The Warhawk volleyball team, ranked fourteenth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 poll, defeated California Lutheran 3-1 (16-25, 25-22, 25-19, 26-24) in the first match of the Wittenberg National Invitational Friday.

Box Score

A slow start did not hinder Whitewater to begin the invitational hosted by Wittenberg in Springfield, OH Friday. Even with a 25-16 first set loss to California Lutheran the Warhawks didn't fold coming back to win the next three sets and take the match 3-1.

UW-W posted 57 kills in the match. Senior Caitlin Hogan (New London/New London) recorded 20 kills and junior Sofia Sanchez (Janesville/Craig) added 13 more. Hogan's 20 ties for fifteenth in the UW-W record book with 37 career matches with double figure kills. Middle blocker Katy Krajnak (Racine/Case) provided offense and defense for UW-W at the net with nine kills, two solo blocks and four block assists. Junior setter Christina DeGroot (Kewaskum/Kewaskum) set up the Warhawk hitters 47 times in the contest. Whitewater's back court combo of libero Alyssa Bauer (Naperville, IL/Central) and Kelli Trautman (Seymour/Little Chute) dug up 39 (21 and 18 respectively) of CLU's attack attempts. 

The Warhawks continue play in the Wittenberg National Invitational Saturday with matches against two ranked teams. The first match scheduled for 9:00 am central time puts #14 Whitewater against #11 Wittenberg. In the 2:00 pm match, UW-W will go up against eighth ranked St. Thomas.

For additional information: head coach, Stacy Boudreau