-10 record after earning an at-large NCAA berth as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s fourth-place team. It marked the fourth season the Warhawks won 30 matches under coach Stacy Boudreau.
The Warhawks were making their 17th consecutive post-season appearance and 21st since the school joined the NCAA in 1981.
Liz Benzschawel had 14 kills and Melissa Zulegar added 12 kills to lead Whitewater against Carthage. Alyssa Bauer posted 34 digs, the seventh highest single-match total in Whitewater history. Janesville Craig graduate Sophia Sanchez had eight kills and eight digs for the Warhawks.
CARTHAGE 3, WHITEWATER 2
Carthage College 25 25 19 23 15
UW-Whitewater 23 17 25 25 8
Carthage (aces, kills, assists, digs, blocks)—Jordan Burkholder, 0-5-0-0-7; Rachel Swoboda, 0-8-1-8-7; Lauren Dembkowski, 1-11-0-11-5; Cindy Cavanagh, 0-7-0-3-8; Michelle Madeja, 0-14-0-0-1; Drewann Pancratz, 1-3-27-4-0; Amanda Durkin, 0-0-0-4-0; Katie Lundgren, 2-0-0-34-0; Sarah Carlino, 6-0-24-12-0; Kate Flanagan, 2-0-24-11-0; Emily Stein, 2-9-2-3-1. Totals: 14-57-78-75-29.
UW-Whitewater (aces, kills, assists, digs, blocks)—Keri Klotzbuecher, 0-5-1-6-3; Caitlin Hogan, 2-10-1-4-2; Jillian Neave, 0-2-49-10-4; Melissa Zulegar, 0-12-1-1-8; Liz Benzschwel, 1-14-1-9-6; Sofia Sanchez, 0-8-1-8-4; Alyse Karls, 0-0-1-13-0; Stacy Karls, 1-0-0-10-3; Kelly Sorensen, 2-5-0-12-3; Alyssa Bauer, 2-1-1-34-0. Totals: 8-57-56-101-33.
NCAA Division III
volleyball
OSHKOSH REGIONAL
At Kolf Sports Center
Results Thursday
Quarterfinals
UW-Whitewater def. Calvin College, 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 25-14)
Carthage def. St. Norbert, 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 25-21, 17-25, 15-6)
Heidelberg, Ohio def. Hope, Mich., 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 27-29, 25-19, 15-7)
UW-Oshkosh def. Lakeland, 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-19)
Results Fruday
Semifinals
Carthage def. UW-Whitewater, 3-2 (25-23, 25-17, 19-25, 23-25, 15-8)
UW-Oshkosh def. Heidelberg, 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-22)
Match Today
Carthage (32-4) vs. UW-Oshkosh (39-2), 7 p.m.
ST. THOMAS REGIONAL
At St. Paul, Minn.
Results Thursday
St. Benedict, Minn. def. Simpson Iowa, 3-1 (24-26, 25-10, 25-16, 25-15)
UW-Eau Claire def. Gustavus Adolphus, Minn., 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-21)
Concordia-Moorhead, Minn. def. Loras, Iowa, 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 15-11)
UW-La Crosse def. St. Thomas, Minn., 3-2 (25-22, 17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13)
Matches Today
Semifinals
St. Benedict def. UW-Eau Claire, 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 28-26)
Concorida-Moorhead def. UW-La Crosse, 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-18)
Match Today
St. Benedict (28-6) vs. Concordia-Moorhead (22-5), 7 p.m.