Stout drops two games at WIAC/CCIW Crossover

Elmhurst College 3, UW-Stout 0 | Wheaton College 3, UW-Stout 2

STEVENS POINT (September 24, 2016) - All of the sets were close, but UW-Stout could not find their way to winning a match at the WIAC/CCIW Crossover hosted by UW-Stevens Point Saturday. The Blue Devils lost to 23rd ranked Elmhurst College, 27-25, 25-21, 25-22 and were tripped up in five sets by Wheaton College, 26-24, 25-21, 18-25, 20-25, 15-12.

Against the nationally ranked Bluejays (9-4), the Blue Devils (8-7) got nine kills from Ashley Pratt and eight from Olivia Jung. But the Blue Devils, who were averaging 1,9 total blocks per set, could muster only two assisted blocks over the entire three-set match.

The Bluejays, in contrast, stuffed the Blue Devils with one solo block and 14 assisted blocks, or just over two total blocks per set.

In the opening set, Stout, which never led, pulled into a tie at 19, then knotted the score at 24 and 25 before Elmhurst recorded the final two points. In set two, Stout trailed for entire match, a few times by as much as nine points before getting to within 24-21 late. Set three saw Stout take their only lead of the match at the beginning, but Elmhust took a lead and held it until the Blue Devils knotted the score at 22.

Elmhurst's Melissa Nava and Mel Lundin each scored 11 kills, while Mary Lawrence had five assisted blocks.

Against Wheaton College (4-9), Stout fell behind 2-0, before storming back to take sets three and four. Olivia Jung had five kills in set three and Summer Garr. Pratt and Kennedy Strain each had three kills in set four. Pratt recorded three kills in the final set five and Strain added two, The Blue Devils again struggled at the net, managing only two block assists over five sets.

Strain finished with 13 kills, followed by 12 by both Pratt and Jung. Stout was able to take some advantage at the serving line, recording nine aces, with Garr dropping in six.

Defensive specialist Anna Panning was selected to the all-tournament team.

After nearly a month away from home, the Blue Devils open the 2016 home season when they host UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.