The No. 10 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team remained undefeated in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Friday night with an 18-25, 25-15, 26-24, 25-20 triumph at UW-Stout. The Warhawks (14-3 overall, 3-0 WIAC), who also extended their win streak to eight matches with the win, overcame a slow start to claim the final three sets in the match.
UW-Whitewater trailed 12-6 in the first set and was unable to recover as the Blue Devils (14-6, 0-3) jumped out to a 1-0 match lead. The Warhawks made a run early in the second set on the serve of sophomore outside hitter Emma Aske and never relinquished the advantage from there to level the match at 1-1. UW-Stout led 17-12 in the third before UW-Whitewater chipped away at the deficit and eventually take the lead at 20-19. The two teams went back and forth from there before the Warhawks claimed the final two points of the frame, with Aske posting the deciding kill on set point. UW-Whitewater held a commanding 16-9 advantage in the fourth before the Blue Devils ran off seven straight points to tie the set at 16-16. The Warhawks rallied for five of the next six points, and the two teams traded points from there, allowing UW-Whitewater to hang on for the four-set victory.
Senior middle hitter Ashton Doll, who put home the final kill of the match, led the Warhawks with 13 kills to go along with three blocks. Senior Rachel Butterfield contributed 10 kills on a .333 hitting percentage and added four digs and three blocks.
Freshman outside hitter Chloe Buescher totaled a double-double with 10 kills, 12 digs and four blocks. Aske finished with five kills, two service aces and 11 digs, and sophomore setter KellyAnn Sotiros collected 18 assists and five digs. Freshman setter Maggie Streckert tallied 17 assists and one block.
Freshman defensive specialist Morgan Jensen led the back row with 23 digs and added two assists. Sophomore defensive specialist Hailey Mackenthun registered 10 digs and two service aces.
UW-Whitewater resumes WIAC play Wednesday, 10/9, against UW-Platteville. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at Russell Arena.
