RELEASED:  Saturday, November 17, 2007

Warhawks Fall Short In NCAA Women’s Volleyball Title Match

Bloomington, Ill.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s bid for a third NCAA Division III women’s volleyball title came up just short after falling to Washington University (Mo.) 25-30, 30-23, 22-30, 30-28, 13-15 in the national championship match at the Shirk Center on Nov. 17.

UW-Whitewater (36-5) claimed national titles in 2002 and 2005 and secured a second-place finish for the third time in program history (2000, 2001).

Game one was tied 8-8, but Washington University (33-5) 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, UW-Whitewater out-scored the Bears 6-1 for a 13-8 lead   From that point to the end of the game, the Warhawks 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 Washington, ending in the 30-22 victory to lead 2-1 in games.

UW-Whitewater grabbed a 4-0 advantage 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 the Warhawks 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, followed by a kill by Polk, pulled UW-Whitewater within one at 14-13, but the Bears got a kill to win the game, the match, and the championship.

Kelly Sorensen led UW-Whitewater with 16 kills, while Rebekah Nelson added 15 and Carley Polk contributed 14. Kate Lazotte dished out 57 assists and Abby Schultz had a team-leading 29 digs. Polk also contributed nine blocks (1 solo). 

The Warhawks’ Kate Lazotte and Kelly Sorenson were named to the All-Tournament Team.