STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (24-10) just couldn't shake visiting UW-Oshkosh (20-14) in a straight-set loss in the first round of the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's).  All three sets went extras with the Titans prevailing by set scores of 26-24, 27-25, 26-24.
 
Sophomore April Gehl (Hilbert, Wis./Hilbert) led the Pointers with another double-double, her 14th in the last 18 matches.  She led all players with 17 kills and contributed 14 digs.
 
Senior Kendra Kundinger (Auburndale, Wis./Auburndale) had yet another double-figure digs match.  She led the Pointers with 18 on the night, her 33rd match of the year in double digits.
 
Sophomore Abby Majercik (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) provided 38 assists, the most by any player in the match.
 
The Pointers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead behind kills by seniors Kelly Magliano (Chicago, Ill./Mount Assisi Academy) and Morgan Wirkus (Marathon, Wis./Marathon).   Back-to-back kills by Wirkus sparked a 4-0 run to give UWSP an 8-4 edge.  Following mini-runs by both teams, the back-and-forth set was knotted at 14-14.  UWO put up four-straight points, but an 8-2 run put UWSP within two points of winning the set.  The Titans rallied for five of the final six points to edge UWSP in the first set.
 
UWO scored the first four points of the second set, but the Pointers responded with five-straight to inch ahead.  Later in the set, Tara Emme (St. Nazianz, Wis./Valders) recorded a kill to start a 5-0 run and give the Pointers a 22-21 lead.  The teams exchanged points with kills by Gehl and Magliano setting up set point, but the Titans scored three-straight to take the set.
 
The third set began with neither team leading by more than two points until a Majercik ace put UWSP ahead 17-14.  The Titans rattled off seven-consecutive points, but the Pointers erased the deficit to tie the set at 24-24.  The momentum stalled as UWO scored the final two points to end the match.
 
Gehl completed her season with 495 kills to lead the team.  Kundinger had 690 digs on the season to lead all WIAC players.