The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team, ranked 16th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Top 25, used a strong serve and efficient attacking Wednesday night to defeat No. 14 Elmhurst (Ill.) 25-21, 25-19, 25-19 in a non-conference showdown at Russell Arena.
 
Senior outside hitter Jessica Sabey (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) and junior outside hitter Lauren Pfeifer (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) tallied eight kills apiece to lead the Warhawks (9-1 overall), who avenged a five-set loss to the Bluejays in the first round of last season's NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
UW-Whitewater hit .234 offensively while holding Elmhurst (7-2) to .101, including a -.023 mark in the third set.
 
Sophomore middle hitter Courtney Wagner (Dekalb, Ill./Dekalb) added seven kills to help lead the offense. Sabey and junior middle hitter Angelika Pointer (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) registered three blocks apiece.
 
Junior setter Staci Hasler (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls) contributed a team-best 30 assists to go along with a pair of service aces.
 
Freshman libero Brittany Robinson (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) paced the defense with 17 digs, while Pfeifer and senior defensive specialist Jaclyn Krizka (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) posted 10 and nine digs, respectively. Junior defensive specialist Tessa Weber (Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Tremper) finished with a team-best three service aces.
 
Trailing 13-9 in the opening set, the Warhawks rallied with an 11-0 run, highlighted by Weber's serve and three kills by Pfeifer, to take control of the period.
 
UW-Whitewater upped its lead to 15-8 by the middle of the second set on the strength of Hasler's serve. Sabey and senior right side hitter Brittney Langley (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) started a 5-0 run with back-to-back kills. The Bluejays never drew closer than five points the rest of the set.
 
In the third, the Warhawks fought off a slow start to end the contest in three sets. After Elmhurst took a 10-9 advantage, UW-Whitewater rallied with a 7-1 push on the serves of Weber and Robinson. The Bluejays pulled to within 22-18, but the Warhawks claimed three of the final four points to take the match.
 
UW-Whitewater continues non-conference play this Saturday at the Edgewood Triangular, taking on Edgewood at noon and Lawrence at 2 p.m.