The No. 13 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team picked up its fourth consecutive victory over a nationally ranked opponent Wednesday night, defeating 12th-ranked UW-Stevens Point 30-28, 25-23, 18-25, 25-21 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown at Russell Arena.
 
In a match featuring the two teams who shared the 2014 conference regular season title, junior outside hitter Lauren Pfeifer (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) tallied 18 kills, 13 digs and six blocks to lead the Warhawks (15-3 overall, 1-1 WIAC). Sophomore outside hitter Sydney Racky (Walworth, Wis./Big Foot) and senior right side hitter Brittney Langley (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) posted 15 and 14 kills, respectively, to help carry the load offensively.
 
Junior setter Staci Hasler (Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls) filled the box score with six kills, a career-high 53 assists and five digs. Sophomore middle hitter Courtney Wagner (Dekalb, Ill./Dekalb) added eight kills, six digs and six blocks.
 
Freshman libero Brittany Robinson (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) collected a match-high 30 digs to lead the defense. Senior defensive specialist Jaclyn Krizka (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) and junior defensive specialist Tessa Weber (Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Tremper) totaled 12 and 10 digs, respectively.
 
In a back-and-forth first set, neither team led by more than three points at any given time. UW-Whitewater, which registered 25 kills and hit .419 during the stanza, fought off two set points and took four of the last five to take a 1-0 advantage. Racky recorded kills on three of the last four Warhawk points.
 
The Pointers (15-4, 1-1) surged to leads of 8-4, 16-12 and 19-15 in the second set, but UW-Whitewater continued to push, taking a 23-21 advantage on back-to-back kills by Pfeifer. The two teams alternated points from there, allowing the Warhawks to take a 2-0 lead.
 
UW-Stevens Point started the third quickly and never trailed in the set, halving its match deficit by closing the period with three straight points.
 
UW-Whitewater turned a 12-10 deficit into a 17-12 lead on Robinson's serve, and then staved off a late rally by the Pointers to take the match and snap a four-match losing streak against UW-Stevens Point.
 
The Warhawks return to the floor Tuesday against Concordia (Wis.). First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Faculty Appreciation Night at Russell Arena.