UW-Whitewater Claims Women’s Volleyball Tournament Title

WHITEWATER, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater recorded a 25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-13 triumph over UW-Stevens Point to emerge with the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Volleyball Tournament (presented by Culver’s) title at Kris Russell Volleyball Arena on Nov. 5.

The tournament title is the 17th in program history for the Warhawks, who also secured the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship with the win.

UW-Whitewater (25-6) was making its ninth consecutive appearance in the title match of the WIAC Tournament, while UW-Stevens Point (25-7) was making its fifth trip since 2013.

UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 12 in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Poll, hit over .230 in the last three sets of the match against No. 15 UW-Stevens Point.

The Pointers scored the first three points of the match before UW-Whitewater went on a 4-0 run to claim the lead. The teams traded points until UW-Whitewater was able to find a little cushion 15-11. Another small run had the Warhawks up seven, 20-13. UW-Stevens Point cut the lead to three, 21-18, but UW-Whitewater scored four of the last six points capped by a Kirsten Anderson kill for the 25-20 first set win.

The momentum continued in set two. Tight early on, the Warhawks put together an 11-2 run that gave them a 20-11 advantage. The Pointers didn't fold, hanging in and eventually going on a six-point run to pull within two, 22-20. Anderson and Payton Kuepers hammered down back-to-back kills to force set point. Still UW-Stevens Point continued to battle through two set points until a Pointer miscue saw UW-Whitewater take a 2-0 lead in the match.

In set three, UW-Whitewater used a few runs to take leads of at least four points on two occasions early on, but once again the Pointers battled back. UW-Stevens Point eventually claimed a 20-18 lead. From there, the squads traded points with the Pointers taking the set 25-23 to force a fourth.

The final set was all Warhawks. UW-Whitewater jumped out to a 16-5 lead in the set and cruised the rest of the way for the 25-13 win and a match victory.

Three Warhawk hitters tallied double digit kills. Anderson and Jenna Weinfurt each registered 12 with Erin McNeil adding 10. Weinfurt also put the pressure on from the service line with four aces. Hannah Proctor posted seven blocks, including three solo. Morgan Jensen led all players with 22 digs.
UW-Stevens Point’s Ashley Kopp recorded a match-high 18 kills, while Emma Peterson and Kelsie Belfiori each had 19 digs.

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