NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The No. 20 UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (22-9) wrapped up the regular season by splitting matches at the St. Olaf Tri on Saturday. UWSP earned a 3-0 sweep of Saint Benedict (17-9) before a 3-2 defeat to host St. Olaf (19-8).
Ashley Kopp (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) had double-doubles in both matches and led all players in kills in both matches. She had 15 kills and 11 digs against CSB and 23 kills and 11 digs versus St. Olaf.
Grace Michalske (Wausau, Wis./West) also had a double-double against the Oles. She had a match-high 45 assists to go with 11 digs. She also led all players with 35 assists versus CSB.
Carly Thomka (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) had 13 kills against CSB.
Sydney Mosinski (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada) and
Lauren Shaw (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) were in double digits with 11 and 10 kills versus the Oles.
Tessa Erlandson (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon Wanamingo) led the Pointers in digs in both matches with 19 and 24.
UWSP 3, CSB 0 (28-26, 25-14, 25-12)
Kopp,
Summer Salettel (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam), Shaw and Thomka all had multiple kills in the opening set as the teams battled back and forth. CSB spoiled two set points before UWSP prevailed, 28-26.
Kopp had six kills and Mosinski posted three-straight blocks as UWSP jumped ahead 17-8. Salettel and Thomka combined for five kills to close out the set.
A 10-2 run in the middle of the third set put the Pointers in control in the third set. Kopp. Michalske and
Emily Nielsen (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) each had an ace in the set.
UWSP 2, St. Olaf 3 (23-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-18, 13-15)
Thomka had a pair of aces and Kopp three kills as UWSP opened with an 8-2 lead. Salettel had three kills, but the Oles rallied back to take the first set.
Erin Gillen (Richfield, Wis./Slinger) served two aces and Nielsen added one to give the Pointers a 13-8 lead. A Michalske ace ended a 7-1 burst as UWSP doubled up St. Olaf, 20-10. Thomka had a block and two kills as UWSP evened the match.
Mosinski had four kills with Kopp and Thomka combining for four more, but the Oles leveraged an 11-2 run into a third-set win.
Kopp had six kills in the fourth set with Shaw adding five as UWSP turned a 12-4 lead into a match-tying fourth-set win.
Kopp and Mosinski combined for five kills and a block, but the Pointers trailed 8-6 in the fifth. Shaw had three kills, but St. Olaf wouldn't relinquish the lead late.
The Pointers will be the No. 4 seed in the WIAC Tournament and host UW-Eau Claire in the first round on Tuesday (Nov. 7) at 7:00 p.m.
