BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (16-6) got past Illinois Wesleyan (15-6) in four sets on Friday in the first of three out-of-state matches this weekend.
 
Grace Michalske (Wausau, Wis./West) had a double-double with a match-high 41 assists and she added 10 digs. Ashley Kopp (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) led all players with 17 kills. Carly Thomka (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) and Sydney Mosinski (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada) were also in double figures with 13 and 10 kills.
 
Abby Nevins (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) led the Pointers in digs with 12. Fellow freshman Bella Lucero (Antioch, Ill./Carmel Catholic) had three aces, the first of her career.
 
Thomka had two early kills, but IWU bolted out to a 9-4 lead. Kopp and Thomka combined for six kills and Kopp added a pair of aces in an 11-1 run as UWSP pulled in front, 18-13. Mosinski and Kopp had two kills each as UWSP took the opening set, 25-22.
 
Katie Larson (Hammond, Wis./St. Croix Central) had a kill and an ace as UWSP trailed, 9-8. Lauren Shaw (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) added two kill and a block as UWSP stayed within one at 18-17. Kopp had a kill late, but IWU evened the match with a 25-19 win.
 
Lucero served up three aces in a 5-0 run as UWSP seized a 12-5 lead in the third set. Thomka added two kills and a block for a 16-9 advantage. Mosinski had a kill and a block down the stretch as UWSP won the third set, 25-21.
 
Kopp had five kills early in the fourth as the teams were tied at 9-9. Thomka and Kopp had two kills each as the teams stayed knotted at 19-19. Kopp and Mosinski had consecutive kills as the Pointers ended the set on a 6-1 run to win the match with a 25-21 victory.
 
The Pointers continue south to the WashU Tri on Saturday (Oct. 19). UWSP will play North Park at 1:00 p.m. before facing WashU at 3:30 p.m.