STEVENS POINT — The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic volleyball team (14-9, 1-4 WIAC) fell 3-1 to UW-Stevens Point (14-10, 3-2 WIAC) Friday at Berg Gym. The Blue Devils took the first set 25-22 before dropping the next three, 18-25, 17-25, 17-25.
Stout opened strong, using a seven-point run in the first set to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 10-4 lead. Phoebe Kim served through the stretch, while Brooke McCune delivered multiple kills. The Blue Devils extended their advantage to 20-13 behind McCune's attacking, an Emma Barton block and a Stephanie Petrbok service ace. Stout reached set point at 24-18, and after Stevens Point rallied to within two, McCune finished the set with a kill from Kim.
The Blue Devils carried that momentum into the second set, jumping ahead 7-0 behind Barton's serving, two McCune kills, a Barton ace and a block by Brynn Hessel and McCune. Stevens Point responded with eight consecutive points to take an 8-7 lead. Stout pulled within 20-18 late in the set on kills from Hope Bushendorf and McCune, but the Pointers scored the final five points to win 25-18.
Stevens Point took control early in the third set, building a 10-1 lead. Stout responded with a six-point run, sparked by a Kyra Giffen kill and five consecutive points while Petrbok served, cutting the deficit to 14-12. The Pointers regained control with a late run and closed out the set 25-17.
The fourth set remained close early, with the teams tied at 9-9, 11-11 and 12-12. Stevens Point then used a four-point run to build a 16-12 advantage. Stout pulled within three at 18-15 behind a Sloan Horgan kill, a block by Horgan and Hessel, and a Lainey Todd service ace. The Pointers responded to pull away and secure the match with another 25-17 set win.
TOP PERFORMERS
Brooke McCune led the Blue Devils with 19 kills and 22.5 points, adding eight digs and five total blocks.
Brynn Hessel recorded a team-high eight total blocks, including two solo blocks, and added six points.
Stephanie Petrbok led Stout with 11 digs and recorded two service aces and three assists. Lainey Todd finished with 17 assists, three digs and one ace, while Barton contributed five kills, five total blocks and one service ace.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils return home to host UW-River Falls at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the Johnson Fieldhouse.