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Dig Panici Classic Web Page
 
The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team extended its current win streak to 11 matches Friday with two non-conference wins on the first day of the Dig Panici Classic at Russell Arena.
 
The Warhawks (17-3 overall) bested Carroll 25-16, 25-14, 26-24 in the opener before topping Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) 25-17, 25-19, 25-19 on Dig Panici Night.
 
In the match against the Gusties (10-10), UW-Whitewater got off to a fast start, taking an 11-5 advantage feeding off an energized crowd at Russell Arena. The Warhawks never trailed in the set to take a 1-0 match lead.
 
UW-Whitewater jumped out to another large lead in the second set and didn't look back. Gustavus Adolphus closed to within 21-18, but the Warhawks responded by scoring four of the last five points in the frame to take a 2-0 lead.
 
In the third, the Gusties led 8-6 before UW-Whitewater embarked on an 11-3 run for a 17-11 advantage. The two teams traded points the rest of the way, and the Warhawks staved off Gustavus for the win.
 
Freshman outside hitter Chloe Buescher (Janesville, Wis./Milton) led the team with 13 kills to go along with seven digs. Senior middle hitter Ashton Doll (Lancaster, Wis./Lancaster) hit a .556 and finished with 11 kills and four blocks, senior outside hitter Rachel Butterfield (Milton, Wis./Milton) collected eight kills and two digs. Sophomore outside hitter Erin McNeil (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) chipped in with eight kills and three blocks.
 
Sophomore setter KellyAnn Sotiros (New Berlin, Wis./West Allis Hale) posted 21 assists and five digs, and freshman setter Maggie Streckert (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) totaled 16 assists. Sophomore defensive specialist Hailey Mackenthun (Webster, Minn./Northfield) led the back row with 16 digs, freshman libero Morgan Jensen (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) finished with 13 digs and sophomore outside hitter Emma Aske (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) recorded 12 digs.
 
Against Carroll (11-10), the Warhawks hit .283, including marks above .300 in the first two sets.
 
Freshman outside hitter Johni Bunkers (Wildwood, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) paced the offense with eight kills on a .538 hitting percentage. Doll collected six kills on a .500 hitting percentage and three blocks, and Aske tallied six kills, two service aces and three digs.
 
Sotiros posted 19 assists, two service aces and four digs, and sophomore setter Paige Manssen (Bull Valley, Ill./McHenry West) registered 12 assists. Sophomore outside hitter Erin Erb (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) recorded five kills, four service aces and three blocks.
 
Jensen led the defense with 22 digs.
 
Dig Panici Night is celebrated annually in memory of former Warhawk volleyball student-athlete Lisa Panici, who passed away in 2012 after a two-year battle against brain cancer. All funds raised from admission and t-shirt sales on Dig Panici Night benefit the Dig Panici Scholarship, which is given annually to a UW-Whitewater student who may be physical or mentally disabled.
 
UW-Whitewater closes tournament play Saturday at 12:30 p.m. against Illinois Wesleyan.