WAVERLY, Iowa-- The Wartburg volleyball team (13-9 overall) split its matches at its own Quadrangular Saturday. The Knights swept UW-Platteville and fought back against St. Thomas to force a fifth set, but fell 3-2.

Against the Pioneers, senior Lizzy Blough (Dike) led all hitters with 10 kills and added as many digs. Sophomore Kylie Bildstein (Dyersville) was close behind with eight. Senior Mallary Erbes (Urbandale) tallied 25 assists and sophomore Katie Foster (Charles City) had 18 digs.



The score of the first set remained close until the Orange and Black pulled ahead 19-18 to take the lead for good. A different story was true in the second frame as Wartburg jumped to an early 6-1 lead. The final set was close until the Knights gained control at 20-19.

The Tommies won the first two sets 25-18 and 25-17 before the Orange and Black won the next two 25-18 and 26-24. In the third frame, Wartburg used a seven-point run to pull ahead at 20-16, which included three service aces from freshman Claire Marsh (Waverly).



In the fourth set, the Knights compiled a late rally to take the lead at 22-21. The score was tied two more times, which included at 24 all. A kill from Bildstein and Blough sent the match to a deciding fifth set.

St. Thomas led 8-7 as the teams switched sides of the court, and never looked back.

Blough had 18 kills, and Bildstein had a career-high 18 kills. Erbes had a double-double with 42 assists and 23 digs. Foster had a career-high 36 digs, which broke her old mark of 33 set against Central last season.

As a team, the Orange and Black held the advantages in service aces, digs, and blocks.

Wartburg concludes its homestand Tuesday when it hosts Simpson at 7:30 p.m.