WHITEWATER, Wis. – The Gustavus volleyball team traveled to UW-Whitewater for their first of three contests this weekend and fell to the No. 9 Warhawks 3-0. With the loss the Gusties fall to 10-10 overall while UW-Whitewater advances to 16-3.
The first few points of the first set played back and forth until the Warhawks went on a four-point run to go up 11-5 but that was answered by a three-point run by the Gusties to bring the score to 11-8. Whitewater however, would score seven of the next nine points to go up 18-10 and they would close out the set and take it 25-17.
The Warhawks took control of set two early and didn’t look back. The home team got out to an 8-2 lead that they would eventually turn into 17-8. Although the Gusties battled to bring it within three late at 20-17, Whitewater would take five of the final seven points for the win.
The Gusties got off to their best start in the third set, getting out to an 8-6 lead, but the Warhawks would go on a 14-5 run to take a 20-13 lead. The Gusties would respond with three straight points but UW-Whitewater would do the same and take their lead to 23-16. Gustavus would pull it back within five but the Warhawks would end the set 25-19.
Kate Holtan (Jr., Rochester) led the Gustavus attack with a 12-kill performance and 12 digs for a double-double while Sarah Elliott (Fy., Lombard, Ill.)t had a solid game with seven kills, hitting .375. Kaylyn Johnston had 13 set-assists to lead the Gusties while Mitaya Johnson (Sr., Kasson) had 10. Hailey Embacher (Jr., Mankato) had another solid match in the back row for Gustavus with 26 digs.
The Gusties are back in action tomorrow with matches at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.