DUBUQUE, Iowa—Led behind attacking efforts of Zaiah Quirk and Kylie Bildstein, the #10 Wartburg College Knights volleyball extended their lead to 13 straight wins.
 
The Knights (13-0, 2-0 A-R-C) defeated the University of Dubuque Spartans (7-8, 0-2 A-R-C) in four sets. The Knights won the first two sets (30-28, 25-22) before dropping the third set (22-25). The Knights fought back to win the fourth set (25-20).
 
How It Happened
 
Early kills from Bildstein and Quirk helped the Knights open the first set on a 6-3 run. The Knights and Spartans traded points as the largest lead came at four, on an attacking error by the Spartans. Late in the set, the Knights built the lead out to four at 21-17 before the Spartans tied the game at 23. Late kills by Kennedy Meister and Jayme Willemssen helped the Knights win the first set in extra points.
 
Attacking errors plagued the Spartans early in the second set as the Knights took an 8-2 lead early. A kill by Bildstein and service ace by Claire Marsh extended the Knights lead at 14-8 before the Spartans recorded six unanswered points. The Spartans took a 19-16 lead late in the set as Quirk found the answer for the Knights. Behind Caroline Kluesner's service ace, the Knights won the second set on a 9-3 run.
 
The Knights struggled offensively early in the third set as Dubuque jumped out to a 10-4 lead. Quirk answered the Spartans attack as the Knights trailed by as many as 10 early (18-8). A Meister kill started the Knights on a 11-4 run, bringing the Knights within three at 22-19. The Knights and Spartans traded points, as the Spartans pulled away with the third set.
 
Meister, Willemssen, and Quirk found their way into the fourth set stats as the Knights jumped out to a 7-4 lead. The Spartans tied the set four times until the Knights pulled together a 6-0 run. The teams traded points in the closing minutes of the fourth set as back-to-back kills from Quirk sealed the victory for the Knights.
 
A Look at the Numbers
 
Quirk led the Knights in total kills with 18, while Bildstein tallied 16 in the contest. Meister added 14 kills as Willemssen tacked on nine kills for the Orange & Black. Natalie Clayberg and Lindsey Spolidoro recorded a pair of aces each as the Knights were credited with seven aces. Marsh added 45 assists, while Meister added 21 digs.
 
The Knights recorded 63 kills, 86 digs, 57 assists, and a hitting percentage of .225.
 
In the Polls
 
The Knights jumped six spots in the AVCA poll released on Sept. 21, now sitting in the No. 10 spot. The Knights defeated UW-La Crosse, who received votes in this week's poll, at the UW-La Crosse Invitational last weekend. The Knights posted straight set victories over Hamline, UW-La Crosse, and Elmhurst at the tournament.

Weekly Honors
 
Foster earned her third straight A-R-C Defensive Player of the Week honors, following an outstanding performance at the UW-La Crosse Invite. Foster tallied 86 digs, with 29 digs being recorded against UW-La Crosse. This was Foster's nineteenth honor.
 
Next Time Out
 
The Orange & Black host the Wartburg Invitational on Sept. 24 and 25 as action begins at 5 p.m. on Sept. 24.  
 
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