MENOMONIE, Wis. – Junior April Gehl (Hilbert, Wis./Hilbert) racked up her 25th double-double of the season as the UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (18-15) won, 3-1, at UW-Stout (16-13) in first round action in the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver's) on Tuesday.
 
Gehl led all players with 21 kills for the Pointers.  She added 22 digs to complete the double-double.  Gehl also contributed three blocks and two assists.
 
Freshman Ciara Gilbertson (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) recorded a career-high 48 assists.  Fellow freshman Emma Peterson (Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson) added 14 digs.
 
Gehl recorded consecutive kills and added a block as UWSP inched ahead 3-2 early.  Maddie Lawson (West Allis, Wis./Nathan Hale) powered consecutive kills as the Pointers maintained a slim lead.  Hailey Jarr (Bloomer, Wis./Bloomer) had a kill to spark a 5-0 run as UWSP went up 18-15. Another kill by Gehl gave UWSP set point and the Pointers finished the set with a 25-18 victory.
 
Madyson Schroeder (Green Bay, Wis./Bayport) served up eight-straight points, including an ace, to begin the second set.  Later, a Rachel Hein (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) kill snapped a 9-2 run by UW-Stout as UWSP led 16-12.  Gehl added two kills as the Pointers closed the set on a 7-2 spurt for a 25-16 win.
 
Tara Emme (St. Nazianz, Wis./Valders) and Hein combined for three kills as UWSP forged ahead 7-2 in the third set.  The Blue Devils seized control of the set with a 12-3 run.  Hein later tied the set at 19-19 with a kill, but three-straight points by Stout gave the Blue Devils the third set, 25-23.
 
Gehl had three early kills as the Pointers jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the fourth.  Lawson initiate a five-point run to give UWSP a 17-9 lead.  Jarr had two late kills and combined with Emme on a match-ending block.
 
The Pointers head to top-seed UW-Eau Claire on Thursday (Nov. 1) for a 7:00 p.m. match in the semifinal round.