Lawrence University

    APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University volleyball team won the opening set Friday, but Illinois College rallied for a 3-1 victory in the Midwest Conference opener for both teams at Alexander Gymnasium.
    The Lady Blues downed Lawrence 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21.
    Lawrence's 1-2 punch of Margaret Hahnke and Hazel Cook led the way for the Vikings (5-14, 0-1 MWC). Hahnke piled up 21 kills and posted an impressive .386 hitting percentage. Cook finished with 11 kills, and Aliana Butler-Gray added six kills. 
    Cora Linos piled up 31 assists for the Vikings, and added four digs. Hahnke had a team-high seven digs, and Daphne Piotrowski added six with Butler-Gray picking up five. Hanke and Natalee Kragie led the Vikings with three aces apiece.
    Laura Kaiser was the star for Illinois College (9-10, 1-0) with 16 kills on just 19 attacks.
    Lawrence pulled away midway through the opening set and built a 17-12 lead. The Vikings stretched that lead to 21-14 before the Lady Blues closed to 21-17. Butler-Gray then picked up a pair of late kills to help close out the opening set.
    The teams traded the lead throughout the second set, and Illinois College held a slim 18-17 lead before scoring seven of the final 11 points to win the set. The Lady Blues scored five consecutive points midway through the third set to grab a seven-point lead before the Vikings closed to 19-17. Illinois College then scored the next three points and finally closed out the set. 
    Illinois College grabbed a 10-4 lead in the fourth set, but the Vikings closed to 16-14. The Lady Blues pulled out to a 24-17 edge before the Vikings rattled off four straight points with the help of a pair of kills from Cook. Illinois College then got a kill from Ligaya Garibay to close out the match.
    Lawrence faces Knox College in a league match on Saturday.