WINONA, Minn. – Head coach Abbey Sutherland guided her No. 15 UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (4-0) to a pair of wins in Saturday's action at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic in Winona, Minn.  The Pointers finish the opening weekend 4-0 and have dropped just a single set thus far this season.
 
In morning action, the Pointers faced their stiffest competition of the weekend, but defeated Luther (2-2) in four sets, 25-16, 13-25, 27-25, 25-15.  Later in the afternoon, UWSP beat Finlandia (0-4) in straight sets 25-8, 25-12, 25-14.
 
Senior Gabby Thomas (Henderson, MN/LeSueur-Henderson) led UWSP with 18 kills in the win over Luther.  Fellow senior Bri Piepenbrok (Merrill, WI/Merrill) piled up 25 digs and freshman Abby Majercik (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) had 32 assists. Against Finlandia, freshman April Gehl (Hilbert, WI/Hilbert) had a match-high 11 kills with Majercik adding 24 assists as the Pointers hit .321 for the match.
 
UWSP 3, Luther 1 (25-16, 13-25, 27-25, 25-15)
UWSP started the first set with three-straight points.  Midway through the first set, Thomas had a pair of kills to extend the advantage to 21-12.  A kill by junior Ellen Drewry (Waunakee, WI/Waunakee) and a service ace by Piepenbrok ended the set.
 
Runs of 5-0 and 9-0 by Luther put the second set out of reach as the Pointers dropped the first set of the year.  After the break, UWSP got back to its winning ways.  Back-to-back kills by senior Kelly Cefalu (Waunakee, WI/Waunakee) knotted the third set at 3-3.  Cefalu came through with two kills later in the set to pull the Pointers within 18-16.  Then with the set tied at 25-25, Cefalu finished things off with consecutive kills for the set win.
 
Thomas bookended a 6-0 run by the Pointers with kills to give UWSP a 13-9 lead in the fourth set.  Another 6-0 run by the Pointers was capped by an assisted block by Majercik and Drewry as UWSP moved ahead 19-11.  Cefalu and Thomas combined for three late kills as the Pointers finished off the match victory.
 
UWSP 3, Finlandia 0 (25-8, 25-12, 25-14)
A mid-set 8-0 run by the Pointers was more than enough to overpower the Lions in the first set.  Freshman Maggie Kramer (Forest Lake, MN/Forest Lake) recorded her first career kill to end the first set.
 
Another freshman Ali Zamzow (Merrill, WI/Merrill) tallied four-consecutive service aces in the second set as UWSP built a 12-3 lead.   The Pointers began the third set with a 6-0 run highlighted by a trio of kills by Gehl and UWSP cruised to a straight-set win.
 
UWSP returns to Berg Gym for the home opener against Lakeland at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday.  The Pointers host the seven-team Point Invitational next Friday and Saturday.