UW-La Crosse Drops Three of Four Matches; Stankus Earns All-Tournament Honors

For Immediate Release: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009

Winona, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse volleyball team went 1-3 at the two-day Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic at St. Mary's University (Minn.) Friday-Saturday, Sept. 4-5.

The Eagles fell 3-0 (19-25, 15-25, 20-25) to Luther College (Iowa) and earned a 3-1 (25-22, 30-28, 14-25, 30-28) victory over the University of St. Catherine (Minn.) in Friday's action. UW-L then dropped a pair of matches Saturday, losing 3-2 (17-25, 20-25, 25-12, 25-21, 12-15) to Loras College (Iowa) and 3-0 (18-25, 16-25, 11-25) to the University of St. Thomas (Minn.). St. Thomas is ranked 10th in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Poll.

UW-L is now 1-4 on the season.

The Eagles' Brianne Stankus was named to the all-tournament team after recording 36 kills and nine blocks.

In Friday's loss to Luther, Stankus had a team-high eight kills while Katie Gunderson finished with six. Liz Schlobohm registered 25 assists while Melannie Tate had a team-leading 24 digs. UW-L hit .103 for the match. Against St. Catherine, Amanda Hardy led three players in double figures in kills with 14. Caitlin Jahnke finished with 11 and Stankus 10. Schlobohm had 45 assists. Tate recorded 30 digs while Hardy added 21, Schlobohm 14, Jennifer Stutz 12 and Stankus 10. The Eagles hit .203 in their win over the Wildcats.

Stankus had a team-leading 13 kills versus Loras Saturday morning while Gunderson had 11. Schlobohm added 34 assists while Tate recorded 13 digs and Stutz 12. UW-L hit .231 as a team. Versus the nationally-ranked Tommies of St. Thomas, Stankus and Gunderson each had five kills while Schlobohm recorded 20 assists with the Eagles hitting .167 overall. Tate finished with nine digs.

UW-L returns to action Friday, Sept. 11 at the Wartburg College Classic. The Eagles face Loras at 5 p.m. and Simpson College (Iowa) at 7 p.m.