The UW-Whitewater women's volleyball team, ranked twelfth according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 poll, battled to win a close five set match against Illinois Wesleyan University 3-2; 25-12, 22-25, 20-25, 25-14, 17-15.

Box Score

UW-W jumped out to a quick 9-4 lead when IWU called their first timeout. After a seven point run from Alyssa Bauer (Naperville, IL/Central) and another small run the Warhawks found themselves up 17-5. The Titans made a small run of their own but the Warhawks were rolling and went on to win the first set 25-12.

Set two started with a three point serve run from Illinois Wesleyan and Whitewater called their first timeout trailing 6-3. UW-W battled back to tie up the set 10-10 and the rest of the match continued to go back-and-forth. After another tie at 20-20 the Titans gained some momentum and took the set 22-25.

The third set was similar to the first but in favor of IWU. The Warhawks were forced to call their second timeout to try and stop the Titans' momentum down 17-9. Trailing 24-16, Whitewater forced five set points before dropping the set 20-25.

Whitewater came back in the fourth set looking to settle a score and that they did. The Warhawks pounded down 16 kills to win the set 25-14.

At the side switch in the fifth set, UW-W was ahead 8-5 but the Titans would come back scoring four of the next six points to bring the Warhawk lead to two. After an IWU timeout Caitlin Hogan (New London/New London) gave Whitewater set and match point with a kill. IWU refused to give up and pushed the set into extra points but the Warhawks prevailed taking the set 17-15 and the match 3-2.

Three Warhawks hitters recorded double-digit kills including Hogan with 15 and Keri Klotzbuecher (Clintonville/Clintonville) and Sofia Sanchez (Janesville/Craig) added 13 each. Senior setter Alyse Karls (Dane/Lodi) dished out 53 assists.

UW-W's defense had 96 digs in the match. Bauer led with 25 followed by Klotzbuecher with 20 and Karls added 17.

Whitewater will take on Carthage College who is ranked seventh in the AVCA top 25 tonight, Friday, September 25 at 7:00 pm in the Williams Center volleyball arena.