Winona, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse volleyball team opened the 2023 season going 2-0 on day one of the Sugar Loaf Classic hosted by the University of Saint Mary's (Minn.).
THE BASICS
Final Score: UWL defeated Carleton College 25-23, 25-16, 23-25, 25-14. UWL defeated Marian University 25-15, 25-17, 25-20.
Location: St. Mary's University RAC
Records: UWL 2-0, Carleton (Minn.) 0-2, Marian University (Wis.) 0-2
UW-LA CROSSE 3, CARLETON (MINN.) 1
- The Eagles got off to a slow start and found themselves in a 19-13 hole. UWL scored back-to-back points to make it 19-15 but Carleton would take a 23-18 lead. The Eagles scored the final seven points to take the first set 25-23. Ella Luoma served the final seven points including two service aces to spark the run.
- Set two saw the Eagles jump out to an 8-1 run fueled by three kills from Anna Rossner and two more service aces from Luoma. UWL would never trail in set two and lead by as many as nine.
- Trailing 15-12 in the third set, Carleton went on a 6-2 run to take a 18-17 lead. After UWL took a 20-19 lead, Carleton scored four straight and six of the final nine points to force a fourth set.
- The Eagles would jump out to a 5-1 lead and would not trail in set four. The Eagles largest lead of the set came at 15-5.
UW-LA CROSSE 3, MARIAN (wIS.)
- Trailing 8-4 in the first set, UWL went on an 8-1 run to take a 12-9 lead. Marian (Wis.) would not get any closer than three (14-11) the rest of the set.
- In set two, UWL jumped out to a 13-4 lead and never looked back. Gabby Johnson sparked the quick start with three kills. Marian (Wis.) pulled within 15-12 but that would be as close as they would get as UWL scored 10 of the final 15 points.
- With the score tied 7-7 in the third set, UWL scored four straight points to lead 11-7. Marian (Wis.) cut their deficit to 15-13; however, UWL scored five of the next six points to take a 20-14 lead.
FROM THE BOXSCORE
- Senior Brianne Korducki led the Eagles in both matches with back-to-back double-doubles. Against Carleton (Minn.) Korducki finished with 19 kills, 12 digs while she had 10 kills, 14 digs against Marian (Wis.).
- As a team, the Eagles finished with 14 service aces including four from Luoma against Carleton (Minn.).
- UWL recorded 21 total blocks (5 solo and 16 assisted) with Kaity Coisman leading the way with 9 total blocks (3 solo, 6 assisted).
- Racehel Bingham and Kerrigan Candra led Carleton (Minn.) with 9 kills apiece.
- Kaitlyn Merrill, Serina Pehowski, and Riley Shores each had five kills for Marian (Wis.).
FROM THE VOICES OF THE EAGLES
UP NEXT
- UWL returns tomorrow (Saturday) for day two of the St. Mary's University Sugarloaf Tournament to play College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) at 9 a.m. and Lawrence University (Wis.) at 1 p.m.
