WHITEWATER, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (26-7) put up a valiant effort in the third set, but it was too little, too late as host UW-Whitewater (26-1) knocked off the Pointers in straight sets in the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) semifinals.
 
Senior Megan Lau (Potter, Wis./Hilbert) led the Pointers with eight kills.  Grace Michalske (Wausau, Wis./West) had 10 assists and Emma Peterson (Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson) had a team-best 10 digs.
 
Sydney Mosinski (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada), Reis Derousseau (Tomah, Wis./Tomah), Lau and Ashley Kopp (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) each had a kill early in the first set as UWSP took a 7-5 lead.  From there, UWW put up an 11-2 run to create enough separation to take the first set.  Mosinski had a block and another kill, but UWW prevailed 25-16.
 
In the second set, the Warhawks were error free with 17 kills and a .607 hitting percentage.  Kopp and Derousseau had two kills each as UWSP dropped the second set, 25-5.
 
Lau had a pair of early kills as the Pointers led 6-2 in the third set before UWW put up 12-straight.  The Pointers didn't fold.  Lau had a pair of kills and Kelsie Belfiori (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) served up the Pointers' lone ace as UWSP got within 15-12.  Lau and Guresi Mena (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) combined on a block as UWSP rallied to tie the set at 21-21.  Lau and Kopp each had a late kill to give UWSP two set points, but the Warhawks squashed both and posted three straight points to end the math, 27-25.
 
The Pointers, ranked 22nd in this week's AVCA poll, will await their postseason fate in Monday's NCAA Selection Show at 11:30 a.m. CT.