Box Score The UW-Whitewater volleyball team fell in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship match to UW-Stevens Point 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17) Saturday in Stevens Point. The Pointers, 31-4, earn the WIAC's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in school history.

In game one the Warhawks fell behind 6-2 early but worked to tie the game at 13. Lauren Pfeifer (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) pounded down a kill to make it 14-13 and the Warhawks never looked back taking game one 25-23.

Just like game one UW-W found themselves in a hole early, this time 3-0. The two teams battled going back and forth with UW-W taking the largest lead of the set at 14-10. The seesaw battle ensued and the teams worked the scoreboard to a 22-22 tie. The Pointers went on to score three of the last four points and win the set 25-23.

Point jumped out ahead 12-6 in game three but UW-W rallied to tie the match at 18 and again at 21. The Pointers fended off the pesky Warhawks to win set three 25-23.

UW-SP led the entire fourth game going up 12-7, 21-15, and finally closing it out at 25-17 and clinching the WIAC tournament crown.

Kristen Ruchti (Brodhead/Brodhead) led the Warhawks with 14 kills while Lauren Pfeifer (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) added 12 and Stacy Hasler chipped in 11. Pfeifer added 12 digs while teammate Kelsey Nobilio (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) notched 28. Kim Frei (West Bend/West Bend West) dished out 48 assists.

Kristin Loos of UW-Stevens Point led all hitters with 18 kills.

The Pointers won the 2013 WIAC regular season title and will be making their sixth NCAA Division III tournament appearance.

The Warhawks, 27-11, will await the announcement of the 64-team field of the NCAA Division III tournament on Monday, November 11 at 10:00 am. UW-W has been in the NCAA DIII tournament for 22 consecutive years.




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