OSHKOSH — The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic volleyball team (13-8, 1-3 WIAC) pushed No. 2 UW-Oshkosh (20-2, 4-0 WIAC) to five sets Wednesday night, rallying from a two-set deficit before falling 16-14 in the decisive set.
The Blue Devils dropped the opening two sets, 25-15 and 25-23, before responding with 25-20 and 25-23 victories to force a fifth set. Stout built a 14-12 lead in the final set but could not close out the upset, as the Titans scored the final four points.
Brooke McCune led the Blue Devils with 28 kills on .314 hitting, 10 digs and two solo blocks.
Oshkosh used a five-point run to break a 3-3 tie in the opening set and build a 15-8 lead. UW-Stout answered with four straight points on Kyra Giffen's serve, including kills by McCune and Stephanie Petrbok, to pull within 15-12. The Titans regained control and closed the set with three consecutive kills for a 25-15 win.
The Blue Devils created early separation in the second set before Oshkosh rallied to take a 15-11 lead. Kailey Kline's service turn helped Stout score four straight points, including back-to-back McCune kills and a block by Emma Barton and Sloan Horgan, to take a 16-15 advantage. Stout later moved ahead 20-19 on a Barton kill and two McCune blocks, but the Titans closed out the set 25-23.
Stout responded in the third set. Trailing 11-9, the Blue Devils put together a six-point run featuring a Horgan kill, consecutive Petrbok service aces and a block by Horgan and Brynn Hessel to take a 15-11 lead. After Oshkosh tied the set at 15-15, Stout won seven of the next eight points, highlighted by four McCune kills, to open a 22-16 advantage. Barton added kills at 23-18 and for set point at 24-19 before a Titans attack error secured a 25-20 victory for the Blue Devils.
McCune recorded three early kills in the fourth set, but Oshkosh built a 9-3 lead and later held a 12-8 advantage. Stout answered with kills by Addison Kessler and McCune to tie the set at 12-12, then moved ahead 16-13 behind consecutive Phoebe Kim service aces and a block by Barton and Hope Bushendorf. The Blue Devils trailed 20-18 before Giffen tied the set twice with kills and McCune evened the score at 22-22. McCune followed with two more kills to give Stout set point before delivering another kill to finish the 25-23 win and force a fifth set.
Stout carried its momentum into the deciding set, taking a 5-3 lead after consecutive Titans attack errors. McCune tied the score at 6-6 with a kill, and the teams traded points to 8-8 before Oshkosh moved ahead 12-10. The Blue Devils responded with four straight points, including three consecutive McCune kills, to take a 14-12 lead. The Titans answered with four consecutive points of their own to secure the 16-14 victory.
TOP PERFORMERS
Brooke McCune
- 30 points
- 28 kills on .314 hitting
- 10 digs
- Two solo blocks
Stephanie Petrbok
- 23 digs
- Two service aces
- One kill on one attempt
Lainey Todd
Kailey Kline
Emma Barton
- Five total blocks, including three solo
- Five kills
- 10.0 points
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils travel to Waverly, Iowa on Tuesday, Oct. 20 to face Wartburg College for a 6 p.m. match.
