MADISON, Wis. – The Edgewood College volleyball team was looking for a little bit of Edgedome magic after a lackluster home opener two weeks ago. The Eagles made sure Lakeland College didn't break their spell. Led by Savannah Koester's 12 kills, the Eagles picked up their first NACC win of the season with a 3-1 victory (17-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-18) over the Muskies on Wednesday night.
After Lakeland College (8-8, 1-1 NACC) streaked ahead with a 25-17 win in the first set, the Eagles began to collect themselves. After a kill by Lakeland's Kathy Flanagan brought the Muskies within 12-10, Edgewood College began to open up a lead. Koester had two kills and Renee Meister and Jordan Winkler one each in a 5-1 run that pushed the Eagles advantage to 17-11. Lakeland rallied back to tie the match at 23-23 thanks to four service aces, but Meister scored a kill for the 24th point and Koester and Sarah Schuchhardt teamed for a block to win the set and even the match.
Edgewood College (7-8, 1-1 NACC) put on their best hitting show of the night in the third set with a dominating .344 attack percentage. Elizabeth Evans gave the Eagles the lead for good with back-to-back kills at 9-7. Winkler, Meister and Carly Reuter would end up with three kills each in the set for a 25-22 victory. In the fourth set, the Eagles controlled from the start, leading wire-to-wire. Macalah Finstad served off four straight points for a 9-3 lead aided by an assisted block from Winkler and Schuchhardt and then a solo effort from Schuchhardt. Winkler and Reuter put down back-to-back kills to end the match and get the Eagles back to even in league play.
Koester hit .333 for the night with 12 kills and two service aces, while Evans totaled nine kills. Schuchhardt had a big night on the net with one solo and seven assisted blocks, as the Eagles stuffed the Muskies a total of 11 time in the match. Finstad led four Eagles with double digit kills, totaling 15, while Winkler and Rachel Tesch had 14 apiece. Haley Schwenn posted 21 assists, topping Rachel Thomsen's 19 assists.
The Eagles struggled much of the night with the Muskies serves as Lakeland College reeled off 16 service aces, led by Caleigh Galvan who had five for the match. Allison Erthum had 12 kills, while Jenna Ward also broke double digits for the Muskies with 10 kills.
Edgewood College will participate in the NACC-IIACC Challenge this weekend in Dubuque, Iowa. Loras College will host the Eagles for four matches against the IIAC's top four teams from last season's standings. The Eagles open on Friday with Wartburg College before meeting 22nd-ranked Coe College.
