WHITEWATER, Wis. -- The Warhawk women's volleyball team secured a pair of wins on the first day of the team's annual Dig Panici Classic. UW-Whitewater opened the day with a 3-0 sweep of North Central (25-12, 25-14, 25-14) before taking a thrilling five-setter against Gustavus Adolphus (21-25, 27-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13).
Abbie Dix (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead) took over at the net in the second match with 15 blocks to break the program record for blocks in a single match. UWW's 20.0 total team blocks against the Gusties is the second most in a match in the modern scoring era.
UWW cruised in the first match of the day hitting .446 as a team while adding 11 aces from the service line and 14 blocks.
Claire Dillon (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) set the tone hammering down seven kills in 10 attempts with just one error in the first set. Fellow outside
Gaby DiMotto (New Berlin, Wis./West) had the hot hand in set two with four kills in five attempts without a miscue. She continued to roll in the final set, pacing UW-Whitewater with five kills.
For the match, Dillon led a three Warhawk contingent with double digit kills with 13. DiMotto added 12 while
Abbie Dix (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead) pounded down 10 on a .500 attack percentage. Defensively at the net,
Aubrie Krzus (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South) and
Amanda Hillmann (Cedarburg, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) each tallied four blocks. Krzus added 38 assists in the contest.
Addie Bruns (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) was phenomenal at the service line with six aces while also posting a team-high 11 digs.
Prior to the second match, UW-Whitewater recognized two 2026 Hall of Fame inductees that have had an incredible impact on Warhawk volleyball - former right side hitter Caitlin Hogan Perry and longtime owner of Rocky Rococo's Ken Dahnert. The Warhawks also celebrated their annual Dig Panici Night, honoring former UWW volleyball player Lisa Panici who lost a courageous two-year battle with brain cancer in 2012.
The Warhawks honored Lisa with a fantastic five set win over Gustavus Adolphus bolstered by a program blocking record from Dix. The squads traded set wins to force the decisive fifth. A 7-1 run for UWW gave the Warhawks a 10-6 advantage. GAC battled, eventually tying the set 11-11. The next four points went back-and-forth before UW-Whitewater tallied the final two on a pair of Gustie miscues.
Four Warhawks posted double figures in the kill column led by DiMotto's 19. Dix added 14 while Hillmann and Dillon each registered 11. Krzus dished out 53 assists adding 10 digs and six blocks.
Dix had a monster match defensively with 15 blocks breaking the program record for blocks in a match. She had seven in the fourth set alone.
Natalie Powers (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) added 27 digs with
Natalie Lawton (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Catholic Prep) (13) joining her in double figures.
The Warhawks return to action to wrap up the Dig Panici Classic Saturday.
