SALEM, Va. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater wrapped up a successful 2024 campaign as the NCAA Division III national runners-up Saturday, Dec. 7. The Warhawks fell to undefeated Juniata in five sets (25-19, 25-19, 15-25, 26-28, 15-10). UWW pushed a fifth set for the first time in nine seasons in the national title match — the previous eight were 3-0 sweeps. 

UWW battled back to force the decisive fifth after trailing 0-2 in the match. The Warhawks turned it around in set three, as the best blocking team in the country lived up to its reputation. UWW registered seven blocks in the set, holding the Eagles to a negative attack percentage. Meanwhile the offense picked up the pace hitting .235 with 13 kills. The offense-defense combination led to a lop-sided 25-15 win in the set. 

The fourth set was arguably one of the most thrilling of the season. UWW trailed early until Jenna Weinfurt (Waukesha Catholic Memorial) took over. The powerful outside hitter posted UWW’s next five points — all on kills — to tie the set 10-10. From there, the teams traded points, battling it out as the set continued on. Juniata claimed the first set and match point, 25-24, but the Warhawks had the response on an Alayna Jansky (Mukwonago) kill. 

The Eagles forced another match point, and setter Aubrie Krzus (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South) pushed the ball back to the outside, this time for Weinfurt. She drove the ball on a dart toward the endline and the line judge lifted his flag to signal out. Juniata rushed the floor as head coach Stacy Boudreau immediately grabbed the green challenge card. The officials went to the monitor and quickly returned to the floor indicating the ball was in, the call overturned for a UWW point and the set now tied 26-26. 

On the next play, the Eagles’ set drifted over the net and Weinfurt put it back down for a UWW set point. In a rare feat for a title match, the Warhawks won the game on a bad set, as the Juniata setter pushed the ball to the outside pin as the hitters all collapsed toward the middle. The error sent the squads into a fifth. 

Following the brief intermission, the Eagles came out on fire scoring the first eight points. The Warhawks did not fold and continued to battle, pulling to within four, but the deficit was too much to overcome in the shortened fifth set.

Weinfurt recorded a team-best 25 kills while Jansky posted 16 in the contest. The pair combined for 99 kills over the three matches in the championship and were named to the NCAA Division III Championship All-Tournament Team for their performances. Krzus tallied 38 assists in the match. 

Defensively, Jaedynn Evans (Kalona, Iowa/Iowa City Regina) led UWW with 19 digs while Weinfurt added 18 and Jansky posted 12. At the net, Hannah Proctor (Durand, Ill.) had 10 blocks, Krzus and Abbie Dix (Brodhead) each registered eight and Chloe Werner (Waterford Union) added four. 

The Warhawks wrapped up the 2024 campaign with a 31-4 record, the first 30-win season since 2015. The trip to the national title match is UWW’s first since 2007. Juniata has won 97 consecutive matches including three straight titles.