WAVERLY, Iowa — The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic volleyball team (14-8, 1-3 WIAC) earned a five-set road victory over Wartburg (15-8, 2-1 ARC) Tuesday night, winning 3-2 by scores of 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 22-25, 15-10.

Wartburg jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the opening set before Stout rallied to take control. A block by Emma Barton and Sloan Horgan, followed by a Horgan kill, brought the Blue Devils within one. After Wartburg regained an 8-6 advantage, Stout scored six consecutive points behind kills from Kyra Giffen and Hope Bushendorf and a service ace from Lainey Todd to take a 12-8 lead. The Blue Devils extended their advantage to 21-15 with kills from Brooke McCune, Barton and Horgan. Wartburg closed the gap to 24-22, but McCune's kill off a Todd assist secured the 25-22 win.

The Blue Devils carried their momentum into the second set, taking an early 4-2 lead behind two McCune kills. After Wartburg moved ahead 8-6, Todd's service ace tied the set, and a Wartburg attack error put Stout in front. Stephanie Petrbok then served six consecutive points, including a Petrbok ace and kills from McCune and Bushendorf, to give the Blue Devils a 16-9 advantage. Wartburg battled back to within one at 22-21, but a Horgan kill and another Wartburg attack error set up match point. Giffen finished the set with a kill for a 25-21 victory.

Wartburg responded in the third set, building an early 9-2 lead. Stout chipped away at the deficit with kills from McCune, Falon Hepola and Giffen, along with service aces from McCune, Petrbok and Barton. A Horgan block and Giffen kill helped pull the Blue Devils within 23-21, but Wartburg answered with a kill from McKenzie Becker to reach set point. Giffen kept Stout alive with a kill before Wartburg's Anna Sash recorded a block to close out a 25-22 set win.

Wartburg opened the fourth set with three straight points and later extended its lead to 11-6. The Blue Devils fought back behind kills from Brynn Hessel and Giffen, cutting the deficit to 11-9. Stout remained within two at 20-18 after another Hessel kill and a Wartburg attack error. The Knights then built a 23-18 advantage, but the Blue Devils responded with three consecutive points, including a Petrbok service ace. Hessel added a late kill to make it 24-22 before Wartburg closed out the set, 25-22, forcing a decisive fifth set.

Petrbok opened the final set with a service ace, and McCune added two early kills as Stout took a 4-1 lead. Wartburg battled back to tie the set at 6-6, but McCune and Giffen answered with consecutive kills before another McCune service ace pushed the Blue Devils ahead 9-6. Wartburg pulled within one at 9-8, and the teams traded points to 12-10. A Wartburg attack error gave Stout a three-point cushion, and Barton and Bushendorf delivered consecutive kills to seal the 15-10 win and the match.

TOP PERFORMERS 

Brooke McCune led the Blue Devils with 13 kills, three service aces and eight digs, finishing with a team-high 16 points.

Kailey Kline paced the defense with 19 digs and added four assists. Petrbok recorded a team-high four service aces and 12 digs, while Todd distributed a team-high 23 assists and added nine digs and two aces.

Barton contributed eight kills, three total blocks, including one solo block, and two service aces for 12 points.

UP NEXT

UW-Stout travels to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, to face UW-Stevens Point at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Shirley Egner Court in Berg Gym.