The Platteville varsity volleyball team is on quite a roll as of late.
     The Hillmen won the Wisconsin Heights Invitational on Sept. 28, a week after placing fourth at the competitive 22-team Middleton Invitational.
     Platteville has also won three straight SWC matches since a Sept. 19 loss to River Valley, to stay within striking distance of the league-leading Blackhawks.
     Last Tuesday coach Yvette Updike’s team swept Dodgeville 25–16, 25–17, 25–16.
     Sophomore middle hitter Morgan Stecklein led a balanced attack with nine kills and made six digs, while junior middle hitter Ashley Budden posted eight kills and a team-high three blocks.
     Junior setters Rachel Emendorfer (11 assists) and Jenna Phillips (10) combined for 21 assists in the easy victory.
     Two nights later Platteville shook off a first-set loss at Prairie du Chien and battled back for a 3–1 (20–25, 25–19, 25–17, 25–16) victory, winning the final three sets in convincing fashion.
     Stecklein once again led the offense with 10 kills. Fellow sophomore Maddie Carroll chip in eight floors, while Budden, Claire Tashner and Marissa Marion had five apiece. Emendorfer led the team with 15 assists. Phillips had 10 assists and four aces.
     With the comeback victory Platteville improved to 7–1 in SWC play. It was also Platteville’s eighth straight win.
     The Hillmen ran their winning streak to 10 matches Saturday morning with victories over Madison La Follette, 25–21, 25–18, and Beaver Dam, 25–20, 25–18, in pool play at the Edgewood Invitational.
     Eventual runner-up Wauankee snapped Platteville’s streak in the final match of pool play, and the Hillmen then dropped back-to-back matches in bracket play to eventual champion Edgewood and La Crosse Central.
     Platteville (27–7–1) finished fourth in the eight-team event.
     The Hillmen host Richland Center Thursday and will close out the regular season on Oct. 17 at home against River Valley.

Platteville 3, Dodgeville 0
(from Tuesday, Oct. 1 @ Platteville)
Dodgeville            16    17    16
Platteville              25    25    25
Platteville stat leaders
Kills: Morgan Stecklein 9, Ashley Budden 8, Claire Tashner 7. Blocks: Budden 3, Stecklein 2, Maddie Carroll 2. Assists: Rachel Emendorfer 11, Jenna Phillips 10. Aces: Budden 4, Phillips 2, Tashner 2. Digs: Briette Updike 7, Stecklein 6.

Platteville 3,
Prairie du Chien 1
(from Thursday, Oct. 3 @ Prairie)
Platteville                  20    25    25    25
Prairie du Chien        25    19    17    16
Platteville stat leaders
Kills: Morgan Stecklein 10, Maddie Carroll 8, Ashley Budden 5, Claire Tashner 5, Marissa Marino 5. Blocks: Budden 3, Stecklein 2. Assists: Rachel Emendorfer 15, Jenna Phillips 10. Aces: Phillips 4, Briette Updike 2, Tashner 2. Digs: Stecklein 4, Updike 3, Carroll 2.

Edgewood  Invitational
(from Saturday, Oct. 5 @ Madison)
Championship: Edgewood def. Waunakee 29–27, 25–18. Third place: La Crosse Central def. Platteville 25–15, 20–25, 15–10. Semifinals: Edgewood def. Platteville 25–10, 25–19; Waunakee def. La Crosse Central.
Fifth place: Beaver Dam def. Madison La Follette 25–20, 25–19. Seventh place: Madison Memorial def. Potosi 25–16, 22–25, 15–10. Semifinals: Beaver Dam def. Potosi 25–18, 25–13; Madison La Follette def. Madison Memorial.
Pool A: Waunakee 3–0, Platteville 2–1, Madison La Follette 1–2, Beaver Dam 0–3.
Pool B: Edgewood 3–0, La Crosse Central 2–1, Potosi 1–2, Madison Memorial 0–3.
Platteville pool play match scores
Platteville def. La Follette 25–21, 25–18
Platteville def. Beaver Dam 25–20, 25–18
Waunakee def. Platteville 25–18, 23–25, 15–9
Platteville stat leaders
Kills: Morgan Stecklein 46, Claire Tashner 27, Ashley Budden 14, Maddie Carroll 14, Marissa Marino 10. Blocks: Budden 4, Allison Woodworth 3, Stecklein 2. Assists: Jenna Phillips 40, Rachel Emendorfer 40. Aces: Briette Updike 6, Budden 4, Tashner 2. Digs: Updike 53, Stecklein 22, Budden 18.