STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (8-5) won both its matches on opening day of the Pointers Invitational on Friday. UWSP beat Concordia (Minn.) (0-11) in straight sets before taking down Carthage (7-3) in four sets in the night cap.
Ashely Kopp posted a double-doubles in both matches on the day with 16 kills and 12 digs against the Cobbers. She added 18 more kills, a match-high and 11 digs versus Carthage.
Grace Michalske (Wausau, Wis./West) had match-highs of 33 and 48 assists, respectively.
Tessa Erlandson (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon Wanamingo) led the Pointers in digs in both matches with 16 and 20 on the day,
Game 1 – UWSP 3, CCM 0 (25-10, 25-20, 25-15)
Kopp and
Olivia Paukner (Prairie Du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) combined for seven kills as the Pointers jumped ahead, 9-5. Kopp and
Carly Thomka (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) had two kills each as the lead expanded to 17-7. Erlandson served up consecutive aces and added a kill as UWSP cruised to the opening set win.
Kopp had three kills and a solo block as UWSP rallied to tie the second set at 7-7. Thomka had two kills in a 7-0 burst to give the Pointers a 14-10 advantage.
Katie Larson (Hammond, Wis./St. Croix Central) served an ace and added a kill late as UWSP took a 2-0 lead.
Lauren Shaw (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) had a pair of kills as UWSP took a 5-3 early lead. Erlandson and Michalske each had an ace as UWSP went up 14-8. Shaw added two more kills and Erlandson finished the sweep with consecutive aces.
Game 2 – UWSP 3, Carthage 1 (28-30, 25-19, 25-19, 25-15)
Kopp had five kills as UWSP got within 18-16.
Sydney Mosinski (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada) added two kills for a 22-21 score. Kopp started a 4-0 run with a kill as UWSP spoiled a pair of Carthage set points. Kopp and Thomka each had a kill as the teams swapped set points until Carthage prevailed, 30-28.
Abby Nevins (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) served up and aces with Kopp and Thomka adding a kill each for a 6-1 lead in the second. Thomka added three kills as UWSP held a 9-8 edge. Larson broke a 16-all tie with a kill and Kopp finished the set and a 9-3 run with consecutive kills.
Michalske had two kills and an ace as UWSP began the third in front, 7-4. Mosinski had two kills and a block as the lead went up to 13-7. Thomka added three kills down the stretch as the Pointers took the third set.
Kopp had two kills as UWSP led 7-3 in the fourth. Mosinski added three kills and Nevin had a pair of aces as the advantage reached 18-8.
Sadie Grabarski (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee Community) had a kill late and Shaw finished the match with back-to-back kills
The Pointers close out the weekend against Augsburg on Saturday (Sept. 21). The match is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m.
