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Pointers Win Milestone Five-Game
Thriller Box
Score
Several long-standing
streaks came to an end as the UW-Stevens Point volleyball team posted a
milestone victory with a five-game win over UW-La Crosse on Wednesday at
Berg Gym.
The victory gave the Pointers a first round
home match for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
tournament and snapped a 15-match losing streak to the Eagles, marking
the Pointers� first win in the series since Oct. 11, 1995. In fact,
UW-Stevens Point had not won a game from the Eagles in the past 10
meetings, dating to the 2000 season. The Pointers took the first two
games on Wednesday and then held off a UW-La Crosse comeback for a
thrilling 30-20, 39-37, 22-30, 27-30, 15-11 victory.
The Pointers will host their first postseason
match since 1998 as they entertain UW-River Falls in the quarterfinals
on Tuesday at 7 p.m. UW-Stevens Point is now 22-11 overall, totaling its
most victories since the 1995 season.
UW-Stevens Point had big individual
performances from junior Shelly Maus and sophomore Callie Kunde. Maus
had 25 kills for her second career 20-kill performance, while Kunde had
a career-best 20 kills with just two errors. She also had 29 assists and
14 digs for her 12th triple-double of the season. Lori Marten had 38
digs, including eight in the decisive fifth game.
The Pointers opened up a lead in the fifth
game and hung on for the win. Amanda Mix had just her second kill of the
match to put the Pointers ahead 13-10. After a UW-La Crosse kill pulled
the Eagles within two points, Beth Richter and Pam Nora finished off the
match with kills as the Pointers avenged a three-game sweep to the
Eagles on Sept. 15.
The second game was the longest in school
history and was finished off with three straight kills by Beth Richter.
The Pointers held leads of 24-13 and 29-26, but the Eagles battled back
each time. With UW-Stevens Point trailing 37-36, Richter passed a
free-ball into the center of the court that fell to tie the game. She
then had two more kills to finish the game, while ending the match with
16 kills.
UW-La Crosse forced the fifth game by ending
game four with a 4-1 run after the Pointers had taken a 25-24 advantage
with six straight points. The Eagles were led by Brianne Stankus with 18
kills and Nina Walch with 17 kills. |
