Box Score

The UW-River Falls volleyball team opened WIAC play with a convincing 3-1 win over rival UW-La Crosse on Friday evening at the Karges Center.
 
After dropping the first set 25-22, the Falcons won back-to-back-to-back sets in dramatic fashion. UWRF won sets two and three 25-21. The fourth and final set was a memorable, back-and-forth chess match that ended in the Falcons' favor, 27-25.
 
The Eagles took the first set 25-22 after leading much of the way. UWRF was slow in the early going, but the Falcons took their first lead of the match after battling back to take an 18-17 edge. However, the Eagles outscored UWRF 8-4 the rest of the way. Sophomore Hali Tasler had herself a very good first set with three kills and digs; Tasler was all over the court. Junior Brianna Muetzel came on strong late in the set with three kills of her own. La Crosse's largest lead was five, at 9-4.
 
The Falcons bounced back to take the second set, 25-21, after dominating the second half of the set. UWRF's largest lead was five at 16-11 and 17-12. The Eagles had too many unforced errors to stay with the Falcons. Sophomore Katie Duff gave the Falcons a much needed breath of fresh air off the bench with four kills in the set. Junior Lexi Pingel had the set's only ace; the first for either team. Michaela Piechowski made a set-winning dig with a three-point lead at 24-21.
 
The Falcons won the third set with an identical 25-21 score after leading nearly the entire way. Muetzel and Duff both had strong sets once again. Muetzel and sophomore Raven Klein both had early aces land in-between Eagles. The Falcons scored four straight points to grab an 8-6 lead and they never looked back. A two-minute volley that ended with a UWRF point truly turned the tide, tying the set at 10. The game-winning kill was scored by sophomore Tayler Fertig with the score at 24-21.
 
The fourth set was back-and-forth to the very end. La Crosse led 24-23 while serving but could not put the Falcons away. In the end, UWRF won the set 27-25 and the match 3-1. Muetzel, Duff and junior Rebecca Gasper dominated the last two sets of the match. A late Muetzel ace, a Fertig kill and a game-winning ace from Piechowski, sealed the match for the Falcons. The Eagles got off to a hot start, opening the set 6-2, but the Falcons responded with six straight points--easily the best stretch for the Falcons all game.
 
Pingel dictated play from start to finish, digging ball after ball. Unforced errors doomed the Eagles in the last three sets; the Falcons made sure to capitalize on each mistake.
 
Muetzel and Duff led the Falcons with 14 kills each. Klein was back in the lineup and had 43 assists, an ace and 12 digs. Muetzel also led UWRF with two aces and she had 12 digs. Lexi Pingel finished with a team-best 17 digs while Piechowski had 13.
 
UWRF improved to 6-7 overall, 2-1 at home and 1-0 in the WIAC. The Falcons also snapped a short-lived one-game losing streak. La Crosse has now dropped six straight matches. The Eagles dropped to 7-9 overall, 0-4 on the road and 0-1 in the WIAC. La Crosse last won a match on Sept. 12, against St. Norbert College. UWRF improved to 29-36 all-time against the Eagles.
 
The Falcons host the UW-Platteville Pioneers (5-11) at noon tomorrow in the Karges Center. The Pioneers lead the all-time series 31-25.

Box Score