Box Score (vs. Augustana)
Box Score (vs. UW-Stout)
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The Edgewood College women's volleyball team opened play at the UW-Platteville Invitational with a pair of matches on Friday night. First the Eagles topped Augustana College 3-0 before beating UW-Stout 3-1 to break a 54-match losing streak to schools from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The Eagles (6-8) came out and set the tone early against Augustana (4-10), taking the first set 25-13. In the second set, Edgewood College was down 22-19 when the Eagles took a timeout. It was a very timely timeout as the Eagles promptly won the next three points to even the match and force an Augustana timeout. With Edgewood College up 24-23, Katie Wedvick and Lindsey Swansby teamed up for a block to give the Eagles the second set 25-23.
The Vikings jumped out to a quick 9-4 lead in the third set and forced another Edgewood College timeout. The Eagles then clawed back from down 12-6 to get back within two at 12-10 behind back-to-back solo blocks by Mallory Palmer and Wedvick. With the score tied at 15, Lindsey Swansby stepped to the service line, where she stayed for awhile. She served nine straight Eagle points to give Edgewood College a commanding 24-16 lead. The Eagles won the next point to take the set 25-16 and the match 3-0.
Palmer led the Eagles with 11 kills and Sam Himmelspach tallied a team-high 13 digs in the win.
The night cap saw the Eagles take on UW-Stout (1-13). The Blue Devils jumped out quick and lead 20-12 before the Eagles began to mount a comeback. Edgewood College got to within one point at 22-21, but UW-Stout held on to take the first set 25-23.
Edgewood College had to come from behind again in the second set. The Eagles trailed UW-Stout 18-14 before rolling off four straight points to tie the game. Edgewood College then outscored the Blue Devils 7-3 to take the second set 25-21.
Just as they did in the first two sets, the Eagles fell behind early in the third set. Trailing 7-3, Laura Sweeney came to the service line and got the Eagles within a point at 7-6. After a Blue Devil timeout with the Eagles leading 18-15, Edgewood College scored seven of the next 10 points to take the set 25-18.
In the fourth set, Edgewood College jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead to force a UW-Stout timeout. With the score tied at 15, and Kristin Manske serving, the Eagles took the lead and extended it to 19-15. UW-Stout then made a comeback and got within one point at 21-20, but the Eagles held off the surge and took the set 25-21 and the match 3-1.
The win snapped Edgewood College's 54-match losing streak to WIAC schools, their last win came in 1996 over UW-Stevens Point.
Palmer led the Eagles with 21 kills in the match to go along with 14 digs. Aryn Wellnitz was the only other Eagle to reach double figures in kills with 11. Lindsey Swansby tallied team-highs of 20 digs and 40 assists in the win. Sweeney and Kim Lueck also reached double figures in digs with 18 and 16, respectively.
Edgewood College will continue play at the UW-Platteville Invitational tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. when the play host UW-Platteville. The Eagles will then play St. Norbert College at noon to conclude the tournament.
