LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Dubuque women's volleyball team saw their six-game winning streak end on Friday as they dropped a non-conference match against UW-La Crosse (16-8, 0-3 WIAC) 3-2 (18-25, 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 15-13). The #23 Spartans' (18-3, 3-0 A-R-C) saw several players set career and season highs but ultimately fell short in the five-set affair.
The Spartans jumped out to a 13-5 lead early in the first set thanks to four kills from
Ashley Glennon. The Eagles never threatened in the first set as UD took the first set 25-18. The Eagles secured momentum early with a 7-1 lead in the second set, but the Spartans roared back thanks to a ten-point run, their longest of the year. Both teams traded runs late, and while the Spartans held a 23-22 lead late, the Eagles captured the last three points to knot the match at one set apiece. The Spartans used a six-point run in the third set close but ultimately fell 25-21. Facing elimination, the Spartans stormed out to a 14-6 lead and held the Eagles at bay to force a winner-take-all fifth set. The Eagles jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fifth set before a Spartans comeback bid tied the set at 13-13. The Eagles took the next two points to hand the Spartans their first five-set loss of the season.
Several Spartans lit up the stat sheet on Friday, with
Delainey Winkel tying her season-high of 20 kills to finish with a .278 hitting percentage. Glennon added a season-high 14 kills to go along with 19 digs.
Caitlin Jensen finished with nine kills on just 14 attacks for an absurd .643 hitting percentage. Jensen also added a solo block and four blocking assists.
Payton Uptagraft and
Kiley Elgert finished with four blocking assists each.
Taylor Bechen notched a ridiculous 40 digs on the evening, smashing her previous career high of 34. Setters
Alexis Kammerer and
Ashlyn McGinnis both set season highs on Friday, adding 33 and 25 assists to their season totals, respectively.
Up Next
The #23 Spartans will take an extended break and return to action on Friday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. for a home A-R-C contest against the Beavers of Buena Vista University (6-12, 0-3 A-R-C). The Beavers will also have the week off to prepare for Friday's match with the Spartans.
