WAVERLY, Iowa – The No. 11-ranked Gustavus volleyball team earned a 3-1 comeback victory over the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Friday evening during its opening match of the Wartburg College Invitational.
Gustavus 3, UW-La Crosse 1: 24-26, 25-20, 25-15, 25-20 (Box Score)
The Gustie attack was led by Kate Holtan (Fy., Rochester, Minn.), who tallied a season-high 19 kills and just two errors for a .436 attack percentage. Two Gusties posted double-doubles, as Hannah Albers (Jr., St. Louis, Mo.) notched 12 kills and 15 digs, while Nora Holtan (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) added 15 digs and 45 assists. Brittany Luethmers (Jr., Prior Lake, Minn.) guided the defense with 20 digs.
The Black and Gold, now 17-3 overall, fell 26-24 in a tight first set prior to coming back to take the next three sets for the victory over the Eagles. Gustavus hit .232 with 56 kills on 155 attempts and tallied nine service aces.
“We responded very well and really turned on our aggressive mentality,” Head Coach Rachelle Sherden spoke of the Gusties’ bounce back after the first set. “We served very well and and our offense was smart in mixing up the shots. Our defense also picked up a lot against their strong attackers.”
The Gusties tied the score at 1-1 as they stepped up in the second set, forcing 11 UW-La Crosse errors and limiting them to a .065 attack percentage. Down 8-5 early, Gustavus then went on a 20-12 run to take the set. Gustavus kept the momentum rolling in the following sets, improving play in sets three and four.
In the third set, Gustavus jumped out to an 11-5 advantage and maintained the lead for the rest of the set, taking a 2-1 lead. The fourth set proved to be the Gusties’ most efficient, attacking at a rate of .467 with a match-high 16 kills on 30 attempts. However, the Eagles didn’t go down early, forcing a competitive set with a few lead changes early. Near the midway point, Gustavus registered three consecutive kills to claim at 16-12 lead and held on for the win.
Gustavus wraps up the Wartburg Invite tomorrow, facing Wartburg at 10 a.m. and Luther College at noon.