UW-Oshkosh III Finishes Fifth in the Country (4-10-16)
The UW-Oshkosh III took full advantage of their first trip to the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Division III tournament by going 6-1 and taking fifth place in the 48-team tournament Thursday-Saturday (April 7-9) in Louisville. The Titans only loss was to the eventual national champions and they beat the team that took second place.
UW-Oshkosh III started the tournament as the 18th seed after an impressive regular season and Wisconsin Volleyball Conference Division II state championship where they took second place.
The Titans dominated the University of West Virginia II 25-15, 25-15 and Grand Valley State University II 25-18, 25-18 before upsetting seventh seed University of Missouri II 25-23, 25-18 to take first place in their opening pool on Thursday.
UW-Oshkosh III was led by the left side hitting duo of Mike Skora (Fr. – Salem) and Alex Basting (Fr. – Franklin) who had 10 kills on 13 attempts and eight kills on 12 attempts respectively against the Mountaineers. Matt Pedersen (Fr. – Muskego) dished out 26 assists, Andrew Shea (Jr. – Brookfield) had four kills, Joe Kuchler (Jr. – Muskego) led the team with five digs and David Edelmann (So. – Belleville, Ill.) added four digs. Skora led the team with four service aces.
In the win over the Lakers, Basting had nine kills and Sam Nelson (Fr. – Luck) had five kills and four blocks. Pedersen amassed 17 assists, three blocks and two service aces and Kuchler had four digs. The Titans had eight blocks in the match.
Skora and Basting led the Titans with 11 kills on 21 attempts and nine kills on 18 attempts; respectively against the Tigers. Kuchler had seven digs and Danny Mirda (Jr. – Brookfield) added five digs and one service ace.
Nelson added three blocks and Pedersen had 25 assists and three blocks. The Titans passed extremely well in the match as they did not have a receiving error. Despite the loss the Tigers went on to finish as runner-ups at the national championship.
“The University of Missouri II was a very good team, and after their finish we knew we were one of the best teams here,” said head coach Kurt Breier.
As the number one seed in their pool on Friday the Titans took care of business beating Wisconsin Volleyball Conference Division II rival Marquette University II 25-15, 25-18 and Virginia Tech University II 26-24, 23-25, 15-9 to remain undefeated in the tournament at that point.
Skora had an outstanding match against the Golden Eagles slamming down 10 kills on 12 attempts and adding three blocks. Basting provided eight kills, four digs and three service aces and Nelson had four blocks. Pedersen distributed 22 assists and had two blocks and Kuchler had five digs.
In the win over the Hokies, Kuchler scooped up 16 digs and had one service ace. Basting led the team with 11 kills and Skora added 10 as the Titans had 34 kills in the match. Pedersen dished out 29 helpers and Tony D’Acquisto (Fr. – Franklin) had three blocks, including two solo stuffs.
After winning the pool the Titans advanced to the 16-team gold bracket of the tournament on Saturday. In the opening round UW-Oshkosh III dispatched Florida State University 25-17, 25-19 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Skora led the team with nine kills on 16 errorless attempts and Nelson provided six kills and four blocks. Kuchler totaled four service aces and Pedersen had 21 assists.
The Titans ended their season with a 25-21, 25-15 setback to eventual national champion University of Arizona II, a perennial national power in the NCVF Division III. The Titans struggled offensively with 16 hitting errors. Kuchler recorded five digs, Nelson had two blocks and Skora led the team with seven kills.
“We had an overall great three days but unfortunately we did not play our best in the last match,” said Breier. “Our freshmen played solid all weekend, especially our outside hitters and it was one of the best years in UW-Oshkosh III history. I am proud on how they played and the future for these young players is very bright.”
Skora and Kuchler were named NCVF Division III honorable mention All-American at the conclusion of the season. Kuchler was a passing and defensive juggernaut, and Skora brought unprecedented offensive firepower for the Titans’ UW-Oshkosh III team that set new team standards in 2016.
Kuchler led the WVC Division II in digs per set and was the stability in the backcourt the Titans needed to be successful this season.
“Joe would be the starting libero for most teams not only in the NCVF Division III, but many other higher divisions in the nation,” said program head coach Brian Schaefer. “He is an intense individual that led a freshmen heavy starting line-up at the national tournament that turned a lot of heads. He is another captain on our team that demonstrated what to do as a UW-Oshkosh student-athlete in matches, in practice and in the classroom.”
Skora, a 6-3 six rotation left side hitter immediately made an impact for the Titans this season. A WVC Division II First-Team All-Conference selection, he led the WVC Division II in both kills per set and service aces per set and had 60 kills (4.00 per set) at the national championships.
“The experience that Mike gained this year as the UW-Oshkosh III go-to-hitter will be invaluable for him in the future,” assessed Schaefer. “He has no fear as a player and has a heavy arm, solid block and very good ball control. He has a bright future in a Titans uniform and the award is a great way to start off his career.”
UW-Oshkosh III finished with a 25-8 record with all but two of their losses coming to either Division I teams or teams ranked in the top five in the NCFV Division III.
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