WAVERLY, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's volleyball team would start their conference road opener up 2-0 against a strong contender in the Wartburg College Knights, but Wartburg would edge out the Spartans  rally in the final three sets to defeat the Spartans by set scores (25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 20-25, 9-15). 

The Spartans .127 attacking percentage in the opening set would hold court over the Knights .111 attacking percentageto earn the Spartans set victory in the closest set of the evening 25-23. The Spartan attackers found their rhythm in the second set attacking much better at a .282 percentage. The Knights would have nine errors in the set compared to just two for the Spartans who led 2-0 on the road in a tough environment.

The Knights recorded 16 kills in the third set to avoid the sweep of the Spartans 20-25. Coming off the third set victory, the Knights would use an opening 1-10 advantage, before the Spartans rallied for eight straight points to get within one at 9-10. The Knights answered with another run and maintained their lead through the rest of the set to win 20-25. The Spartans are no stranger to five set battles, but the Knights would captured the home victory after taking the fifth and final set 9-15 to win the match. 

Emma Powell led all attackers with 21 kills on 66 attacks (.227). Powell also collected a game-high 34 digs. Right behind Powell, Darby Hawtrey finished with 17 kills and three blocks. Freshman, Maegan Brylski continued her stretch of helping her attacks out as she finished the game with 42 assists. Alexis Adkins finished with a team-high three solo blocks and three assisted blocks. 

Up Next
The Spartans will now travel to Decorah, Iowa at 6-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play as they to compete in a pair of neutral games against Augsburg University (10 a.m.) and Hamline University (2 p.m.) on Saturday, September 24.