Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Fond du Lac, Wis.. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse volleyball team opened the 2025 season with a pair of wins as they they defeated Monmouth College (Ill.) and Marian University (Wis.) Friday night at the Marian University (Wis.) Invite.

THE BASICS 
Final Score:  UW-La Crosse 3, Monmouth College (Ill.), UW-La Crosse 3, Marian University (Wis.) 2. 
Location: Sadoff Gymnasium, Fond du Lac, Wis. 
Records: UWL 2-0, Monmouth College (Ill) 0-1, Marian University (Wis.) 0-1.

UW-La Crosse 3, Monmouth College (Ill.) 0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-20)

• UWL scored the first four points of the match as Grace Nommensen, Reese Yocum and Annie Werner each recorded a kill. After the Scots of Monmouth tied the set at 6-6, the Eagles scored 12 of the next 16 points to take its largest lead of the set at 18-10. Monmouth would cut their deficit to 23-20 but that would be as close as they would get as UWL took the first set 25-21.
• In the second set, UWL took an early 10-6 lead on a kill by Nommensen. UWL turned an 11-8 lead into an 21-14 advantage by going on a 10-6 run. The Eagles would score the final three points to take set two 25-16. Megan Lund recorded two kills over the final three points for the Eagles.
• The Scots jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the third set as Monmouth scored seven straight points at one point. Trailing 12-8, UWL scored nine of the next 12 points to take a 17-15 lead. After taking a 21-18 lead on an error by the Scots, the Eagles scored four of the final six points to win the third set 25-20. 

FROM THE BOXSCORE

• Kayla Sexton led the Eagles with eight kills while finishing third on the team with 10 digs. She also added two service aces and a solo block.
• Also leading the Eagles offense was Nommensen with seven kills while Maddy Wilson and Grace Turlais each added five kills.
• Taylor Larson led the Eagles defense with 15 digs while Nommensen finished with 13. 
• Lund added a team high 16 assists to go along with two kills, two service aces and seven digs. 

UW-La Crosse 3, Marian University (Wis.) 2 (25-17, 17-25, 24-26, 25-16, 15-7)

• UWL jumped out to an early 6-1 lead and never trailed in the opening set as they won 25-17. Marian would not get any closer than four the rest of the way. 
• The Sabre's would take an early 10-6 lead. A Sydney Marx kill and a Nommensen service ace would make it 10-8 but that would be as close as the Eagles would get as the Sabre's went on a 9-3 run to lead 19-11. Marian would hold on to win set two 2-17. 
• Marian scored five of the first six points of the third set but UWL slowly chipped away and tied the game at 11-11 on a Marx kill. Three straight points would give UWL a 16-13 lead but Marian scored five of the next six points to lead 18-17. A 5-1 run would give the Sabres a 24-20 lead but UWL scored four straight to tie it at 24. Marian was able to hold off the pesky Eagles and score the final two points to win the third set 26-24.
• UWL took control early in the fourth set as they scored 16 of the first 20 points to lead 16-4. From their Marian would not get any closer then eight the rest of the set as UWL took the fourth set 26-16. 
• The Eagles established themselves right away in the fifth set as they jumped out to a 10-2 lead and never tailed in th set.

FROM THE BOXSCORE

• Sexton recorded a double-double as she finished with 10 kills and 13 digs. 
• Nommensen led the Eagles as she finished with 15 kills while Reese Yocum added seven.
• Lund and Kailyn Kurth shared setting as they finished with 23 and 17 assists, respectively.
• Larson once again led the Eagles defense as she finished with 26 digs.
• As a team, UWL finished with 14 service aces including seven from Megan Jasperson and four from Lund. 

UP NEXT

• Day two of the Marian University Invite will see UWL play Wheaton College (Ill.) at 9:00 a.m. and Benedictine University (Ill.) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.