STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's volleyball team faced a tall task Wednesday night and dropped a pair of three-set matches against Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Lakeland fell to the host Pointers 25-16, 25-11, 25-19 in its first match of the night. The Muskies then lost by a 25-17, 25-12, 25-15 count to UW-Oshkosh in their second match, dropping to 1-5 overall this season.
Lakeland came in knowing it had a challenge with UW-Oshkosh ranked No. 8 in the AVCA/NCAA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll and UWSP in the receiving votes category. Both teams were ranked in the top 25 in the preseason and spent much of last year in the national rankings, including Oshkosh advancing to the national quarterfinals in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
A young Muskies team was unable to make much headway against either team, hitting .094 against UWSP and .000 against UWO. Lakeland's best chance at a set win came in the third set against Stevens Point, when the teams were tied 15-15 and still within a point at 18-17 until the Pointers ran of the next four points to take control.
Caitlyn Pernsteiner (
So.-Arpin, Wis.) finished with six kills and
Susana Stevens (
Sr.-Las Cruces, N.M.) added five against UWSP, and
Ryan Figi (
So.-Hartland, Wis.) posted eight digs. Stevens also notched seven kills against UW-Oshkosh,
Katelyn Kitsembel (
Jr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) finished with 10 digs and freshman
Sydney Gay (
Rice Lake, Wis.) added 13 assists and eight digs.
Ashley Kopp totaled 12 kills for UW-Stevens Point and Grace Michalske and Abby Nevins both added four service aces each as the Pointers finished with 12 aces. Robyn Kirsch posted 14 kills to lead UW-Oshkosh in the second match and also tied teammate Abby Fregien for the Titans' high with 13 digs.
Lakeland is back on the court this weekend for the UW-Oshkosh Marty Petersen Invitational held Friday and Saturday in Oshkosh. The Muskies open against St. Catherine (Minn.) University on Friday at 3 p.m. and will play two more matches Saturday, including against North Central (Ill.) College at 9 a.m. and then versus Whitworth (Wash.) University at 1 p.m.
