MADISON – The Edgewood College Eagles hosted a climatic clash at the Todd Wehr Edgedome Tuesday evening. They faced off with the UW-Stevens Point Pointers, ranked No. 24 in the latest AVCA poll. The Eagles (15-9) rallied in the fourth set to take home a 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 18-25, 25-23) victory over the Pointers (17-8).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After UW-Stevens Point took an early 4-1 lead, Edgewood College rattled off eight points in a row featuring three blocks for a 9-4 lead. The Pointers struggled to make headway as the Eagles had momentum at their back, a 7-2 run featuring back-to-back service aces from
Abbey Eivins pushing them ahead 18-10. UW-Stevens Point mounted a furious rally on a 10-2 barrage to close within a point, but Edgewood College closed the door on the set with a 5-2 run.
- Four in a row, including back-to-back service aces from
Katie Borchert, had the Eagles ahead 8-4 early in the second. Edgewood College kept the pressure on, pulling ahead 15-9 off the back of a 6-1 run. The Pointers grabbed momentum late with seven unanswered for a 17-16 lead. Seven kills helped fuel an 8-3 run from the Eagles as they pulled away for a 2-0 match lead.
- While Edgewood College held an 8-6 lead early in the third frame, UW-Stevens Point flipped the script with a 6-2 rally as their offense got into gear. An 8-3 stretch run helped the Pointers pull away late as the Eagles struggled for answers. UW-Stevens Point kept themselves alive in the match, finishing off the set with a 5-1 burst after being up 20-16.
- The Pointers carried momentum into the fourth set, putting Edgewood College behind 8-4 as their offense continued to roll. A 6-2 response from the Eagles evened the set at 12-12, but UW-Stevens Point clicked late as they held onto another 20-16 lead. Edgewood College would not be denied. They rallied to finish off the set and match on a 9-3 tear as they found another gear.
- The two squads were nearly identical in most major statistical categories. The Eagles had four more kills, one more ace, one more block, six more assists, and one more dig than the Pointers, and an .138-to-.127 edge in hitting percentage.
- Eivins finished the night with 21 assists, seven digs, and four aces.
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Abigail Hoffmann earned 19 assists alongside eight kills.
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Mia Hinkamper shined as the libero against a relentless Pointers assault, recording 27 digs and no reception errors.
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Cassidy Spies excelled, posting a 16-kill, 16-dig double-double with a match-sealing ace.
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Jennacy Wille stepped up in the back line with 13 digs.
- Borchert played a pivotal role on offense with 10 kills and a pair of aces.
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Abbey Falk anchored the blocking game with four blocks and also swung for eight kills.
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Payton Millin contributed three blocks.
- Ashley Kopp earned a double-double for UW-Stevens Point with 14 kills and 13 digs, while adding in four blocks.
- Lauren Shaw was the other Pointer with double digit kills, posting 12 of them.
- Grace Michalske fueled the UW-Stevens Point attack with 35 assists.
- Tessa Erlandson tallied 22 digs and a pair of aces.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Edgewood College has won 13 of their last 15 matches and are 7-1 at the Edgedome this season.
- Hinkamper's 27 digs were a career best with the Eagles, while Eivins matched her personal high with four aces.
- In their last three meetings between Edgewood College and the Pointers, the home team has won.
- The 82 digs as a team were the second-most on the season for the Eagles
UP NEXT
The Eagles will hit the road as they look to carry their momentum into more Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) action. They'll take on the Rockford Regents Thursday in Rockford, Ill. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
