SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The University of Dubuque women's volleyball team concluded Day 2 of the KTIS Volleyball Classic with a 3-0 victory over #17 Millikin University (25-20, 25-13, 25-17) and the (RV) University of Northwestern (Minn.) 3-1 (25-21, 20-25, 25-17, 25-21). The Spartans improve to 8-0, their best start since 2017 for second year head coach Karrah Davis. 

The Spartans and Big Blue were evenly matched for most of the first set before UD pulled away late, thanks to kills by Ashley Glennon. The Spartans got an early lead in the second set and never looked back, never trailing in the set. The third set was more of the same, with the Spartans only trailing once early before clinching the 3-0 sweep in decisive fashion.

The Spartans and Eagles traded points throughout the first set until Delainey Winkel and Caitlin Jensen capped the set with four consecutive kills for the 25-21 victory. The Eagles led for most of the second set, and despite a late rally, held on to knot the match at one set apiece. The Spartans and Eagles traded runs in the third set before a six-point tie breaking run by the Spartans all but sealed the set to take a 2-1 lead. The Spartans maintained a lead throughout most of the fourth set to win 3-1 over a team who received votes in last week's coaches poll.

The Spartans dominated the net against the Big Blue, with Caitlin Jensen and Megan Cooley tallying seven and six block assists each. Delainey Winkel and Glennon notched nine and eight kills in the match. Taylor Bechen totaled 21 digs, and Alexis Kammerer added 19 assists to lead the Spartans.

Winkel returned to form with a season-high 20 kills against the Eagles with a hitting percentage of .314. Jensen added 13 of her own at an impressive .579 clip. Payton Uptagraft and Bechen led the defensive effort, leading the Spartans with six block assists and 23 digs. Kammerer added 23 digs along with 26 assists. Ashlyn McGinnis totaled 21 assists in the match to aid the Spartans offense.

The Spartans (8-0) now face their toughest test yet with a match against #13 UW-Platteville in UD's home opener in Stoltz Sports Center on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 7:00 p.m. The Pioneers enter with a 4-1 record and haven't lost a set since their 3-1 loss against #12 ranked Millikin at the time on August 30. The Pioneers are 2-1 versus ranked opponents, picking up victories against #23 New York University and #10 Trinity University (Texas).