WISCONSIN DELLS — After another successful week of SWC play with wins over Dodgeville and Prairie du Chien, the Platteville varsity volleyball team kept the momentum going by winning the eight-team Wisconsin Dells Invitational on Saturday.
     The Hillmen (12–2–1 overall, 3–0 SWC) overcame an early pool play loss to Portage in their first match of the day by winning four straight matches, including a championship rematch with the Warriors to claim the title.
     After narrow 27–25, 22–25, 15–12 loss to Portage to begin the day, Platteville defeated both Neillsville 25–18, 25–19 and Adams–Friendship 25–18, 25–21 to finish second in Pool B and earn a spot in the semifinals.
     The Hillmen then swept Pool A winner Reedsburg 27–25, 25–12 to earn a rematch with Portage. This time Coach Yvette Updike’s team battled back to defeat the Warriors 21–25, 25–22, 15–7 in the championship match.
     “After we lost to Portage in our first match of the day, we were really hoping for a rematch with Portage because we did not even play close to our capabilities,” said Updike.
     Sophomore Morgan Stecklein led Platteville with 39 kills, seven blocks and 13 digs on Saturday. Fellow sophomores Claire Tashner and Maddie Carroll posted 25 and 24 kills respectively. Junior Ashley Budden added 14 kills, nine blocks and seven digs, and sophomore setter Jenna Phillips passed out a team-high 56 assists.
     The Platteville varsity reserve also won its division of the Wisconsin Dells Tournament.
     “I am really proud of our teams,” said Updike. “ It is great to have both teams take home the gold.”
     Platteville will travel to fellow league-leading River Valley Thursday night.

Platteville 3, Dodgeville 2
(from Tuesday, Sept. 10 @ Dodgeville)
Platteville     18    27    26    24    15
Dodgeville    25    25    24    26    12
Platteville stat leaders
Kills: Morgan Stecklein 17, Ashley Budden 11, Claire Tashner 8. Blocks: Budden 9, Morgan Stecklein 5. Assists: Jenna Phillips 23, Rachel Emendorfer 20. Aces: Emendorfer 3, Budden 2. Digs: Briette Updike 28, Phillips 12, Stecklein 11.

Platteville 3,
Prairie du Chien 0
(from Thursday, Sept. 12 @ Prairie)
Prairie du Chien            17    10    17
Platteville                      25    25    25
Platteville stat leaders
Kills: Maddie Carroll 8, Morgan Stecklein 7, Ashley Budden 6, Marissa Marino 3. Blocks: Ashley Budden 2, Stecklein 2. Assists: Jenna Phillips 21, Rachel Emendorfer 4. Aces: Claire Tashner 4, Budden 2. Digs: Briette Updike 7, Phillips 5, Stecklein 5, Ashley Budden 4, Tashner 4.

Wisconsin Dells Invitational
(from Saturday, Sept. 14 @ Wisc. Dells)
Championship: Platteville def. Portage 21–25, 25–22, 15–7
Semifinals: Platteville def. Reedsburg 27–25, 25–12; Portage def. Wisconsin Dells.
Third-place: Wisconsin Dells def. Reedsburg 25–23, 25–23
Fifth-place: Laona–Wabeno def. Adams–Friendship 25–16, 29–27
Seventh-place: Neillsville def. Ithaca 25–13, 25–19
Pool A: Reesburg 3–0, Wisconsin Dells2–1, Laona–Wabeno 1–2, Ithaca 0–3.
Pool B: Portage 3–0, Platteville 2–1, Adams–Friendship 1–2, Neillsville 0–3.
Platteville pool play match scores
Portage def. Platteville 27–25, 22–25, 15–12
Platteville def. Neillsville 25–18, 25–19
Platteville def. Adams–Friendship 25–18, 25–21
Platteville stat leaders
Kills: Morgan Stecklein 39, Claire Tashner 25, Maddie Carroll 24, Ashley Budden 14. Blocks: Budden 9, Stecklein 7, Allison Woodworth 3. Assists: Jenna Phillips 56, Rachel Emendorfer 40 Aces: Claire Tashner 7, Briette Updike 5, Phillips 4, Emendorfer 2. Digs: Updike 58, Stecklein 13, Tashner 11, Phillips 11, Budden 7.