The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team fell behind early and was unable to find an offensive rhythm Wednesday night in a 25-23, 25-15, 25-19 setback at UW-La Crosse in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest in La Crosse, Wis.
 
The Warhawks (20-5 overall, 5-1 WIAC) were held to a season-low .062 hitting percentage despite holding the Eagles to a .146 mark.
 
Senior middle hitter Courtney Wagner (Dekalb, Ill./Dekalb) and junior outside hitter Amanda Spera (Antioch, Ill./Antioch) collected eight kills apiece to lead the offense. Wagner added three blocks.
 
Senior right side hitter Sydney Racky (Walworth, Wis./Big Foot) posted six kills, eight digs and two blocks, and junior setter Elizabeth Niestrom (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South) registered 23 assists, six digs and three blocks. Sophomore middle hitter Ashton Doll (Lancaster, Wis./Lancaster) finished with a team-high four blocks.
 
Junior libero Brittany Robinson (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) contributed 20 digs and three assists. Freshman defensive specialist Abigail Boyden (Malta, Ill./DeKalb) tallied nine digs and three service aces.
 
UW-La Crosse (18-6, 6-0) took a 15-4 lead to start the match, and led 20-10 later in the set. UW-Whitewater fought all the way back by scoring 13 of the next 15 points, including two on service aces by Boyden and another ace by sophomore defensive specialist Mackenzie Evers (St. John, Ind./Lake Central), to take a 23-22 advantage.
 
The Eagles ran off the final three points of the set to take a 1-0 match lead, and rode the momentum into the second, taking a 9-2 advantage.
 
The Warhawks drew to within 15-12 thanks to a 4-0 run on Robinson's serve, but UW-La Crosse recorded four of the next five points and 10 of the last 13 points in the frame to take a two-set lead.
 
UW-Whitewater looked to turn the tide of the match in the third set, jumping out to an 11-7 advantage capped by back-to-back kills from Wagner and sophomore outside hitter Rachel Butterfield (Milton, Wis./Milton).
 
The Eagles rallied for five of the next six points to tie the set at 12-12.
 
The two teams traded points, and after the Warhawks took a 19-18 lead on a kill by Racky, UW-La Crosse finished the match with a 7-0 run.
 
UW-Whitewater looks to recover this Friday as it hosts UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m. with the No. 2 seed and a bye to the semifinals in next week's WIAC Tournament on the line.
 
Friday's match is Dig Panici Night and Senior Night at Russell Arena. All proceeds from the match will benefit the Lisa Panici Memorial Scholarship, and Racky, Wagner and fellow senior Shelby Clifton (Mountain Grove, Mo./Mountain Grove) will be recognized.