Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - All streaks eventually end, but ones that have lasted more than decade feel like they never will. Once your team finally breaks through it can be quite a relief as the Edgewood College volleyball team found out Tuesday night. The Eagles controlled Lakeland College for most of the match to claim a 3-1 victory snapping a 19-match losing streak to the Muskies. The match marked the Eagles first win in the series since October 26, 1999.

Edgewood College (7-10, 3-0 NAC) started a little slow in the first set, falling behind 8-3, but a substitution of Aryn Wellnitz sparked an Eagle run. With Kim Lueck serving, Wellnitz hammered home five kills on six consecutive rallies, helping to turn a five-point deficit into an 11-8 lead. After Lakeland College, the three-time defending champion of the Northern Athletics Conference, tied the match at 13, it was Kristin Manske's turn to go to work. Manske scored three kills and Mallory Palmer added one of her own for a 4-0 run and the Eagles wouldn't trail again. The Muskies proceeded to commit attack errors on four of the last five Eagle points giving Edgewood College a 25-15 victory.

The Eagles' second set was sparked by a 7-0 run featuring three services aces from Palmer, turning a 4-3 deficit into a 10-4 Eagle lead. Middle hitter Brittany Bylsma made sure Lakeland College (3-11, 1-2 NAC) would have no chance to get back into the set, scoring back-to-back kills to set up match point. Bylsma had three kills in the 25-14 set, in which the Eagles had nine kills and just one error for a .364 attack percentage.

Edgewood College head coach Paul Schlomer mixed up the lineup in set three, and the Muskies quickly gained an advantage. When the Eagles cut the Lakeland College lead to 8-7, Anna Faust recorded a kill and then served five straight points for a 14-7 advantage. Wellnitz and Jessica Martin had three kills apiece in the set, but the Muskies still claimed a 25-15 win.

In the fourth set, however, the Eagles slammed the door on whatever momentum the Muskies had gained. Edgewood College forced Lakeland into an early timeout with a 6-1 run to open the set. Lakeland College closed the margin to 7-6, but an 8-2 run on the serves of Lueck, Sam Himmelspach and Laura Sweeney put the fourth set out of reach early. The Eagles led the set start to finish, and ended the Muskies 19-match run when an emphatic kill by Manske struck the floor on match point for a 25-18 victory.

Wellnitz led the team with 11 kills and just one error for a career-high .476 hitting percentage. Manske was almost as good, smashing eight kills and hitting .400 for the match. Palmer added nine kills and a team-high 12 digs. Freshman Lindsey Swansby passed out 36 assists as the Eagles hit a season-best .256 in attacking. The win also marks Edgewood College's first 3-0 start in conference play since the 1998 season.

Edgewood College will step out of the NAC tomorrow for a 7:00 match in Milwaukee against Mount Mary College. The Eagles will return home on Friday for a pair of matches with Alverno College and UW-Stevens Point.