STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Sophomores Ashley Kopp (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) and Grace Michalske (Wausau, Wis./West) had a statement game as the No. 24 UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (7-1) won both matches of the team's home opener on Saturday. UWSP defeated Saint Mary's (3-2) in straight sets before taking down Concordia-Moorhead (2-5) by a 3-1 final.
 
Kopp had a massive offensive day, including a career-best 30 kills against the Cobbers. She had a match-high 13 kills in the opener versus SMU.
 
Michalske also posted a career-high with 54 assists against CCM. She added 32 helpers versus the Cardinals to up her league-leading total to 307 this season.
 
On the day, Megan Schroder (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) also had a career-high with 12 kills against SMU. Sophia Lee (Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills) and Sydney Mosinski (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada) had 10 kills each versus the Cobbers.
 
Emma Peterson (Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson) led all players in digs in both matches racking up 43 on the day. Kelsie Belfiori (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) and Katie Albrecht (West Bend, Wis./East) added 13 and 12 digs, respectively, versus CCM.
 
UWSP 3, SMU 0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-15)
Schroder recorded UWSP's first kill as UWSP looked to dig out of a 9-4 hole early. Kopp had three kills and served two aces in a 9-1 run as the Pointers tied the set at 15-15. After an SMU point, UWSP reeled off five straight with a Peterson ace in the mix. Another Schroder kill late secured the first set.
 
The teams traded three-point burst to begin the second set. Kopp, Schroder and Mosinski had two kills each as the lead grew to 10-4. The trio combined for five more kills and a block to give UWSP a 17-6 lead. Sophia Lee (Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills) had two kills late to close out the set.
 
Katie Larson (Hammond, Wis./St. Croix Central) and Kopp combined for eight kills in the third set. UWSP ended the match on an 11-1 run capped by a Larson ace to seal the match.
 
UWSP 3, CCM 1 (25-12, 25-18, 23-25, 25-16)
Kopp got rolling with four kills in a 5-0 run as UWSP went in front 12-8. She added five more down the stretch ending the first set with 11.
 
UWSP's first two points in the second set were kills by Kopp. Larson and Belfiori each had an ace as the Pointers took a 12-9 lead. Kopp added seven more kills as UWSP went up 2-0.
 
Kopp had a kill and three aces in an early 5-0 run in the third set. Mosinski added three kills as the lead grew to 13-7. The Cobbers battled back to a 15-15 tie and then a 20-17 lead. Another kill by Kopp tied the set at 23, but CCM took the final two points to win the set.
 
Lee and Kopp combined for seven kills as UWSP built a 17-9 lead in the fourth set. Three kills by Larson pushed the advantage to 21-13. Kopp finished off the match with two kills in the final three points.
 
The Pointers open league play at home on Wednesday (Sept. 14) against UW-Stout. The match will be a "Green Out" for mental health awareness and begins at 7:00 p.m. UWSP will also be collecting non-perishable food to donate to the Cupboard.