Oshkosh Wins National Championship (4-16-06)
The UW-Oshkosh men's volleyball team captured their first NIRSA Division I national championship by defeating four opponents on Saturday (April 16) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Wisconsin Volleyball Conference and Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association saw its second member win the title in as many years as Marquette University won the crown last season.
The Titans won the opening round defeating the #22 ranked University of Utah 25-16, 25-21 to advance to the elite eight for the fourth consecutive year. Mike Semrad (Sr. - Waukesha), Jeff Thomas (Sr. - Madison) and Nathan Sederberg (So. - Racine) each had eight kills as the team had a total of 33 in the two games.
Aaron Wayne (So. - New Berlin) and James Bradley (So. - Racine) added four digs each and Andrew Sederberg dished out 31 assists and Semrad had three blocks against the Utes.
In the elite eight the Titans were led by Semrad who had 14 kills on 16 attempts with only one error as they defeated #17 Santa Clara University 28-26, 25-23. Nathan Sederberg added six kills and Matt Lewin (Sr. - Cudahy) added two solo blocks.
UW-Oshkosh fought back from a 21-18 deficit to pull out the tight first game and then was paced by Semrad's ten kills on 11 attempts in the second game to pull out the close two game match.
In what turned out to be the contest of the tournament UW-Oshkosh turned in a titanic effort and prevailed over the #5 ranked University of Illinois 14-25, 25-17, 23-21. Last year the Titans also met the Illini in the national semifinals and won in three games to advance to the national finals. It was the fourth consecutive year that the University of Illinois lost in the semifinals.
After two blowouts in the first two games the deciding game was tight throughout until the Illini pulled out to a 12-9 advantage. After a sideout by the Titans, Lewin came up with a block and a kill by Thomas tied the game at 12-12. From there the University of Illinois took a one point advantage before UW-Oshkosh tied the score again at 13-13.
Both teams traded points until UW-Oshkosh went ahead 18-17 and had a chance to seal the match before a hitting error tied the match again at 18-18. After a lift call on the Titans put the Illini up by one the Titans received another kill by Semrad to tie the game again at 19-19.
The Illini went up again 20-19 before a clutch kill by Nathan Sederberg force another knotted score at 20-20. Trading points again the Titans went ahead 22-21 after a dig by Wayne and a kill by Lewin. The Titans ended the marathon match when Lewin and Andrew Sederberg combined for a block that was barely out of reach for the Illini.
The third game featured 15 ties and a whopping 17 kills by the Titans. After being held to four blocks in the first two games combined the Titans stuffed five attempts in the third game and had seven digs.
Once again the Titans were led by Semrad who had 12 kills, including eight in the third game. He added a team high four blocks, including two in the deciding game. Thomas added eight kills and Bradley added six kills and four digs. Wayne tallied seven digs and Andrew Sederberg dished out 32 assists, including 15 helpers in the third game.
"This was the most intense match I have been a part of as a player or coach," said head coach Brian Schaefer. "It was even better than last year's classic battle in the semifinals against the University of Illinois. I could not be more proud of the team and how they fought back from a 12-9 deficit. It was just awesome."
Back for the second consecutive year in the national finals the Titans survived ten missed serves in the first game to beat #6 University of Maryland 27-25, 25-21. "I am guessing we were a little tight," said Schaefer when asked about the missed serves. "The title was dangling in front of us and we just needed to calm down, play like a team and get the job done."
Not surprisingly Semrad led the team with nine kills and added two blocks. The Titans attack featured 29 kills in the two games and a team .500 hitting percentage. Wayne led the defense with four digs and Lewin added three blocks. Andrew Sederberg dished out 22 assists.
Semrad was awarded the NIRSA Division I Most Valuable Player after being named First-Team All-American in 2005 and Second-Team All-American in 2003. "It was a great feeling, especially because I didn't see it coming," said Semrad of the honor.
Andrew Sederberg was named NIRSA Division I First-Team All-American for the second consecutive season after being named Second-Team in 2004 and Wayne was a repeat honoree as a Second-Team All-American. Nathan Sederberg garnered his first All-American selection as he was awarded a Second-Team mention.
Although the UW-Oshkosh men's volleyball team has three teams, the national championship made it clear that the entire program should be celebrating the success of the season.
"It feels like a million bucks, but to be honest it has not sunk in yet that we have won the national championship," said graduating senior Thomas.
"After the match I told the team that this is a program win and without all of the guys challenging each other in practice we would not be on the national scene," added Schaefer. "I am proud that their hard work paid off and they got to experience something like this in their careers. It was a experience for everybody involved that will not be forgotten anytime soon."
Tournament Results
OSHKOSH I
Thursday April 13
#25 Boston University - Won 25-15, 25-15
#48 Purdue University - Won 25-22, 25-12
#24 University of California-San Diego - Won 25-18, 25-12
Friday April 14
#8 UCLA - Won 25-19, 25-23
#39 Cal Berkley - Won 25-12, 25-15
Saturday April 15
#22 University of Utah - Won 25-16, 25-21
#17 Santa Clara - Won 28-26, 25-23
#5 University of Illinois - Won 14-25, 25-17, 23-21
#6 University of Maryland - Won 27-25, 25-21
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