DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque women's volleyball team (7-8, 0-2) took the floor tonight inside the Stoltz Sports Center with a loud and rowdy crowd on hand to watch an American Rivers Conference match-up with the Kohawks of Coe College (11-5, 2-0). Coe walked onto Jon Davison Court in the Stoltz Sports Center undefeated in conference play. The Spartans were seeking to add a win and earn their first A-R-C victory of the 2021 season. The Kohawks captured the tight battle in five sets, 3-2 to stay unbeaten in league play.

In the first set, the Spartans would get off to a slow start and trail early 4-10. The Spartans would fight their way back into the set and lead 18-15. After a constant back and forth battle the Spartans would take set one by a score of 29-27. In set two, the Spartans would again start the set slow and trail 7-13. Yet again the Spartans came charging back and would go on a 10-1 run to take a 17-14 lead to force a Kohawk timeout. The Kohawks would however, ultimately end up regaining control and win set two 20-25.
In set three, it was a reoccurring theme as the Spartans trailed 10-14 and would fight their way back to a 19-17 lead. Both teams were trading point for point as there was 17 ties and six lead changes, but in the end the Spartans came out with a pivotal set three victory 28-26. In set four, it was all Kohawks as they led for most of the set and won 19-25. In the winner take all set five, Coe would win 9-15 to take the match.

The Spartans were led by Darby Hawtrey with 21 kills and Ashlee Adler added 13, Julie May had nine. Kaylynn Murray led the Spartans tonight with 35 assists and Kate Messino added nine. The Spartans return to the court this weekend as they participate in a triangular with Wheaton College, St. Norbert College, and Aurora University in Illinois on Friday, October 1^st and Saturday, October 2^nd.