NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic volleyball team earned a 3-0 victory over Simpson College Friday at Skoglund Athletic Center, winning 25-18, 25-21, 25-19.

The Blue Devils finished with 40 kills and hit .177 for the match while holding Simpson to 29 kills and a .046 hitting percentage. Stout also recorded six service aces and six blocks.

The Blue Devils fell behind 7-4 early in the opening set before rallying behind kills from Gabby Ehlers, Brooke McCune, Emma Barton and Sloan Horgan. A service ace by Lainey Todd gave Stout a 10-9 lead. Simpson pulled even at 12-12, but a Barton kill and a Simpson attack error put the Blue Devils ahead 14-12.

Stout then built a 22-15 advantage, getting kills from Barton, Kyra Giffen and Horgan along with a service ace from Barton. A block by Brynn Hessel and a Simpson attack error closed out the set, 25-18. Stout hit .222 in the opening set with 13 kills.

Simpson took a 14-11 lead in the second set before Stout rallied. McCune and Barton provided key kills, while a Hessel kill and a Barton service ace helped the Blue Devils take a 17-15 lead. Simpson briefly tied the set at 18-18, but Stout scored five of the next six points, including a Giffen kill and a Todd ace, to take a 23-19 advantage. Ehlers finished the set with a kill as Stout prevailed 25-21.

The Blue Devils erased an early 4-1 deficit in the third set and took a 9-6 lead after a Falon Hepola service ace, two Barton kills and a McCune block. Simpson answered with a five-point run to take a 12-10 lead, but Stout quickly regained control.

Todd's service rotation sparked a seven-point Blue Devil run, which included three Giffen kills, as Stout moved in front 17-12. The Blue Devils extended the lead to 23-13 before Simpson rallied with six straight points. Stout held on, however, and Barton closed out the match with a kill for a 25-19 victory.

McCune led the Blue Devils with 11 kills and a .222 hitting percentage while adding four digs and 11.5 points. Barton finished with 10 kills, two service aces and two blocks for a team-high 13 points.

Giffen added seven kills without an error on 23 attempts for a .304 hitting percentage, along with a solo block. Todd recorded a team-high 17 assists, 11 digs and three service aces.

With the victory, Stout improves to 10-4 overall and will return to action Saturday, Sept. 26, at the St. Olaf Tournament. The Blue Devils will face host St. Olaf at 9 a.m. before taking on Martin Luther at 11 a.m.