WAVERLY, Iowa-- The Wartburg volleyball team (18-11 overall) advanced to the conference tournament championship match for the fourth-straight year in the 3-2 victory over Luther (15-17) Thursday.



The teams traded sets to force a deciding fifth frame. The Knights used a five-point run to build their lead to 8-2 when the teams switched sides of the court. The Orange and Black sealed the win on kills from sophomore Lexi Groe (Lake Mills), block by senior Mallary Erbes (Urbandale) and sophomore Dani Johnson (Parkersburg) and a kill from senior Lizzy Blough (Dike).

Blough led the team with 16 kills. Three players joined her in double digits as Groe and freshman Jayme Willemssen (Waverly) each had 12 and sophomore Kylie Bildstein (Dyersville) had 11.

Erbes compiled a career-high 52 assists and sophomore libero Katie Foster (Charles City) also had a career-best 40 digs. Sophomore Sydney Rottinghaus (Mason City) had 18, while Blough and Erbes each had 15.

The career night continued as Blough added an all-time best five service aces. Her previous high was four, which she had accomplished six times. Her five aces also tied the single game school record in the conference tournament, which was originally set by Amy Kueker in 2000.

Sophomore Hannah Moeller (Eldridge) and junior Hanna Halverson (Gilbertville) matched their career-highs with two each.

Bildstein tallied eight block assists, which set a new career mark, and also surpassed the previous record of seven as a new conference tournament game high for the program. Her three solo blocks matched the single game best in tournament history.

As a team, Wartburg owned every advantage, and set season highs in kills, assists, and blocks.

The Knights will host Dubuque Saturday at 7 p.m. in the American Rivers Conference Tournament Championship. The two programs have never previously met in the tournament championship.