UW-Oshkosh II Takes Third at University of Michigan Classic (1-25-16)
The UW-Oshkosh II men's volleyball team performed at a high level in all five matches at the University of Michigan Classic on Saturday (January 23) in Ann Arbor, Michigan to take home third place in the 24-team event.
The Titans posted wins over Grand Valley State University (Mich.) 25-22, 25-22, Michigan State University 25-20, 20-25, 15-13 and Davenport University (Iowa), 25-12, 25-20 to take first place in their opening pool.
A balanced offense led to the Titans victory over the Lakers. Braeden Melton (Sr. - Beloit) and Sammy Pedersen (Jr. - Muskego) led the team with four kills and Michael Starzec (Sr. - Buffalo Grove, Ill.) and Zach Tazalla (Jr. - Whitefish Bay) each had three kills.
Adam Landgraf (Sr. - Kenosha) dialed up 17 assists and Starzec led the team with two blocks. The Titans piled up 21 digs, including seven by Alex Harty (Jr. - Racine) and six by Pedersen.
After a controversial out of rotation call led to a second set defeat, the Titans rebounded against the Spartans to pull out the victory. Tony Mack (Jr. - Muskego) provided seven kills to pace the Titans and Melton added five in the win. Harty scooped up five digs and Starzec contributed four kills and four blocks, including three solo stuffs. Landgraf amassed five kills, 21 assists and five blocks.
UW-Oshkosh II had little trouble against first time opponent Davenport University in the sweep. Lahmann, Melton and Pedersen each had four kills and Jake Martin (Fr. - New Lenox, Ill.) topped the team with six digs. Harty added five digs and Landgraf piled up 16 assists.
In bracket play in the quarterfinals UW-Oshkosh II survived a 21-25, 25-22, 20-18 marathon match over home team University of Michigan. The Titans tallied 41 kills in the match with Starzec leading the way with nine kills. Lahmann and Mack each had eight kills and Pedersen added seven kills in the Titans balanced attack. The Titans only has 10 hitting errors in the contest against the Wolverines.
Harty scooped up 14 digs, Joe Kuchler (Jr. - Muskego) added nine digs and Martin had six saves. Melton and Starzec each had five blocks and Pedersen topped the team with three service aces and added three blocks. Landgraf paced the team with 37 assists and had three blocks.
Trying to make it an all UW-Oshkosh final, the Titans lost a heart-breaking semifinal match 17-25, 25-12, 20-18 to #14 ranked University of Notre Dame. UW-Oshkosh would later go on to beat the Irish 28-26, 25-22 in the finals.
Landgraf dished out 33 assists and tacked on two blocks in the defeat. Harty topped the team with 12 digs and Martin added eight scoops. Lahmann and Starzec each had seven kills, Pedersen six kills and Mack five kills. Mack led the team with three blocks and Kuchler, Lahmann and Tazalla each had five digs.
"We are ahead of where we were last year at this time," said head coach Will Brydon. "We beat three teams that compete at the NCVF Division I level and went toe-to-toe with a very good University of Notre Dame team. We have things to work on but we should be a tough team to beat this season."
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