Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - In a heavyweight slugfest that would have made Rocky Balboa proud, the Edgewood College volleyball team stayed on their feet just long enough for a thrilling 3-2 victory over Concordia University Wisconsin at the Todd Wehr Edgedome. The Eagles got up off the canvas after being down two sets to one to move one step closer to a Northern Athletics Conference Tournament bid.

At the center of the ring were Edgewood College's Mallory Palmer and Concordia Wisconsin's Katie Roessler. The two outside hitters went toe-to-toe for most of the match pounding out attack after attack. Roessler, the reigning NAC Player of the Year, may have won the battle with 23 kills in a whopping 61 attempts, but Palmer and the Eagles claimed the war, with the freshman from Poynette scoring 16 kills in 45 attempts.

Edgewood College (13-13, 6-3 NAC) started the match clean and sharp in the first set with a 25-19 victory. Palmer and sophomore Abbi Schultz had three kills apiece, while Kristin Manske added a pair of blocks.

The Eagles had their chances to win sets two and three, but Concordia Wisconsin (15-6, 6-3 NAC) proved stronger at closing the set in each of those frames. In set two, the score was tied on 16 separate occasions, but the Falcons' Sarah Schmerber served out the final point for a 25-23 win. The Eagles were also tied at 16-16 in the third set, but closed the set with seven attack errors, giving the Falcons most of they needed for a 25-19 victory.

The resilient Eagles shook off the sour end to set three and roared out to a quick 8-2 lead in the fourth behind a pair of service aces from Nina Brown. The Falcons fought back and eventually earned a 13-13 tie on a solo block by Stephanie Boehm. However, the Eagles weren't ready to go down yet as four different Eagles recorded kills and Dacy Swansby, who hadn't entered the match until the fourth set, pounded down the final point for a 25-22 win. The Eagles overcame an assault by Roessler who had eight kills and just one error in the set.

With all the momentum back on the Eagle side of the gym, the Falcons could have folded in the fifth set. Instead Boehm got them started with a kill on their way to a 4-1 lead. The Eagles answered the bell with their heavy hitter. Palmer scored two kills to get the Eagles back in the set, then Peckham and Schultz forced a Falcon timeout with two kills for an 8-6 Eagle lead. After a second timeout at 12-9, the teams traded sideouts all the way to 14-11. At match point, it was again Swansby, scoring the kill that ended the set and the match.

Schultz finished with 11 kills, while Swansby had four kills and no errors in two sets played. Libero Kim Lueck, who was on the receiving end of numerous rockets from Roessler and Boehm finished with 31 digs. Manske has six kills and four blocks, while Peckham and Sara Schneider combined for 46 assists.

Boehm was nearly as dangerous as Roessler, pounding out 16 kills. Roessler and Boehm teamed up for three solo and four assisted blocks on the night.

With the victory Edgewood College moves into a tie for sixth place with the Falcons and postion themselves just one win away from clinching an NAC Tournament berth. The Eagles will reach their first postseason since 2007 with a win over either Dominican University on Friday night or Concordia University Chicago on Saturday afternoon. Another loss by ninth place Marian University would also put the Eagles into the field.