MILWAUKEE, WIS. – The Edgewood College Eagles kicked off their Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) title defense Thursday night on the road. They faced off with the Alverno Inferno in their conference opener. The Eagles (3-7, 1-0 NACC) cruised in a decisive 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-18) sweep of the Inferno (3-9, 0-1).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Edgewood College set the tone early, their 6-2 lead fueled by five kills and an ace. The offense continued to click with a 6-2 sprint in the middle of the set for a commanding 16-8 lead on route to a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
- The Eagles outhit the Inferno .467 to .088 in the frame.
 
- Three straight aces from Mia Hinkamper played a key role in starting Edgewood College ahead 5-0 in the second set. Another 8-3 follow-up would put the set squarely out of reach, and the Eagles would lead by as much as 14 points before closing the book on a 2-0 lead.
 
- After Edgewood College started things off with a 6-1 rally in the third set, the Inferno matched in kind for a 7-6 edge, their first on the night. The Eagles answered with a 9-2 burst featuring five kills for a 15-9 edge. Three points in a row would keep Alverno in the set, but a 7-2 rally by Edgewood College would leave them ahead 22-14, a lead they would never relinquish.
   
- The Eagles finished with a 15-to-3 advantage in service aces and a .358-to-.105 gap in hitting percentage.
 
- Kennedy Kabat posted five kills on 10 swings, both team highs. She finished with a .500 hitting percentage.
 
- Haley Chavez was one of three Eagles with three aces. She added nine assists.
 
- Ciera Fletcher posted five digs and three aces, while Hinkamper tallied six digs and three aces.
 
- Marina Hosticka swung for four kills, as did Cassidy Spies.
 
- Abbey Eivins anchored a strong offensive showing with 16 assists, a match high.
 
- Nida Zukauskaite recorded seven digs.

- Bella Braun contributed four digs and two aces.
 
- Rolin West finished with a match-high 11 kills for the Inferno.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- 15 aces are a new season-high for Edgewood College.
 
- Hosticka's four kills were a personal best.
 
- Three aces were new individual records for Fletcher and Chavez. Chavez's nine assists were a new high watermark as well.
 
- The Eagles are 28-0 all-time against Alverno.
 
UP NEXT
Edgewood College will continue on the road this weekend, heading down to Naperville, Ill. on Saturday. They will take on Calvin, ranked no. 19 in the latest AVCA poll, and North Central. First serve is scheduled for noon.