UW-La Crosse Falls at Viterbo in Season Opener

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse volleyball team opened its 2009 season with 3-0 (20-25, 26-28, 19-25) loss at city-rival Viterbo University Wednesday night in R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium. The V-Hawks improve to 6-2 with the victory. UW-L now leads the all-time series, 27-4, with Viterbo.

Melany Vanden Langenberg and Amber Eide led UW-L with seven kills each while Brianne Stankus finished with six. The Eagles hit .133 as a team, including .029 in the first game with seven kills and six errors in 34 attempts.

Caitlin Janke added four kills and Katie Gunderson three for UW-L.

Liz Schlobohm registered 25 assists while Vanden Langenberg led the team with 13 digs. Melannie Tate added 11 digs for the Eagles.

UW-L finished with 6.0 team blocks, including four from Gunderson.

Jenna Lau and Hannah Ripp led Viterbo with nine kills each while Kassie McGettigan and Abby Breitung had eight. Katie Flock added seven kills for the V-Hawks, who hit .235 as a team, including .306 in the first game. Viterbo had 15 kills in the first and third games Wednesday night and 16 in the second.

Amanda Bernett led the team wiht 22 assists while Heather Harelstad had a team-high 12 digs.

UW-L returns to action Friday, Sept. 4 with two matches at the St. Mary's University (Minn.) Tournament. The Eagles face Luther College (Iowa) at 6 p.m. and St. Catherine's University (Minn.) at 8 p.m.