UWO women's volleyball builds stronger community, celebrates team at fourth annual event

A Community Night event that attracted hundreds of University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh students, families, supporters and community members, concluded with the defending national champion women's volleyball team downing UW-La Crosse in four sets at Kolf Sports Center.

See event photos here.

Lisa Race of Oshkosh, a 2004 alumna, heard about the Community Night event at her children's daycare, where a UWO coach also has children. Race's young daughters were enjoying the activities inside Kolf that included a pair of large bounce houses, face painting, balloon art, football toss, games and prizes.

"We came last year and the girls really enjoyed it," Race said about her family's decision to support the Titans.

Titan Thunder Marching Band brought a lively feel to the fieldhouse, continuing throughout the volleyball match with UW-La Crosse.

"In a world where more and more of our experiences are directed to digital relationships and exchanges, our goal is simple: Help build a stronger, more vibrant and supportive community," said women's volleyball Head Coach Jon Ellmann earlier this week.

The event included a visit from former University of Wisconsin All-American outside hitter and current League One Volleyball Madison player Mimi Colyer, who was available for signatures and photo opportunites.

Several high school teams who traveled to Community Night were seen taking photos with Colyer.

UWO students entered for a chance to win a pizza party from the volleyball program, for having the highest percentage of residents in attendance from their dorm at the match.

Supporting a program that helped her

As a friend of head volleyball coach Jon Ellmann and member of the "volleyball community," Nikki Tupesis of Madison was on hand with her husband, to cheer on the Titans and to advocate for the National Bone Marrow Donation Program (NMDP). Inside a booth across from the concession stand, representative Allysa Eller invited students and other fans between the ages of 18 and 35, to sign up as new members of the registry.

Tupesis explained that several years ago, she was diagnosed with a form of leukemia (AML) and was placed on list seeking a donor. She learned she had a match with a student in Poland and eventually received a bone marrow transplant. The transplant was a success and she has been cancer-free for more than two years.

UWO sophomore criminal justice student and swim team member Kayden Hoxton of Tampa, Florida, was the first to sign up at the Community Night event. He was working in the concession stand and was approached by Tupesis' husband, Janis Tupesis, an emergency physician in Madison.

"I just want to help," Hoxton said.

Ellmann, the Titans coach, arranged for a stack of bone marrow donor kits to be sent to him to distribute to his team members. For those interested, a simple cheek swab will be collected and mailed to the registry headquarters.

Just over 10 years ago, a "match" occured with a prominent UWO athlete.

In 2015, UW-Oshkosh star football quarterback Brett Kasper signed up for a registry and later learned he was a match for a 10-year-old girl, Phoenix Bridegroom of Chesterton, Indiana, who was battling leukemia. A successful bone marrow transplant followed. The girl and her family were invited to UWO multiple times and the story of the quarterback's connection with Phoenix was widely shared and followed.

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