ROCKFORD, Ill. (WLCSports.com) – Freshman
Brady Pichler (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) recorded his fourth double-double of the season and junior
Connor Haeuser (West Bend, Wis.) had a program record six service aces to lead Wisconsin Lutheran College to a 3-1 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win over Rockford on Friday at Seaver Center.
The Warriors (5-8, 2-0 NACC), who have won multiple conference matches for the first time, defeated the Regents by scores of 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22.
WLC scored the first point of the opening set for its lone lead of the first set, as the Regents led by as many as seven points at 14-7. Trailing 24-18, Wisconsin Lutheran rattled off five straight points to come with one, but a service error ended the set in favor of RU, 25-23.
The Warriors faced a 7-2 deficit in the second set and still trailed 11-8 before a huge rally turned the tables. WLC used a 12-1 scoring run to take its first lead and build an eight-point advantage. Rockford closed to within two points at 23-21 before a kill and service ace from junior
Drew Wempner (West Allis, Wis.) evened the match at 1-1 after a 25-21 win.
Wisconsin Lutheran trailed 4-0 in the third set before a three-point run gave them their first lead at 9-7. Following six ties, the Warriors grabbed the lead for good with a 6-0 scoring run for a 24-18 advantage. WLC took a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-21 set three victory.
In a back-and-forth fourth set that featured 10 ties and five lead changes, Wisconsin Lutheran was able to pull away from the final tie at 11-11 with a 5-0 run. The Regents came within two points on three separate occasions, but Pichler closed out the match with a kill for a 25-22 victory and 3-1 match triumph.
Pichler finished with a team-high 12 kills to go along with 11 digs for his fourth double-double of the year. Wempner hit .500 with seven kills. Senior
James Biedenbender (La Crosse, Wis.) led the Warriors with 21 assists. Haeuser had a program-record six of the team's 12 service aces. Junior
Trevor Salutric (Lockport, Ill.) tied a match-high with 13 digs for WLC, which hit .122 with 36 kills, 22 errors, and 115 attempts.
Isaiah Dixon tallied a match-high 13 kills for RU (3-9, 0-2 NACC), which hit .159 with 46 kills, 25 errors, and 132 attempts.
Wisconsin Lutheran travels to Madison next Thursday for a 7 p.m. NACC match against Edgewood (3-7, 0-1 NACC). Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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