LA CROSSE — The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic volleyball team fell to the UW-La Crosse, in straight sets Wednesday night at Mitchell Hall.
Stout traded points with -La Crosse early in the opening set, using a Kyra Giffen kill and two La Crosse errors to take an 11-7 lead. The Eagles responded with five consecutive points, including two Kennedy Myers service aces, to move ahead 12-11.
Brooke McCune recorded kills to tie the set at 12-12 and 13-13, but UW-La Crosse used a Lexi Champeau ace, two Jaiden Lee kills and a Stout setting error to build a 17-13 advantage. The Eagles extended their lead to 24-17 on kills by Annie Werner and Grace Nommensen.
Emma Barton kept Stout alive with a kill and then served four consecutive points, including a McCune kill and two Lee attack errors, to pull the Blue Devils within 24-22. UW-La Crosse closed out the set, however, for a 25-22 victory.
Stout started the second set strong, taking a 4-1 lead and later holding a 9-7 advantage following a Giffen kill. UW-La Crosse answered with a seven-point run to take a 15-9 lead, highlighted by three Werner service aces and kills from Megan Jasperson, Sydney Marx and Wilson.
The Blue Devils battled back, cutting the deficit to 18-16 following a McCune kill, a Lee attack error and a block by McCune and Barton. Stout then tied the set at 22-22 after two Sloan Horgan kills and two La Crosse attack errors.
The Eagles scored three of the final four points, reaching set point on a Lee ace before a Stout service error ended the set at 25-23.
Stout overcame an early 8-5 deficit in the third set, getting kills from Horgan and Falon Hepola and a Lainey Todd service ace to take a 10-9 lead. La Crosse responded with a 16-11 advantage behind two Lund service aces and kills from Wilson and Lee.
Following a La Crosse error, Kailey Kline served four consecutive points for the Blue Devils, including two aces, to tie the set at 16-16. Stout regained the lead at 18-17 on a block by Horgan and Barton and held a 20-19 advantage after another Horgan kill.
UW-La Crosse closed the match with six consecutive points, including two Werner kills, to take the third set, 25-20, and complete the 3-0 sweep.
UW-STOUT TOP PERFORMERS
Emma Barton
• Team-high seven total blocks
• Five kills
• 8.5 points
Brooke McCune
• Eight kills
• Four total blocks
• 10 points
Sloan Horgan
• Eight kills on .278 hitting
• Nine points
Lainey Todd
• Team-high 15 assists
• Four digs
Stephanie Petrbok
• Team-high nine digs
The Blue Devils are now 11-6 overall and 0-2 in WIAC play and return home to host Concordia College (Minn.) Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. at Johnson Fieldhouse.
