KENOSHA, Wis. – The No. 20 UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (8-2) got double-doubles from
Ashley Kopp (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) and
Grace Michalske (Wausau, Wis./West) in a pair of wins at the Carthage Tri on Friday. UWSP took care of DePauw (5-4) in straight sets before getting past host Carthage (4-4) by a 3-1 final.
Kopp had a match high in kills with 17 and 21 on the night. She added 19 and 18 digs for her seventh and eight double-doubles of the season.
Michalske led all players in assists with 38 and 22 on the night. She had 10 and 14 digs as well for her second and third double-doubles of the year. Her 38 assists against DePauw were a season high.
Katie Larson (Hammond, Wis./St. Croix Central) had a career-high 13 digs in the opener against DePauw.
Tessa Erlandson (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon Wanamingo) led the Pointers with 22 digs in the match.
Against Carthage,
Jadyn Clarner (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) posted a career-best 13 assists.
Sydney Mosinski (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada) added 10 kills. Erlandson again led UWSP with 20 digs and
Ryleigh Zeller (Muskego, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) added 15.
UWSP 3, DePauw 0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-19)
Kopp had two early kills and an ace as UWSP took a 7-3 lead. Kopp, Mosinski and Larson combined for seven kills in a 7-2 run for an 18-12 advantage.
Mady Hanse (Tomahawk, Wis./Tomahawk) had three kills in the set and Michalske sealed the first set with an ace.
Larson and Kopp combined for five kills as UWSP burst in front 10-1 to begin the second set. Michalske had a pair of kills as the Pointers maintained a 17-11 lead.
Carly Thomka (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) had two kills and two blocks late as UWSP fell behind 23-22 late. After the Pointers thwarted DePauw's set point, Mosinski had three late kills to give UWSP a 2-0 lead.
Samantha Kempinger (Oshkosh, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) and Kopp had two kills each as the Pointers pulled even at 6-6 in the third. Mosinski had three kills and Kopp took over with five as UWSP took a 20-16 lead. Two aces by Kopp set up match point and the Pointers finished off the sweep.
UWSP 3, Carthage 1 (16-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-16)
Kopp had five kills as UWSP played from behind early.
Summer Salettel (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam) had a kill to interrupt a 9-2 run by Carthage. Kempinger had a kill late as UWSP dropped the opening set.
Olivia Paukner (Prairie Du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) had a kill and an ace to back three early kills by Kopp for a 6-4 lead in the second. Kopp had two kills and block as UWSP took a 16-10 lead. Zeller served up an ace late and Kopp tacked on three kills as the Pointers evened the match.
Kopp and Mosinski combined for 11 kills in the third set as the lead teetered from one side to the other. Salettel gave UWSP a second set point and Paukner served an ace to secure the set win.
Paukner and Larson had a block each as UWSP took a 10-4 lead in the fourth. After the Firebirds got within one at 12-11, Kopp had two kills in a 7-1 as UWSP seized control. Kopp had two late kills with a Kempinger kill and Zeller ace locking down the win.
The Pointers are back in action on Wednesday (Sept. 20) for the home opener against UW-River Falls. The 7:00 p.m. match is Mental Health Awareness Night at Berg Gym.
