EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (16-10, 3-2) nearly sent the match to a decisive fifth set before No. 15 UW-Eau Claire (20-2, 5-0) prevailed in four sets on Saturday night.
 
Junior April Gehl (Hilbert, Wis./Hilbert) had a match-high 17 kills for the Pointers.  She added 17 digs for her 20th double-double of the year.
 
Sophomore Ellie Adams (Racine, Wis./William Horlick) recorded her 15th double-double of the season with 36 assists and 15 digs. 
 
Freshman Maddie Lawson (West Allis, Wis./Nathan Hale) was in double figures with 11 kills for UWSP.
 
Gehl opened the match with a kill, but a 4-0 run by the Blugolds had the Pointers playing catch-up the remainder of the set.  Lawson started an 8-3 run with a kill as UWSP got to within 21-19.  Rachel Hein (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) and Lawson each had a late kill, but UWEC took the first set 25-23.
 
Adams had a pair of aces in a 4-0 run as UWSP moved ahead 5-3 in the second set.  Another 4-0 spurt that included a kill by Tara Emme (St. Nazianz, Wis./Valders) and an ace from Lisa Bedessem (Burlington, Wis./Sauk Prairie) put the Pointers up 11-10.  With the Pointers up 18-17, UWEC reeled off seven straight to gain set point and the Blugolds took the second set.
 
The Pointers dug out of a 3-0 hole to begin the third set and surged ahead 11-8.  Megan Lau (Potter, Wis./Hilbert) and Lawson each had a kill later in the set for a 19-14 lead.  Gehl closed out the set win with three kills and a block.
 
Kills by Emme and Gehl kept UWSP in front 13-12 midway through the fourth.  Later, kills by Gehl and Lawson gave UWSP a 22-20 lead.  The Blugolds followed with five-straight points to take the set and the match.
 
UWSP heads to Illinois for the Elmhurst College Invitational next weekend.  The Pointers open the weekend on Friday (Oct. 19) against Carthage at 5:00 p.m.