The UW-La Crosse women’s volleyball team continued it’s WIAC conference play on Wednesday night in Mitchell Hall with another thrilling five set victory over a quality opponent.  This time against the Blue Devils of UW-Stout.   

The return to Mitchell Hall was greeted by UW-L as they had previously finished up a dual in Illinois that saw UW-L not drop a game as they won six straight sets against out of conference competition.

The opening set was tied midway through when UW-L began to pull away and would use smart defense and great serving to take the first set, something UW-L had trouble with when they began conference play as the dropped the first two sets.  The early success would not continue as UW-Stout would come from behind and win despite a 21-20 lead by UW-L.

UW-L and UW-Stout would battle once again in the third set with the score evened at 20 when UW-L volleyball player Ashley Entinger recorded three straight kills to take a 23-20 and put away the set for good measure with another kill.

UW-L darted out to a 4-0 lead in the 4th set and hoped to put the game away and avoid the 15 point tie breaker set but UW-Stout would not have any of it as they responded in lightning fashion to wrestle away the lead from UW-L and would eventually take the 4th set to split the match at two sets apiece and force the tiebreaker.

UW-L would jump ahead in the final set and hit well enough to win while UW-Stout definitely were not on top of their game as UW-L took the final set and improved their overall record to 12-4 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

This UW-L team knows how to win.  They’ve won while being from behind, they’ve won the back and forth matches and they’ve won in dominating fashion.  The team which has already surpassed its win total from last season looks poised to do things the program hasn’t done in a while.

Coach Lillian Hallock said, “We have potential to win the conference tournament and we have the potential to reach the NCAA Tournament.  We need to come out strong at the start of the match and play steady throughout.”

Only time will truly tell what UW-L can accomplish but with great play and contributions from key and role players the sky truly is the limit for the Eagles.