DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque women's volleyball team (17-2, 2-0 A-R-C) opened 2025 Homecoming weekend festivities on Friday night with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-14) sweep of A-R-C foe Wartburg College (11-6, 2-1 A-R-C). With the win, the Spartans extended their home winning streak to 16 games, dating back to 2024.  

The #23 Spartans started the first set hot, jumping out to a 4-1 lead thanks to three kills from Megan Cooley. The Knights threatened during the middle part of the set but never managed to draw even with the Spartans. Delainey Winkel's fourth kill of the evening ended the first set with a 25-19 Spartans victory. The beginning of the second set was evenly matched between the conference opponents, with eight ties in the first 22 points. Another kill by Winkel gave the Spartans a lead they wouldn't relinquish as they took ten of the next twelve points and a commanding 21-13 lead. A late comeback attempt by the Knights was futile, as a block by Cooley and Payton Uptagraft secured a 25-16 victory to take a 2-0 lead. The Knights fought back in the third set, knotting the set up at eight apiece after 16 points. The rest of the match was all UD, with the Spartans taking 17 of the next 23 points. Winkel registered nine kills in the final frame to power the Spartans' offense.

Winkel was unstoppable at the net on Friday, picking up 15 kills at a .257 hitting percentage, 12 digs, and two service aces. Cooley added eight kills of her own for a .412 hitting percentage. The Spartans' defense was stellar at the net, with Cooley and Uptagraft picking up three block assists each, while Halee Clare and Caitlin Jensen added two blocking assists each. Taylor Bechen flew around the backcourt, tallying 28 digs and three service aces. Alexis Kammerer and Ashlyn McGinnis led the offensive effort, notching 22 and 17 assists, respectively.

Up Next

The #23 Spartans will return to the court with a road A-R-C bout against Luther College on Tuesday, October 7 at 6:00 p.m. in Decorah. The Norse (5-14, 0-2 A-R-C) were swept by the Knights to begin conference play and lost a four-set match against Coe College last week.

Homecoming festivities will continue tomorrow afternoon as Football, Women's Soccer, and Men's Soccer will be in action. Football will battle Nebraska Wesleyan University at 2:00 p.m., while both soccer teams will face off against the Norse, with the women kicking off at 1:00 p.m., and the men concluding the Homecoming slate at 3:30 p.m.