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The No. 15 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team was defeated 25-22, 25-16, 25-22 at No. 14 Wittenberg  in its first match of the Wittenberg Fall Classic in Springfield, Ohio.
 
The Warhawks (6-3 overall) jumped out to a 10-2 lead to start the match and led 17-10 later in the first set, but the Tigers finished the frame on a 15-5 run, including the final three points, to take a 1-0 match lead.
 
Wittenberg (4-3) continued the momentum in the second, never trailing in the second and winning six of the last eight points for a 2-0 match advantage.
 
UW-Whitewater led a back-and-forth third set by a 17-15 score before the Tigers rallied for seven of the next eight points to take the lead for good. The Warhawks got as close as 23-22, but the Tigers closed with the final two points to claim the match.
 
Freshman outside hitter Chloe Buescher (Janesville, Wis./Milton) tallied six kills and 11 digs to lead UW-Whitewater, which was held to a season-low .000 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Emily Gillen (Richfield, Wis./Slinger) collected four kills, six digs and four blocks, and senior middle hitter Ashton Doll (Lancaster, Wis./Lancaster) led the front row with five blocks.
 
Sophomore setter Paige Manssen (Bull Valley, Ill./McHenry West) recorded 10 assists, five digs and two service aces, and sophomore setter KellyAnn Sotiros (New Berlin, Wis./West Allis Hale) finished with eight assists and six digs.
 
Freshman defensive specialist Morgan Jensen (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) led the back row with 17 digs, and sophomore defensive specialist Hailey Mackenthun (Webster, Minn./Northfield) added 11 digs.
 
The Warhawks continue tournament play Saturday at 9 a.m. Central Time as they face No. 21 Ohio Northern in a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament first round. UW-W wraps up the tournament at 1 p.m. with a match against Heidelberg (Ohio).