WHITEWATER, WIS. – The Edgewood College Eagles women's volleyball squad kicked off their 2024-25 season Friday with a pair of strong regional foes. They faced off with the Augsburg Auggies and the UW-Whitewater Warhawks. The Eagles (1-1) took down the Auggies (0-1) in a 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 25-20) outing in the opener. In the nightcap, Edgewood College battled with the Warhawks (2-0), ranked no. 10 in the preseason AVCA poll. UW-Whitewater would win 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-21) over the Eagles.
MATCH ONE: EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 3, AUGSBURG 1 (25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 25-20)
- The Auggies struggled early as the Eagles took a 5-0 lead in the first set. Edgewood College would continue to roll, with seven straight points in the middle of the set giving them a 14-4 advantage as they cruised to a 1-0 lead in the match.
- Augsburg's offense found some rhythm early in the second set, four-straight points propelling them to a 9-6 lead. The Eagles rallied, a 6-2 sprint pushing them ahead 12-11. The two teams would be locked in a close contest, neither team leading by more than two points throughout most of the set. Tied 22-22, Edgewood College strung together three straight points for a 2-0 lead.
- After the Auggies found momentum with a pair of kills and an ace to help them to an 8-4 edge, six kills and a pair of aces would fuel an 8-2 run for the Eagles and a 12-10 lead. Augsburg would wrestle back a two-point advantage with a 5-1 run and would cling to it for the duration of the set. While mistakes by the Auggies would force extra points, Edgewood College errors would tilt the set back in Augsburg's favor as they went to a fourth set.
- The Eagles offense sputtered with four errors in a row to push the Auggies to a 12-9 lead in set four. Edgewood College's offense would bounce back in the middle of the frame, a 9-1 rally sending them ahead 21-15 off the back of five kills and an ace. Augsburg would never make a significant dent in the lead as the Eagles claimed victory in their season opener.
- Edgewood College held decisive advantages in aces (8-to-4) and blocks (12-to-6) in the tilt.
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Cassidy Spies had a strong outing in her first match as an Eagle, earning a 14-kill, 10-dig double-double
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Abigail Hoffmann picked up from where she left off last season with 16 assists, 10 digs, nine kills, and five blocks.
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Abbey Falk tallied seven blocks to lead the team while
Payton Millin added on four.
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Jennacy Wille anchored the back line with a team-high 19 digs.
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Abbey Eivins and
Zoee Pond contributed well offensively with 16 assists and 10 kills respectively.
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Mia Hinkamper had an immediate impact in her first match with Edgewood College, earning six assists, six digs, and a pair of aces.
- Ava Carlson proved to be key to the Augsburg effort, recording a 10-kill, 14-dig double-double
- Bri Van Well paced the Auggies with 14 kills. Angel Vo added 22 assists and Torrie Redher 24 digs.
MATCH TWO: NO. 10 UW WHITEWATER 3, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-21)
- The Eagles would hang with the Warhawks early, but the hosts ground out an 18-14 edge late in the set. UW-Whitewater's offense and defense combined to close the door on the opening set, two blocks, two kills, and an ace fueling six unanswered points for a 24-15 advantage.
- The Warhawks rolled through the second set. After claiming a 9-3 tally early, a 12-6 stretch by UW-Whitewater would all but cement a 2-0 match lead.
- Down but not out, Edgewood College battled valiantly in the third. A 6-1 sprint with a pair of blocks, three kills, and an ace would push the Eagles ahead 12-9. The Warhawks would answer with a 5-1 rally, and the teams would take turns trading ties and one-point edges. The UW-Whitewater offense would fuel a 5-1 run with three kills and an ace to claim a key 20-17 tally late. The two squads would trade points down the stretch as the Warhawks claimed a sweep.
- UW-Whitewater outhit the Eagles .374 to .116. Jenna Weinfurt anchored a powerful Warhawk attack with 17 kills on a .448 hitting percentage while adding on two aces, two blocks, and eight digs.
- Aubrie Krzus fueled the efficient Warhawks as their setter, tallying 36 assists as well as four blocks.
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Katie Borchert and Spies tied for the Edgewood College lead with six kills apiece.
- Falk tallied three blocks and an ace
- Hoffmann earned 10 assists, seven digs, and five kills.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
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Paul Schlomer earned his 300th victory as head coach of Eagles women's volleyball in the match against Augsburg.
- Edgewood College is now 2-3 against the Auggies all-time and have won back-to-back outings.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will open the Todd Wehr Edgedome on Tuesday, September 3. They will take on the UW-Platteville Pioneers in non-conference action. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. against their in-state foe.
