MENOMONIE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point volleyball team (13-9, 2-2) fell in four sets at UW-Stout (14-6, 1-3) on Wednesday in conference play.
 
Carly Thomka (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) and Lauren Shaw (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) tied for the game-high with 15 kills apiece. Shaw just missed a double-double with nine digs.
 
Abby Nevins (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) led all players with 18 digs. Hannah Strege (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) had a match-high 35 assists.
 
Logan Cregan (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville Area) had a pair of kills early as the teams played to a 10-10 tie in the first set. Shaw added two kills and consecutive aces as the Pointers forged ahead, 14-13. Thomka had four kills late as UWSP got tied at 22-22, but the Blue Devils scored the final three points to take the first set.
 
Shaw had a trio of kills and Olivia Paukner (Prairie Du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) had a block as UWSP led, 6-3. Katie Larson (Hammond, Wis./St. Croix Central) added two kills as the lead grew to 13-7. Shaw and Paukner had two kills each and Tessa Erlandson (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon Wanamingo) had an ace late as the Pointers took the second set, 25-19.
 
Thomka, Shaw and Paukner had two kills each as UWSP opened the third with a 7-4 advantage. After Thomka posted consecutive kills for a 12-8 lead, Stout rattled off a 16-5 run to take the third set, 25-17.
 
Bella Lucero (Antioch, Ill./Carmel Catholic) and Erlandson each had an ace early as the Blue Devils led 11-8 in the fourth. Shaw and Paukner had a pair of kills each as the Blue Devils finished the match with a 25-16 win in the fourth.
 
The Pointers travel to Eau Claire for a weekend tournament with UWSP's opening match against Cornell on Friday (Oct. 17) at 4:30 p.m.