The No. 14 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team opened its 2017 home schedule Friday with a pair of convincing victories on the first day of the UW-Whitewater Invitational at the Williams Center.
 
The Warhawks (6-0 overall) downed Lewis & Clark (Ore.) by a 25-21, 25-16, 25-13 score in their first match before defeating Augustana (Ill.) 25-16, 25-12, 25-19.
 
In the first, UW-Whitewater pulled away starting midway through the set, turning a 13-12 lead into a 21-13 advantage thanks to the serves of sophomore defensive specialist Mackenzie Evers (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) and senior middle hitter Courtney Wagner (Dekalb, Ill./Dekalb).
 
The Warhawks forced two timeouts by the Vikings (2-4) early in the second set after taking leads of 10-3 and 16-4. Evers was again instrumental in the run, providing three service aces during an 8-0 UW-Whitewater run.
 
UW-Whitewater continued its relentless attack in the third, jumping out to a 7-1 advantage on the serves of senior right side hitter Sydney Racky (Walworth, Wis./Big Foot) and junior libero Brittany Robinson (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls).
 
Augustana fought back to get within 21-18 later in the period, but Wagner registered kills on two of the last three points to help the team finish off its sixth straight win to start the season.
 
Wagner totaled a team-high nine kills to go along with five bocks and three service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Butterfield (Milton, Wis./Milton) tallied eight kills and four blocks, and Racky and junior outside hitter Amanda Spera (Antioch, Ill./Antioch) posted seven kills apiece.
 
Junior setter Elizabeth Niestrom (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South) finished with 31 assists, four kills and four digs, and Robinson mustered 12 digs and two service aces.
 
In the opener, the Warhawks played 15 different players against Lewis & Clark (1-4) and received contributions from up and down the roster.
 
Senior outside hitter Shelby Cllifton and junior middle hitter Kelley Berk (Cedarburg, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels) tallied seven kills apiece to lead the UW-Whitewater offense. Butterfield chipped in with five kills, and Wagner, Racky, Spera and sophomore middle hitter Samantha Kavajecz (Roscoe, Ill./Rockton Hononegah) registered four apiece.
 
Niestrom posted 35 assists and three service aces, while Evers collected a team-high four service aces. Robinson paced the defense with 13 digs, and Racky added eight.
 
The Warhawks resume tournament action Saturday at 2 p.m. against Luther (Iowa).