The Falcon volleyball team started the 2011 season with two wins, over Oshkosh and Wisconsin Lutheran, on Thursday.

Playing at the Northwestern ACR Homes Tournament, the Falcons opened with a 3-1 win over WIAC rival, UW-Oshkosh. UWRF won 25-12, 25-18, 15-25, 25-23. The Falcons then ran the table on Wisconsin Lutheran winning in three sets, 25-10, 25-23, 25-23.

Oshkosh, which received votes in this season AVCA preseason Coaches Poll, had open the tourney with a win over Northwestern, But the Falcons played a solid match and finished with a .278 hitting percentage.

Erin Green (Fridley, MN, Fridley) and Kayla Slaikeu (Eagan, MN, Eagan) led the Falcon offense with 12 kills each. Danielle Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, MN, Cretin-Derham Hall) finished with 11 and Jean Theis (Shakopee, MN, Shakopee) had 10. Theis hit .375 and Slaikeu hit .367 to lead UWRF. Courtney Preiner (Oakdale, MN, Hill-Murray) played well for the Falcons in the back row and finished with a team-high 19 digs. UWRF had eight aces led by Mackenzie Suda (Ham Lake, MN, Blaine) who had three. But the Falcons also had 11 service errors. Suda also led the team with 36 assists. Theis had a great defensive effort at the net. She finished with two solo and three block assists. Green also had three block assists.

Slaikeu led the Falcons with 10 kills in the win over Wisconsin Lutheran. Green had nine kills and she led the Falcon defense with two solo and three block assists. Theis and Suda each finished with two block assists. Suda again led the Falcons with three aces and 29 assists. The Falcons had eight aces. They finished this match with just four service errors and one reception error. Preiner again led UWRF with 23 digs. The Falcons hit just .133 in the match, but they limited WLC to just .083 hitting.

The Falcons play two more matches at Northwestern on Friday. The play Bethel at 3:15 p.m., and the host school at 5:30 p.m. UWRF holds a 17-13 lead in the all-time series against Bethel and they are 6-2 against Northwestern.

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box