MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College collected its first home win of the season on Friday by knocking off Olivet 3-1 in non-conference action at Time of Grace Center.
The Warriors (2-4), who had three players record at least nine kills, defeated the Comets by scores of 25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 25-20.
WLC trailed 11-10 in the first set before a 7-1 scoring run gave them a 17-12 lead, matching its largest advantage of the set. UO closed to within 20-19, but Wisconsin Lutheran tallied four of the next five points to take the opener 25-22.Â
Wisconsin Lutheran doubled up Olivet 12-6 in the third set, and still led by five points later at 15-10. Trailing 19-17, the Comets used a 6-1 run to jump in front 23-20. The Warriors tallied two straight points to close within one, but UO ended with two in a row to even the match with a 25-22 score.
WLC broke away from a 4-4 tie in the third set with a 6-1 run. Wisconsin Lutheran led 16-11 before Olivet came within a point at 18-17. The Warriors rattled off the next six points to take their largest lead of the set and came away with a 25-20 triumph.
Wisconsin Lutheran never trailed in the fourth set, building a 9-5 lead. The Comets came within two points at 13-11 before a 7-2 spurt put the Warriors ahead by a set-best seven points at 20-13. WLC closed out the victory with another 25-20 win.
Freshman
Brady Pichler (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) led Wisconsin Lutheran with a match-high 15 kills. Junior
Drew Wempner (West Allis, Wis.) and freshman
Noah Kern (Brookfield, Wis.) recorded nine kills each. All three players added three service aces apiece. Senior
James Biedenbender (La Crosse, Wis.) tallied a match-high 34 assists. Kern collected a season- and match-high 12 digs. The Warriors hit .222 with 44 kills, 20 errors, and 108 swings.
Silas Martin had 14 kills and Will Mensching distributed 30 assists for UO (1-6), which hit .152 with 41 kills, 24 errors, and 112 attempts.
WLC travels to Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday, February 4 for a 7 p.m. non-conference match against North Park (2-5). Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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