The 15th-ranked UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (2-0) opened the season with a sweep in both matches at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic in Winona, Minn., on Friday.  The Pointers knocked off Carroll (0-2) in straight sets, 25-10, 26-24 and 25-15 in the first match of the day.  In the nightcap, UWSP cruised to a 25-18, 25-15, 25-6 victory over St. Norbert (0-2)
 
In the opener, the Pointers hit .270 as freshman Abby Majercik (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) tallied 24 assists and senior Bri Piepenbrok (Merrill, WI/Merrill) has a game-high 22 digs.  In game two against the Green Knights, Majercik added 34 assists while the Pointers took advantage of 28 SNC errors.  Seniors Gabby Thomas (Henderson, MN/LeSueur-Henderson) and Marie Krengel (Eagan, MN/Eastview) had 21 and 20 kills, respectively, on the day to lead UWSP.
 
UWSP 3, Carroll University 0 (25-10, 26-24, 25-15)
After falling behind 3-0 to begin the first set, junior Kendra Kundinger (Auburndale, WI/Auburndale) served eight-straight winners to turn the tide in UWSP's favor aided by three kills by Thomas in the series of Pointer points.  Later in the set, Thomas served up a pair of aces in a 5-0 run by UWSP to pull ahead 17-7.
 
Set number two was a bit more difficult for the Pointers.  A back-and-forth set found UWSP down 20-24, but Kundinger came to the Pointers rescue.  Three-consecutive service aces pulled the Pointers within 23-24.  Two points later, another ace by Kundinger put UWSP ahead.   Thomas provided the set-winning kill to end the late rally.
 
A trio of early kills by Krengel gave UWSP an 8-5.  Later in the set, Krengel served up seven-consecutive winners as the Pointers pulled away 20-6.  After a brief rally by Carroll pulled the Pioneers within 24-15, Krengel put the finishing touches on the match with her fourth kill of the set.
 
UWSP 3, St. Norbert 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-6)
The Pointers' second match, the ranked side built a mid-set lead on a series of St. Norbert attack errors intermixed with a couple of service aces to build an 18-9 advantage.  Junior Ellen Drewry (Waunakee, WI/Waunakee) added a pair of late-set kills to finish off the first set win.
 
After a 7-7 tie part-way through the second set, the Pointers pulled away for a 25-15 win led by Krengel's set-high four kills.  Krengel was the star again in set three propelling the Pointers from a 4-4 score to a 23-4 advantage with 19-successive services that included two aces.
 
UW-Stevens Point is back in action at 10:00 a.m. at the Sugar Loaf Classic with a match up against Luther (2-0).  The Pointers wrap up opening weekend with a 2:00 p.m. match versus Finlandia.  UWSP returns home for a match against Lakeland at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday (Sept. 7) at Berg Gym.