Boxscore
KENOSHA, WIS. – Wartburg College used strong efforts across the floor to upend No. 16-ranked UW-Whitewater in 2010 NCAA Division III regional action Nov. 12.
Coach Jennifer Walker’s Knights, improving to 24-15, hit .220 or better in each set including a remarkable .379 team attack percentage in the third. Those numbers were key in a 25-17, 25-23, 25-17 sweep inside Tarble Arena on Carthage College’s campus.
“We were very excited (for today),” Walker said. “The team practiced well last night and played that way, too.
“It was a great team win,” she said.
Wartburg’s big offensive percentage numbers were led by freshman middle hitter Kelly Niemann (Fredericksburg) and sophomore outside hitter Britlyn Sieck (Fayette). Niemann hammered nine kills at the Warhawk defense and didn’t commit an error in 12 attempts for a staggering .750 outing. Sieck added nine kills and a.389 match. Junior middle hitter Kamille Van Natta (Readlyn) guided the squad in kills (11).
The Knights’ “D” was also solid. Van Natta had two solo blocks, while sophomore middle hitter Monique Davisson (Cedar Rapids) added three block assists. The Orange and Black ended with nine team blocks and also had 46 digs. Van Natta also topped that category with 13, while freshman libero/defensive specialist Marissa Shinstine (Tripoli) chipped in 12 and contributed a team-best two service aces.
“(UW-Whitewater) made a big move at us in the second set with a late run, due to some short-ball serving,” Walker said. “I was proud of how our team worked that out and hung in for the 25-23 win. They are veteran team, so I knew they would make a run at some point.
“We just want to make the most of this opportunity,” she added.
Notes – The win, Wartburg’s first in NCAA tournament play since 2003, moves the Knights into a 4:30 p.m. contest Saturday, Nov. 14 against either top-seeded Washington (Mo.) or eighth-seeded Beloit (Wis.). … Walker’s squad has won four in a row and eight of its last nine. … Niemann’s recent hot streak continues. She’s hit .400 or better in five of her last 10 matches. … Sieck has been equally strong of late. She’s reached .389 or higher in four of her last six matches. … The win over UW-Whitewater was the first in four tries for the Knights.
