RIPON, Wis. – The Luther volleyball team started their 2024 campaign on the road at the Ripon College Classic. In the first day of the two-day tournament the Norse fell in a five-set match to Illinois Tech (25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 25-27, 15-10) and reverse swept Ripon College (11-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21, 15-6) to begin the season 1-1.
 
Match #1: Luther (2) vs Illinois Tech (3)
The opening match of 2024 was a five-set thriller with the Scarlet Hawks of Illinois Tech. It was the first ever meeting between the two programs. Luther edged Illinois Tech in blocks 7-6.
 
Sarina Stortz led the team with 14 kills followed by Emily Hagen with 13 and Lindsay Hanson with 10. Ruby Gerhard had four blocks in her first match of her collegiate career. Emma Kowalczyk had 36 assists and 17 digs notching a double-double. Kowalczyk set a new career high in digs.
 
Match #2: Luther (3) vs Ripon College (2)
Meeting for just the seventh time Luther continued its unbeaten streak against the Ripon. After dropping the first two sets the Norse rallied for the reverse sweep. The Norse closed the fifth set with an 8-0 run to seal the match ending on back-to-back kills from Stortz and Hanson. Luther led their opponent in blocks 9-3 for the second straight match. 
 
Stortz had 26 kills, hitting .489 in the match. Three players had double-digit digs including Kyah Olson-Sola (19), Jenna Langen (17) and Victoria Gomez (15). Meanwhile Stortz and Hanson both had registered five blocks. Kowalczyk contributed 37 assists.
 
UP NEXT
Luther continues the Ripon College Classic with matches against Marian University at 10 a.m. followed by Martin Luther College at 12 p.m.