WLC Stuns Illinois Tech In Five-Set Thriller

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College pulled off an impressive reverse sweep on Saturday, coming all the way back to defeat Illinois Institute of Technology 3-2 at the Time of Grace Center.

The Warriors (6-5, 3-1 NACC), who won at home for the sixth time in seven matches, fought back from an 0-2 deficit to clip the Scarlet Hawks (10-5, 2-2 NACC) by scores of 22-25, 18-25, 25-20, 28-26, 16-14. 

WLC never held the lead in the first set despite tying the score on three separate occasions. With the set knotted at 21-21, IIT scored four of the final five points for the 25-22 opening-set win.

Wisconsin Lutheran held an early 4-1 lead in set two, but with the set knotted at 12-12, Illinois Tech used a 6-1 scoring run to pull away and take the second set 25-18.

The Scarlet Hawks battled back from a 15-10 deficit in set three to close within 20-19, but the Warriors scored five of the final six points to pickup their first win of the day, 25-20.

WLC erased a seven-point deficit (18-11) in the fourth set, tying the score at 19-19. Wisconsin Lutheran worked through nine ties and fended off match point three times to even the match at two sets apiece with a 28-26 victory.

In the fifth set, the Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead, only to have IIT score seven answered points. Trailing 13-8, WLC rattled off five in a row to even the set at 13-13. Facing match point, Wisconsin Lutheran scored three straight points, including two kills from senior Jenna Charron (Appleton, Wis.) and an ace from sophomore Emma Incaprero (Mauston, Wis.) to win the match in improbable fashion.

The Warriors totaled 58 kills, hitting .124 on 36 errors and 177 attempts. Charron led the way with 17 kills and 17 digs for a double-double, while freshman Kayla Wigley (Milwaukee, Wis.) added 12 kills. Senior Emily Sarles (Lombard, Ill.) dished out 25 assists, with Incaprero adding a double-double of 21 assists and 12 digs. 

Sophomore Kylee Gnabasik (Jefferson, Wis.) paced WLC with 19 digs and six service aces, and sophomore Amahra Matthai (Plover, Wis.) recorded five total blocks.

Wisconsin Lutheran travels to Fond du Lac on Tuesday when they will face Marian (5-15, 2-2 NACC) at 7 p.m. Live coverage links will be available at WLCsports.com.