STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (5-1) took down Concordia (2-4) in a thrilling five-set match.  The Pointers also swept Elmhurst (2-4) going 2-0 on the day in their home opener.
 
Junior Ellie Adams (Racine, Wis./William Horlick) racked up a total of 95 assists and 19 digs over the eight sets on the day.  She picked up a double-double against Elmhurst.
 
Senior April Gehl (Hilbert, Wis./Hilbert) piled up 29 kills against Concordia and 49 total on the day.  She also had 16 digs over the two matches.
 
Sophomore libero Emma Peterson (Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson) had a total of 28 digs on the day.  Senior Tara Emme (St. Nazianz, Wis./Valders) and sophomore Maddie Lawson (West Allis, Wis./Nathan Hale) both had double-figure kills on the day with 19 and 17, respectively.
 
UWSP 3, Concordia 2 (23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-15, 19-17)
Back-to-back-to-back kills in the first set by Gehl, Emme and Hailey Jarr (Bloomer, Wis./Bloomer) put the Pointers on top, 12-11.  Later in the set, a kill by Maddie Lawson (West Allis, Wis./Nathan Hale) tied up the set 18-all, but it was not enough as the Pointers dropped the first set. Two kills by Gehl and a service ace by Lawson tie up set two 19-all.  Guresi Mena (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) and Emme added on two late kills to help the Pointers take set two.

Gehl started the third set with the Pointers' first four points all from kills. Two late kills by Lawson and Mazie Nagel (Stratford, Wis./Stratford) helped the team fight back from a deficit, but it was not enough as Concordia took the third set.  Nagel had a kill and a service ace in set four to get UWSP an early lead. A kill by Jamie Schmitz (Cashton, Wis./Cashton) put the Pointers up, 21-10, to help take set four and force a deciding fifth set.

Kills by Jarr and Gehl helped UWSP pull ahead early in the set. A kill by Madyson Schroeder (Green Bay, Wis./Bayport) tied up the set, 9-9.  A service ace and kill from seniors Gehl and Emme showed they were not going down without a fight.  Another service ace from freshman Nagel sealed the deal assisting UWSP with their win over Concordia.
 
UWSP 3, Elmhurst 0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-23)
Nagel opened the match strong with a service ace followed by a kill from Lawson and Gehl as UWSP pulled ahead, 4-1, keeping the lead for the rest of the set.  Kills by Nagel and Lawson assisted UWSP with their lead in the second set, 10-7.  A kill from Emme ended the set and took the Pointers into the third set with a 2-0 lead.  Lawson tied up the third set, 10-10, with a kill.  Adams had a service ace to put UWSP up, 19-13 and an attack error by Elmhurst ended the battle, 25-23.
 
The Pointers close out the weekend at home in the Berg Gym against Ripon College (12:00 p.m.) and Bethel University (2:00 p.m.) on Saturday (Sep. 7).