UW-Oshkosh Captures 2012 WVC State Championship (4-1-12)
The UW-Oshkosh men's volleyball team, ranked third in the nation, gained momentum heading into the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation national tournament by sweeping all six of its opponents to win the 2012 WVC State Championship held on Friday and Saturday (March 30-31) in Oshkosh.
UW-Oshkosh (41-3), which has won a league-leading nine state championship, entered the tournament as the number one seed after winning the WVC regular season with a 12-0 record. The Titans also sweep both the regular season and state championship titles last season on their way to the NCVF Division I national championship and currently own a 15-match winning streak.
UW-Oshkosh finished pool play with a clean slate after beating UW-Stout 25-11, 29-27, UW-Platteville 25-20, 25-12, UW-La Crosse 25-20, 25-16 and Lakeland College 25-17, 25-16.
Against the Blue Devils the Titans were led by Shane Heyrman (Fr. - Green Bay) and Zach Johnson (Jr. - Mequon) who had nine and eight kills, respectively. Ryan Hoffland (Fr. - Wauwatosa) scooped up six digs, Jake Ahnert (Fr. - West Allis) added six kills and four blocks and Vince Odorizzi (Sr. - Pleasant Prairie) added three kills and three blocks. Andy Schinner (Sr. - Mequon) handed out 19 assists.
Against the Pioneers Ahnert led the Titans at the net with seven kills. Jordan Mattingly (Sr. - Kaukauna) dished out 18 assists and had six kills on six attempts, Hoffland provided four digs and Odorizzi had three blocks. Dan Ruys (Sr. - Kimberly) added five kills on six attempts and Mattingly led the team with two service aces.
Bill Meidenbauer (Sr. - Waukesha) came to life against the Eagles with eight kills on 11 errorless attempts, while adding four blocks. Tyler Boddy (Sr. - New Ulm, Minn.) provided six kills and four blocks, Ruys added a team best five blocks and Schinner registered 21 assists. Johnson totaled four blocks and two service aces and Nick Mueller (Jr. - Kenosha) collected three service aces and three blocks.
The Titans finished off pool play against Lakeland College and were led by Ruys who had six kills on seven attempts. Meidenbauer added six kills and three blocks, Ahnert two blocks and Boddy five kills. The Titans hit .514 in the match and were led defensively by Mattingly who had seven of the Titans 11 digs.
Advancing to the semifinals for the 20th straight year, or every year the Titans have been in the WVC, UW-Oshkosh held on to win a close first set before beating Marquette University 25-23, 25-19 to reach the finals.
Boddy provided the offensive spark with 10 kills and Meidenbauer added six kills and three service aces. Ruys and Johnson each had three blocks and Mattingly and Mueller each had four digs. The Titans struggled with 10 team hitting errors and nine service errors.
The championship contest featured two reigning national champions at UW-Oshkosh (NCVF Division I) took on UW-La Crosse (NCVF Division II) in the finals. The Titans had little trouble beating the Eagles for the fourth time this season as they hit .485 in the match.
Meidenbauer had six kills in the match and Ruys had three blocks. Odorizzi added two blocks, Mueller three service aces and Schinner dished out 17 assists.
Meidenbauer was awarded with being named the WVC state championship most valuable player for his efforts over the two days. Ruys and Johnson were named to seven member all-tournament team.
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