WLC Splits Five-Set Thrillers With Elmhurst, Loras In Season Finale

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College women's volleyball team capped off its 2021 season on Saturday with a pair of five-set thrillers against Elmhurst and Loras. The Warriors dropped their first match to the Bluejays before bouncing back to down the Duhawks. Juniors Jenna Charron (Appleton, Wis.) and Emily Sarles (Lombard, Ill.) each posted double-doubles to lead WLC. Sarles and junior Ally Goba (Mukwonago, Wis.) were named to the All-Tournament Team.

• Final Scores: Elmhurst 3, Wisconsin Lutheran 2 (25-13, 21-25, 25-22, 16-25, 17-15); Wisconsin Lutheran 3, Loras 2 (27-25, 27-25, 14-25, 14-25, 15-12)
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (12-14), Elmhurst (16-12), Loras (20-10)
• Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis.

• The Bluejays turned a 5-4 deficit into a 19-9 lead in the first set en route to a 25-13 opening-set win.
• Elmhurst scored the first two points of the second set, but the Warriors broke a 12-12 tie by taking the lead for good following a kill from sophomore Faith Zuleger (West Bend, Wis.). WLC won the second set to even the match 25-21.
• Wisconsin Lutheran erased a 15-9 third-set deficit with an 11-4 scoring run for a 20-19 lead. The Green and White led 22-20, but the Bluejays closed with five straight points to win the set 25-22.
• The Warriors hit a match-high .469 in the fourth set as they erased an early 2-0 deficit and led 9-4. WLC increased its lead to as much as nine points twice, including the final score of 25-16.
• Elmhurst jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the final set, but Wisconsin Lutheran stormed back to take a 13-10 lead following a block by junior Rebecca Chavez (Chicago, Ill.). The Bluejays fought off match point twice and went on for a 17-15 win after they hit .333 in the final set.
• Charron collected a double-double of 18 kills and 18 digs along with five blocks assists, while Sarles also added 38 assists and 21 digs.
• Senior Carly Heuer (Germantown, Wis.) added 16 kills to pace the offense. 
• Goba led four players in double-digit digs with 23, as senior Dayton Pye (Zion, Ill.) also chipped in with 12 for a team season-high of 95. Chavez tied Charron with five block assists as the Warriors finished with 10 total blocks.
• WLC held on for a pair of 27-25 wins over the Duhawks in the first two sets of their final match. The back-and-forth play featured 23 lead changes and 13 ties combined throughout the first two sets.
• Loras turned a 9-8 deficit into a 25-14 win in the third set and they never trailed in the fourth set while hitting a match-high .452 for another 25-14 win.
• Wisconsin Lutheran erased a 4-0 deficit in the final set by taking an 11-7 lead following a kill from Heuer. Charron capped off the match with her 18th kill of the contest for match point and a 15-12 win.
• Charron finished with 18 kills and 16 digs in the nightcap for a double-double, while Sarles also joined her with 48 assists and 19 digs. Heuer chipped in with 14 kills in her final collegiate match.
• Three more players reached double-digit digs for the Warriors as Goba (19), Pye (14), and freshman Kylee Gnabasik (Jefferson, Wis.) (13) helped the hosts rack up 89 for the match.

• "I am so proud of how strong we finished our season playing so competitively and confidently at our Warrior Invite. It's certainly disappointing to not make our conference tournament, but to beat two teams and take one team to the wire who are all in their tournaments was a testament to our strong play and strong conference. I'm glad for our seniors to end their playing career on a hard-fought five-set win on our homecourt." - Head Coach Jenilee Voss

• The Warriors wrap up their 2021 season with a 12-14 overall record and an 8-5 mark in the NACC.

WVB: @WLC_WVB 3, Loras 2 (27-25, 27-25, 14-25, 14-25, 15-12)

⚔️ Jenna Charron leads WLC with 18 kills and 16 digs
⚔️ Emily Sarles adds 48 assists and 19 digs
⚔️ Ally Goba and Sarles tie team lead with 19 digs

WLC finishes 2021 season 12-14, 8-5 NACC#WeAreWarriros #d3vb

— WLC Warriors (@WLCSports) October 31, 2021

WVB: Elmhurst 3, @WLC_WVB 2 (25-13, 21-25, 25-22, 16-25, 17-15)

⚔️ Jenna Charron leads Warriors with 18 kills, 18 digs, and five block assists
⚔️ Emily Sarles adds 38 assists and 21 digs
⚔️ Ally Goba leads four in double-digit digs with 23#d3vb

— WLC Warriors (@WLCSports) October 31, 2021

WVB: @WLC_WVB hosts Elmhurst and Loras today in their season finale at the Warrior Invitational.

��: Elmhurst/Loras
��: Oct. 30, 2021
��: Time of Grace Center
⏰: 10 a.m./2 p.m.
��: https://t.co/lgzEGW7YyU
��: https://t.co/DrsjitT5jD
��: https://t.co/bnc5ZJ0yJj#NACCtion #d3vb pic.twitter.com/wYJdneW2ws

— WLC Warriors (@WLCSports) October 30, 2021