STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (6-5, 1-0) opened conference play with a 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20) win over UW-Eau Claire (8-4, 0-1) on Wednesday night.
 
Ashley Kopp (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) led all players with 21 kills and posted her fifth double-double of the season with a team-high 15 digs. Grace Michalske (Wausau, Wis./West) racked up her sixth double-double of the year with a match-best 47 assists and added 12 digs.
 
Sydney Mosinski (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada) was in double figures with 13 kills. Tessa Erlandson (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon Wanamingo) recorded 11 digs.
 
The Pointers opened the match with a block by Kopp and Mosinski and jumped ahead 5-1 early. Katie Larson (Hammond, Wis./St. Croix Central) added a pair of kills to go with five combined by Mosinski and Kopp for a 15-8 advantage. Mosinski had two more kills late as the Pointers took the opening set.
 
Carly Thomka (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) and Larson had two kills each as UWSP went ahead, 10-6, in the second. Lauren Shaw (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) and Kopp combined for five kills, but UWEC took a 20-17 lead. Mosinski added two late kills, but the Blugolds evened the match at 1-1.
 
Shaw had a pair of kills in a 5-1 burst as UWSP got ahead, 12-9. Kopp had a block and two kills as the lead grew to 18-14. Mosinski again added two late kills and Kopp finished the set win with a kill.
 
Four kills by Kopp and a solo block put the Pointers in front, 15-11. Shaw added a duo of kills as the lead reached 20-15. Kopp had two more kills and the match ended with a block by Olivia Paukner (Prairie Du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) and Larson.
 
The Pointers remain at home to host the Pointers Invitational. The opening match is Friday (Sept. 20) at 3:00 p.m. as UWSP faces Concordia (Minn.).