The No. 14 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team opened Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Wednesday night with a 25-16, 25-14, 25-20 victory over 13th-ranked UW-Eau Claire at Russell Arena.
The Warhawks (9-3 overall, 1-0 WIAC) held the Blugolds to a .000 hitting percentage.
Sophomore outside hitter
Emma Aske (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) collected nine kills and eight digs, and freshman outside hitter
Chloe Buescher (Janesville, Wis./Milton) totaled eight kills, seven digs and two service aces.
Senior outside hitter
Rachel Butterfield (Milton, Wis./Milton) posted five kills, and senior middle hitter
Ashton Doll (Lancaster, Wis./Lancaster) tallied five kills and a team-high three blocks. Freshman setter
Maggie Streckert (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) finished with 18 assists and two blocks.
Freshman libero
Morgan Jensen (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) paced the defense with 12 digs. Sophomore defensive specialist
Hailey Mackenthun (Webster, Minn./Northfield) tallied eight digs and one service ace, and sophomore setter
KellyAnn Sotiros (New Berlin, Wis./West Allis Hale) registered six digs to go along with 10 assists and one service ace.
UW-Whitewater rode the serve of sophomore middle hitter
Morgan Wardall (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) midway through the first set to turn a 9-9 tie into a 15-10 advantage. The team used a 7-1 run later in the set to take a 22-14 lead and eventually clinch the set.
The Warhawks raced to a 5-1 lead in the second set before UW-Eau Claire (6-5, 0-1) rallied to tie the set at 9-9. With the frame tied at 13-13, Sotiros served UW-Whitewater to 10 straight points, and the Warhawks closed the set on a 12-1 run to take a 2-0 match lead.
The Blugolds led 5-3 to start the third, but UW-Whitewater took the lead for good at 9-8. The two teams alternated points, but the Warhawks never let UW-Eau Claire jump out in front and closed the match with a 6-2 run.
UW-Whitewater continues WIAC play with a trip to UW-La Crosse next Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m.
