FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College picked up its second Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win of the season on Thursday, defeating Marian 3-1 (25-23, 25-13, 19-25, 25-21) at Sadoff Gymnasium.
The Warriors (6-10, 2-1 NACC) opened the night by rallying late in set one. After trailing 22-18, WLC strung together seven of the final eight points, highlighted by back-to-back service aces from freshman
Brooke Bartelt (West Bend, Wis.) to secure a 25-23 win.
Wisconsin Lutheran carried that momentum into set two, racing out to an early lead behind a strong serving run from senior
Kayla Wigley (Milwaukee, Wis.). Wigley delivered three straight service aces in the frame, and the Warriors cruised to a dominant 25-13 victory with a .344 hitting percentage in the set.
The Sabres (1-15, 0-2 NACC) responded in the third by using a 7-1 run and withstanding a mid-set push from WLC, taking the frame 25-19.
The fourth set featured 15 ties and six lead changes. With the score even at 18-18, Wisconsin Lutheran used a 7-3 closing run fueled by kills from Wigley, senior
Lydia Biggin (Burlington, Wis.), and junior
Faith Smith (Racine, Wis.). Freshman
Lauren Charbonneau (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) sealed the match with the team's 13th ace of the night as the Warriors clinched the set 25-21.
Biggin and Wigley led all players with nine kills each, while sophomore
Elexa Varden (Dixon, Ill.) hit .389 with eight kills. Charbonneau and sophomore
Hannah Rood (Burnsville, Minn.) shared the setting duties, combining for 32 assists. Bartelt anchored the back row with a team-high 13 digs, while senior
Emily Marohn (Reedsville, Wis.) added 11. Wigley also tallied 10 digs and tied a career-high with seven service aces.
MU was paced by Mikalah Mueller and Harley Bartels with eight kills each. Kaylie Engebose dished out 16 assists, and Alana McDermott recorded 15 digs.
As a team, WLC hit .140 with 42 kills and six blocks, compared to Marian's .107 with 38 kills and four blocks.
Wisconsin Lutheran returns to Time of Grace Center on Saturday for a 12 p.m. NACC match against Rockford (2-7, 1-1 NACC). Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
