Look Into Sports: Seniors Thrive in Football’s Senior Day Game
Senior wide receiver Jared Pankow runs the ball in for a touchdown during Senior Day against UW-Stout on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Community Stadium at Goerke Park. Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen.

Look Into Sports: Seniors Thrive in Football’s Senior Day Game

UWSP Volleyball Knocked out in Semifinals

After recording a career-high 48 digs in the first round of the WIAC Tournament against UW-Eau Claire, senior libero Bri Piepenbrok became the first Pointer in program history to surpass 700 digs. Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen.

After recording a career-high 48 digs in the first round of the WIAC Tournament against UW-Eau Claire, senior libero Bri Piepenbrok became the first Pointer in program history to surpass 700 digs. Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen.

In a five set thriller highlighted by senior Bri Piebenbrok recording a career high 48 digs and becoming the first player in school history to surpass 700 digs, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point volleyball team defeated UW-Eau Claire in the first round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship.

After taking the first set, the Pointers dropped the next two sets which included a tightly battled third set the team dropped 30-28.

The Pointers claimed a fourth set victory to take the match to the fifth set where UWSP found itself down 11-8 to the Blugolds.

Tied at 13-13, UW-Eau Claire scored its 14th point of the match, then junior Bella Nelson answered back with back-to-back kills to seal the victory for the Pointers.

In the semifinal round of the WIAC Volleyball Championship, the Pointers faced up against UW-Whitewater. UWSP took the top seeded Warhawks to the fifth set where the team fell short, losing 15-10 and ending its championship run.

On the day Piepenbrok was named WIAC Defensive Player of the Year, the senior notched another 25 digs to her school record. Fellow All-WIAC team member, senior Kelly Cefalu recorded her second-consecutive double-double with posting 18 kills and 15 digs.

Freshman Abby Majercik contributed with her team high ninth double-double after recording 35 assists and 13 digs. Junior Kelly Magliano led the way with seven blocks.

Senior Gabby Thomas and Cefalu kept the fifth set close with crucial kills, but the Warhawks kept the lead throughout the match and continued their WIAC run.

UWSP ended its season with a 27-7 record and awaits its postseason fate.

UWSP Women’s Hockey Takes to Minnesota

Finding themselves in a 3-0 deficit to Concordia-Moorhead, the UWSP women’s hockey team only scored once as they fell in their first game in Minnesota 3-1.

Two of Concordia’s goals came in the first period followed by their final goal coming early in the second.

Coming at the 2:55 mark in period three, senior Meredith Ingbretson notched her second goal of the season to bring the Pointers within two.

Without being able to convert on any of their four power plays and only scoring on one of 28 shooting, the Pointers fell to 1-2 on the season.

In the team’s rematch on Saturday with Concordia-Moorhead, junior Ali Biagini’s two goal effort helped the Pointers tie 3-3 moving to 1-2-1 on the year.

The Pointers got ahead by two goals before allowing the Cobbers to score three unanswered goals to move ahead 3-2.

Biagini got the scoring going in the first period for the Pointers before knocking in her second goal halfway through the second, assisted by freshman Alex Grubbs and sophomore Mackenzie Kratch.

However, UWSP found itself down 3-2 before the second period came to an end.

Assisted by junior Ellie Punnett, sophomore Cara Lemirande tied the game for the Pointers early in the third.

UWSP challenged the Cobber goalkeeper another 11 times before period’s end, but were denied in each of the teams’ attempts.

The Pointers went 2-4 on power play chances, while allowing Concordia to only go 1-10.

The Pointers next game comes Nov. 8 against Gustavus Adolphus before their home opener on Nov. 11.

UWSP Men’s Hockey Skates to A Victory and Tie In Minnesota  

The No. 1 ranked UWSP men’s hockey team came away with a 3-3 tie on Friday with Gustavus Adolphus after allowing a third period goal with 5:52 remaining.

In the first period, senior Jono Davis took advantage of a power play opportunity and netted the first goal of the game for the Pointers.

The Pointers allowed two consecutive goals and found themselves heading into the third period down 2-1.

Seconds into the third, junior Nathan Harris tallied his first goal of the season to even up the score at two.

Freshman Austin Kelly scored the next goal of the game giving UWSP a 3-2 lead that was brought back to a tie, and the final score of 3-3, only a minute later.

The Pointers then faced off against Bethel on Saturday. Fueled by two scores from senior Jacob Barber, UWSP came away with a 5-2 victory.

Senior forward Jacob Barber scored two goals in the Pointers' third win of the season over Bethel University on Saturday, Nov. 5 in St. Paul, Minn. Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen.

Senior forward Jacob Barber scored two goals in the Pointers’ third win of the season over Bethel University on Saturday, Nov. 5 in St. Paul, Minn. Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen.

Barber scored 11:42 into the first period to give the Pointers an early 1-0 lead. Freshman Baxter Kanter followed up the Barber goal only four minutes later to giving UWSP a 2-0 advantage.

Senior Kyle Sharkey extended the Pointer lead to 3-0 in the second period. Shortly after on a power play, Barber tallied his second goal of the night to add insult to injury.

Bethel scored before the end of the second, but Harris answered back 40 seconds into the third period putting the Pointers up 5-1. Bethel only scored once more coming later in the third period giving the Pointers a 5-2 victory.

UWSP out-shot Bethel 56-22 on the night and moves to 3-0-1 on the season. Sophomore Jesse Gordichuk recorded his second victory of the season with 20 saves.

The Pointers return home to play on Nov. 11 and 12 against Concordia-Moorhead and Saint John’s.

Two Pointer Wrestlers Notch Four Wins

Sophomore James Borgen tallied three wins in the 184 weight class at the Pointer Open on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Bennett Court at the Quandt Fieldhouse in Stevens Point, Wis. Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen.

Sophomore James Borgen tallied three wins in the 184 weight class at the Pointer Open on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Bennett Court at the Quandt Fieldhouse in Stevens Point, Wis. Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen.

This past Saturday at the Pointer Open, senior Logan Hermsen and sophomore Donny Ralston both notched four victories in the 165 and 285 weight class, respectively.

Hermsen dropped his finals decision 5-3, placing second for his class while Ralston placed fourth in his.

Wins in the 184 weight class came from freshman Carlito Schiro with three wins, sophomore James Borgen also with three and freshman Ben Stassin tallied two victories.

Freshman Frank Lor’s two wins helped him claim a fourth place finish in the 141 weight class. Sophomore Moziah Clark notched three wins to place sixth in the 125 weight class.

Sophomore Steve Collins, junior Tanner Goddard and senior Boone Roycraft each recorded two wins in the 157 weight class for the Pointers.

UWSP heads down to Iowa on Nov. 12 to match up with the University of Dubuque and Loras College.

Pointer Football Claims A Victory on Senior Day

Seniors Kyle Larson, Logan Taylor and Jared Pankow shined on senior day, scoring all four touchdowns for the Pointers in the team’s 35-28 victory over UW-Stout on Saturday.

Along with completing 29 of 45 passes and throwing four touchdowns, Larson set a new career high with 456 passing yards in the win.

Taylor put together a career day by catching 10 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Pankow added to the strong day through the air with eight catches for 140 yards and a touchdown.

Senior running back Britton Vernon carries the ball downfield during Senior Day against UW-Stout on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Community Stadium at Goerke Park. Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen.

Senior running back Britton Vernon carries the ball downfield during Senior Day against UW-Stout on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Community Stadium at Goerke Park. Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen.

Senior Britton Vernon led the ground attack for the Pointers with 93 yards on 22 rushing attempts.

On the Pointer’s second drive of the game, Larson connected with Pankow four separate times capped off by a nine-yard touchdown pass to give the Pointers a 10-0 lead early.

After Stout scored on the next drive, the Blue Devils capitalized on a Pointer turnover and scored again to take the lead, 14-10.

The Pointers gained momentum before going into half after Larson connected with Taylor five times including a 14-yard touchdown to give the Pointers a 17-14 lead.

On the first play for the Pointer offense in the third quarter, coming after an interception from junior Kevin Sanchez, Larson again found Taylor in the end zone for a 19-yard score.

The Pointers went ahead 27-21 before the Blue Devils took advantage of a Pointer penalty to take a late lead 28-27.

In the fourth, after converting on a fourth down, Larson connected with Taylor once again for a 26-yard score. After Larson completed the two point conversion, the Pointers went ahead 35-28.

UW-Stout had a chance to score, but the Pointers defense prevailed, bringing the team’s record to 6-3 on the season.

The Pointers season finale comes against UW-River Falls this upcoming Saturday at 2 p.m.

 

Austin Krueger

Sports Editor

akrue333@uwsp.edu

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