STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (13-2) took down a pair of ranked opponents on the opening day of the Pointer Invitational II.  The Pointers knocked off No. 21 Bethel to avenge their season opening defeat before beating No. 16 Chicago, both four-set victories.  The wins push UWSP's win streak to 11 matches.
 
Abby Neutz (Annandale, Minn./Annandale) posted a career-best 12 kills in the win over Bethel and followed that up with 10 more against Chicago.  Sydney Mosinski (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada) also racked up double-figure kills in both matches.
 
Ashley Kopp (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) registered double-double in both wins.  She had team-highs of 16 kills and 11 digs versus Bethel.  In the nightcap, she added 15 kills and 10 digs.
 
Grace Michalske (Wausau, Wis./West) piled up 79 assists on the day, including a match-high 44 against Chicago.
 
UWSP 3, Bethel 1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-14)
Kopp had an ace early in the first set as UWSP went ahead 4-1.  The Royals put a four-point run up to take a 10-8 lead.  Guresi Mena (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) capped a 4-1 run as UWSP regained the lead at 19-18, but the Royals scored six of the next seven to take the set.
 
Neutz recorded three kills in a 9-3 run as the Pointers battled back to take a 10-9 lead.  UWSP trailed 21-17 when Mena took over with two kills and a block to give the Pointers the second set.
 
The third set was a seesaw affair with neither team a lead larger than two until a three-point run gave the Pointers a 15-11 advantage.  Megan Schroder (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) recorded one of her three kills in the match to give UWSP set point at 24-21.  Neutz ended the set in UWSP's favor with another kill.
 
Kopp, Mena and Neutz each had a kill early in the fourth set to put the Pointers ahead 8-3.  Schroder sparked an 11-5 run to end the match with a kill.
 
UWSP 3, Chicago 1 (25-14, 19-25, 27-25, 25-21)
Kelsie Belfiori (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) bookended a trio of kills by Mena with aces to put UWSP up 13-4 in the first set.  Mena posted three-straight kills again late with back-to-back kills by Kopp and another ace by Belfiori wrapping the set.
 
A back-and-forth second set swung in Chicago's favor late with a five-point spurt that put UWSP in a 18-14 hole.  Reis Derousseau (Tomah, Wis./Tomah) posted two kills late, but the Maroons evened the match at a set apiece.
 
Neutz racked up a trio of mid-set kills as UWSP got within 17-15.  The teams exchanged points until Kopp gave UWSP the set, 27-25, with a kill.
 
The fourth set was again neck-in-neck.  Neutz had consecutive kills to put the Pointers in front, 15-14.  Kopp took over late with four kills and an ace to close out the match.
 
The Pointers face yet another ranked opponent on Saturday (Sept. 25) with a 12:00 p.m. match against No. 14 Millikin before closing out the Pointer Invitational II against St. Olaf at 2:00 p.m.