EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The No. 21 UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (16-4, 3-1) suffered its first league defeat to No. 11 UW-Eau Claire (18-2, 4-0) in straight sets in a matchup of ranked foes and league frontrunners.
 
Abby Neutz (Annandale, Minn./Annandale) tied her career high with 12 kills for the Pointers.  She added an assist and a block.
 
Ashley Kopp (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) led all players with 15 kills.  She also had seven digs, a block, an ace and an assist.
 
Grace Michalske (Wausau, Wis./West) had a match-high 34 assists and tied Emma Peterson (Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson) for the team-lead with nine digs.
 
Michalske had assists on five-straight UWSP points, but the Pointers trailed 13-7 early in the first set.  Reis Derousseau (Tomah, Wis./Tomah) powered down three kills down the stretch, but the Blugolds pulled away for a 25-16 win.
 
Neutz had four early kills in the second set as UWSP tried to rally from a 10-4 deficit.  Kopp and Neutz combined for 11 kills in the set as UWSP got within a point before dropping the set, 25-23.
 
UWEC put up six-straight to break a 6-6 tie in the third set.  Kopp posted 10 kills in the set and Guresi Mena (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) added two mid-set as UWSP again rallied to within a point late before succumbing in the set, 25-23.
 
The Pointers head to Illinois for a three matches over the weekend beginning on Friday (Oct. 8) at North Central for a 7:00 p.m. match.