The No. 10 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team came up with key plays in critical moments Saturday afternoon for a 25-19, 25-23, 25-23 triumph against Grinnell (Iowa) in a non-conference match at Russell Arena.
The Warhawks (14-1 overall), who improved to 11-0 in home matches with the win, held a 7-2 advantage on blocks and committed fewer service errors (6) than the Pioneers (12) despite Grinnell's advantage on team hitting percentage (.190-.160).
Erin McNeil (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) posted eight kills on a .571 hitting percentage to go along with four blocks.
Baylie Hansen (Bonduel, Wis./Shawano) registered six kills and two blocks, and
Jenna Weinfurt (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) collected 10 kills and five digs.
Kirsten Anderson (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) finished with six kills and five blocks, and
Morgan Wardall (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) contributed four kills and two blocks.
KellyAnn Sotiros (New Berlin, Wis./West Allis Hale) recorded 16 assists, four digs and two kills, while
Paige Manssen (Bull Valley, Ill./McHenry West) finished with 14 assists and six digs.
Morgan Jensen (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) filled the box score with 10 digs, four assists and four service aces.
After the Pioneers (12-9) won the first point of the match, UW-Whitewater scored the next six on Sotiros' serve and never trailed from that point in the first set. Grinnell drew to as close as three points, but the Warhawks maintained their advantage to take a 1-0 match lead.
The Warhawks jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the second set, but the Pioneers responded to take a 17-16 lead. The two teams traded points before Grinnell scored four straight for a 22-18 advantage. UW-W finished the set on a 7-1 run, highlighted by two kills from Weinfurt and a block by Anderson and McNeil, to take a two-sets-to-none lead.
UW-Whitewater led 22-17 in the third before the Pioneers rallied for six straight points and a 23-22 lead. From there, Weinfurt tied the set with a kill, Anderson and McNeil gave the Warhawks the lead with a block, and McNeil ended the set and the match with a kill.
UW-W returns to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play against UW-La Crosse this Wednesday. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at Russell Arena.
