The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team remained atop the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings Tuesday night with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-20 victory over UW-Platteville at Russell Arena.
The Warhawks (15-3 overall, 4-0 WIAC), who now own sole possession of first place in the conference standings, rebounded from a slow start to post their eighth straight win.
Junior outside hitter
Amanda Spera (Antioch, Ill./Antioch) collected a team-high nine kills to go along with two blocks. Senior middle hitter
Courtney Wagner (Dekalb, Ill./Dekalb) finished with eight kills, and sophomore outside hitter
Rachel Butterfield (Milton, Wis./Milton) contributed eight kills and four digs.
Senior right side hitter
Sydney Racky (Walworth, Wis./Big Foot) registered seven kills and five digs, and junior setter
Elizabeth Niestrom (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South) tallied 33 assists, six digs and three kills.
Junior libero
Brittany Robinson (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) recorded a team-best 17 digs and added two assists. Sophomore defensive specialist
Elizabeth Tworek (Lake Zurich, Ill./Carmel Catholic) totaled five digs.
The Pioneers (13-12, 0-4) jumped out to a 14-9 advantage in the first set and held a 16-12 lead when UW-Whitewater rallied for five straight points, including two on service aces by freshman defensive specialist
Abigail Boyden (Malta, Ill./DeKalb), to take a 17-16 lead.
The two teams traded points before the Warhawks finished the set on a 6-1 run, including an ace by Robinson and kills by Wagner and Racky, to take a 1-0 match lead.
UW-Whitewater hit .469 in the second set, jumping on UW-Platteville early with four straight kills, including two from Spera and two from Racky, to take a 12-5 advantage.
The Pioneers slowly crept back into the set, eventually narrowing their deficit to 19-17. After a timeout, the Warhawks recorded the next five points, and junior middle hitter
Kelley Berk (Cedarburg, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels) scored the final two UW-Whitewater points with kills for a 2-0 match lead.
Neither team led by more than three points in the third until Spera gave UW-Whitewater a 21-17 lead with an ace.
UW-Platteville responded with two straight points, but the Warhawks stole the momentum away again, and Racky closed a 4-1 run with an ace to wrap up the victory.
UW-Whitewater resumes WIAC play Friday at UW-Stout at 7 p.m. The team will head west to St. Paul, Minn., early the next day for matches at No. 7 Northwestern and against St. Mary's (Minn.) at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., respectively.
