Chicago, Ill. - The University fo Wisconsin-La Crosse volleyball team, receiving votes on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Top-25 Poll, opened its 2022 season Friday at the University of Chicago (Ill.) Tournament. The Eagles fell 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-17) to St. Olaf College (Minn.) and 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-23) to 25th-ranked Chicago (Ill.). 

The opening set with St. Olaf (Minn.) was tied 4-4 when the Oles went on a 10-3 run to lead 14-7. The Eagles cut the deficit to 15-11, but could get no closer the rest of the set.

UWL took an 8-5 lead on Brianne Korducki's kill in the second set. St. Olaf (Minn.) used a 8-3 run to take a 13-11 advantage, but Korducki's kill and a Oles' hitting error tied the set at 13-13. UWL trailed, 17-15, but St. Olaf (Minn.) scored the next three points for a 20-15 lead. 

Korducki's kill in the third set gave UWL an 8-6 lead, but St. Olaf (Minn.) went on a 7-1 run to lead 13-9 lead. The Eagles trailed 15-13 after Jackie Oetterer's ace, but could get no closer. 

UWL hit .000 (21-21-84) in the match with Korducki leading the Eagles with eight kills. Paige Geiser, Gabrialla Johnson, and Madison Gully each had three. Megan Adams recorded 13 assists with Ella Luoma leading UWL with 12 digs. 

St. Olaf (Minn.) hit .273 (36-12-88) as Christina Cheng finished with 10 kills. Paige Christophersen had 18 assists and Taylin Gosch 14. Selena Rodriguez led the Oles with 13 digs. 

Versus Chicago (Ill.), the opening set was tied, 10-10, when the Oles scored three consecutive points to lead 13-10. UWL later cut trailed, 15-14, on back-to-back aces from Kaity Coisman. Chicago (Ill.) took the next three points for an 18-14 advantage. 

The Maroons used a 4-0 run to lead 17-11 in the second set before the Eagles came back scoring five of the next seven points to cut it to 19-16 on Johnson's kill. Chicago (Ill.) scored six of the last nine points to win the set. 

UWL took a 15-13 lead in the third set when Chicago (Ill.) scored five straight points for a 18-15 lead. Kills from Geiser, Korducki and Weisensel tied the game at 18-18. UWL later trailed, 23-21, when the Eagles tied the set, 23-23, but the Maroons scored the final two points to secure the win. 

UWL hit .092 (34-23-119) with Johnson leading the Eagles with nine kills. Korducki finished with eight kills. Adams recorded 18 assists and 10 digs while Sydney Fedderly led UWL with 12 digs. 

Chicago (Ill.) hit .224 (34-10-107) with Ella Mao leading the Maroons with 10 kills. Maya Patel recorded 15 assists and 12 digs.

UWL returns to action Saturday, September 3 versus Aurora University (Ill.) at 10 a.m. and Whitworth University (Wash.) at 3 p.m. in the Chicago (Ill.) Tournament.