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The 20th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team closed the two-day Pointers Invitational Saturday with a 25-8, 25-21, 25-15 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran in a non-conference match at Berg Gym in Stevens Point, Wis.
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The Warhawks (6-1 overall) finished the tournament with an unbeaten 3-0 mark and didn't drop a set during the weekend.
Following play, senior setter
Kim Frei (West Bend/West Bend West) and senior middle blocker
Kristen Ruchti (Brodhead/Brodhead) were named to the All-Tournament team. Frei totaled 58 assists and Ruchti led the team or tied for the team lead in kills in the team's wins over Ripon and St. Norbert on Friday.Â
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"We improved in some areas we struggled last weekend," UW-Whitewater coach
Stacy Boudreau said. "Our serve receive was very good this weekend, and we served well. When we do that, our offense gets going, and our hitters attack at a high percentage."
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UW-Whitewater controlled the contest both offensively and defensively Saturday against the Warriors (0-3). The Warhawks hit .258, compared to Wisconsin Lutheran's mark of -.088 (17 kills, 27 attack errors), and tallied nine blocks as a team.
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Senior libero
Kelsey Nobilio (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) tied a program record Saturday with her 102nd match in double figures in digs. Nobilio, a 2012 All-American and three-time All-WIAC selection, posted 19 digs to lead the defense. Junior defensive specialist
Jaclyn Krizka (Roscoe, IL/Hononegah) added 14 digs in the back row.
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Five players finished with four or more kills to lead the offense, including junior outside hitter
Stephanie Cherwin (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg), who paced UW-Whitewater with eight. Sophomore middle hitter
Sydney Toon (Madison/Middleton) led the team with five blocks up front.
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Sophomore setter
Staci Hasler (Sheboygan Falls/Sheboygan Falls) contributed with four kills, six digs and a team-best 30 assists.
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After winning 18 of the last 20 points in the opening set, the Warhawks struggled to start the second, falling behind 13-7 before eventually rallying and taking nine of the frame's last 10 points to take a two-set advantage.
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In the third, UW-Whitewater jumped out to a 9-4 lead and didn't look back, closing the set strong again with a 7-2 spurt.
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Boudreau said the Warhawks were able to clean some things up heading into a difficult stretch. In six matches over the next week, UW-Whitewater faces two teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25 in true road contests and faces another receiving votes in the same poll.
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"We were able to get our confidence going into next week," Boudreau said. "It was a good weekend for us to improve."
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The Warhawks visit Elmhurst (Ill.) Tuesday for a pair of non-conference matches. UW-Whitewater takes on Dominican (Ill.) at 5 p.m. before a showdown against the host Bluejays, who are ranked 16th, at 7 p.m.