LA CROSSE, Wis. – Women's Volleyball kicked off a stretch of nonconference action Saturday as they traveled for a tri-match. They faced off with the UW-La Crosse Eagles and the Loras Duhawks. Edgewood University (11-3) emerged triumphant in both matchups, claiming a 3-2 (19-25, 25-16, 25-22, 23-25, 15-12) victory over UW-La Crosse (5-7) and a 3-1 (20-25, 25-9, 38-36, 25-23) result against Loras (6-9).
 
MATCH ONE: EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 3, UW-LA CROSSE 2 (19-25, 25-16, 25-22, 23-25, 15-12)
- Edgewood University struggled to get going on offense in the first frame. A 9-1 burst from UW-La Crosse put the visitors well behind 13-6. Edgewood University would battle back within 21-17 after a 4-1 rally, but UW-La Crosse finished the first set strong to claim a 1-0 lead.
 
- Five unanswered got Edgewood University started in the second frame. They dropped a hammer with a 10-2 explosion, barreling ahead 20-8 on route to tying up the match 1-1.
 
- The two teams wrestled over points early in the third frame, but Edgewood University struck first. Six in a row, including five kills, propelled them ahead 14-7. UW-La Crosse clawed back into the set on a 9-4 rally to close within 20-18. The UW-La Crosse offense continued to click, a 4-1 run featuring four kills tying the set at 22 apiece, but a trio of kills from Edgewood University closed out the set in their favor.
 
- Three kills and an ace fueled a 6-0 start for Edgewood University in the fourth frame. A 7-2 response from UW-La Crosse brought the hosts within 13-11. Edgewood University struggled to put away UW-La Crosse and the home team took full advantage. Down 20-17, a 7-2 sprint helped UW-La Crosse force a fifth set on their home floor.
 
- After falling behind 3-1 with a 3-0 UW-La Crosse rally, Edgewood University's offense kicked into gear on a 4-0 stretch to pull ahead 5-3 in the decisive fifth frame. A 5-3 stretch helped UW-La Crosse close the gap late. Up 11-10, Edgewood University got to work on offense to claim the victory, three kills in a 4-2 section of the set paving the way.
   
- UW-La Crosse slowed down the Edgewood University offense at the net with a 15-to-7 advantage in blocks. Edgewood University held a slim favorable gap in hitting percentage, .131-to-.126, and in digs 86-80.
 
- Nida Zukauskaite posted a 18-kill, 13-dig double-double. Natalie Murphy stepped up with 11 kills of her own.
 
- Abbey Eivins and Laila Rasmussen played key roles in the Edgewood University offense. Both setters had a pair of aces, with Eivins leading the way with 25 assists and Rasmussen tallying 23.
 
- Madison Amstutz and Shannon Rusch played pivotal points in the back row with 24 and 19 digs respectively.
 
- Maddy Wilson led all players with nine blocks.
 
MATCH TWO: EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 3, LORAS 1 (20-25, 25-9, 38-36, 25-23)
- After wrestling over small leads early, the Eagles seemed to have momentum with a 5-2 run to hold a 14-11 edge. The Duhawks rallied with a 9-1 burst to put Edgewood University well behind as Loras claimed the first set.
 
- The Eagles kicked off the second set up 9-2 and never let their foot off the gas. Another 9-2 rally bookended the dominant second frame that saw Edgewood University hit .467 with 16 kills and only a pair of attack errors.
 
- The third set was one for the ages. While the Eagles led 13-10 after a 5-2 stretch, the Duhawks put together an impressive rally with a 9-1 burst to lead 20-15. Edgewood University showed no quit, barreling ahead to extra points with a 7-3 sprint to tie the set at 24-24. Loras held set point 10 times after, but the Eagles would not be denied. Edgewood University's offense took over with a 4-1 rally featuring four kills to clinch an incredible 38-36 set three.
 
- Three unanswered kills pushed the Eagles up 9-5 in the fourth set. While a 3-0 stretch pushed the Duhawks within 11-10, a 6-1 stretch boosted the Edgewood University lead to 17-11. Loras responded in kind to cut the edge to 18-17. While a follow-up 4-1 stretch tied things up 21-21, the Eagles clamped down on offense and defense to close the set and match out on a 4-2 stretch.
   
- Edgewood University soared on offense with a 71-to-51 advantage in kills and outhit the Duhawks .270-to-.190.
 
- Five Eagles had eight or more kills. Reagan Siebler played one of the best matches of her young career, tallying 20 kills on 49 attempts for a .245 hitting percentage.
 
- Zukauskaite earned her second double-double of the day with 16 kills and 10 digs. She added a pair of aces and hit .324 on 37 attempts.
 
- Molly Amendt played key roles on offense and defense, swinging for 13 kills and hitting .440 on 25 attempts while adding three blocks.
 
- Peyton Millin swung for 8 kills on 13 attempts with no errors while also leading Edgewood University with five blocks.
 
- Eivins and Rasmussen stepped up as setters once again. Eivins shined with 38 assists and 10 digs, while Rasmussen posted 18 assists.
 
- Rusch earned 21 digs to lead the Eagles and added seven assists.
 
- Murphy tallied nine kills and three blocks. Marina Hosticka added three blocks of her own.
 
- Isabel Hart earned a match-high 42 assists for Loras. McKenna Carroll proved to be a dynamic hitter for the Duhawks, recording 17 kills and only two errors for a .652 hitting percentage on 23 attempts.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Siebler's 20 kills against Loras were a personal best.
 
- Eivins' 38 assists versus the Duhawks were a new high watermark for the setter.
 
- Rusch's 21 digs set a new personal record against Loras.
 
- The 71 kills as a team against the Duhawks were a season best and the most of any NACC team in a single match.
 
- The Eagles have two of the top three highest kill totals in a single match in the NACC this season (68, UW-Stevens Point, September 22).
 
- The 71 kills against Loras were the second-most all-time in program history (73, Dubuque, October 28, 2010).
 
- Amendt's 13 kills against the Duhawks were a personal best.
 
- Amstutz's 24 digs versus UW-La Crosse set a new high watermark for the libero.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles will continue their non-conference road trip Tuesday as they head to Iowa. They will take on the Dubuque Spartans, ranked no. 21 in the latest AVCA Division III national poll. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Dubuque, Iowa.