The Mineral Point volleyball team made its home debut at Scott Schmitz Gymnasium court, sweeping New Glarus in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday night. The Pointers put on a show for their fans, combining a steady offensive attack with gritty defense and timely runs to walk away with a 3–0 victory.
The first set started back and forth, with both teams trading points and neither side able to build much separation. The Pointers leaned on steady serving and consistent defense to stay in control, but New Glarus refused to back down early. With the score tight, Mineral Point shifted gears, stringing together a 10–4 run that gave them the momentum they needed to pull away and secure the opening set. That stretch set the tone for the night, as the home crowd came alive with every point.
The second set showcased the resilience of both squads. Mineral Point jumped out to a quick lead behind kills from senior Maddy Kabat and sophomore Brynn Swenson, but the Knights mounted an impressive rally. New Glarus took advantage of defensive miscues to surge ahead and eventually held a 22–20 advantage, threatening to even the match. The Pointers, however, weren't rattled. Fueled by dance moves during timeout and timely swings at the net, they rattled off five straight points to flip the set and earn a 25–22 win.
In the third and final set, Mineral Point looked poised to close things out quickly, racing out to a commanding 9–2 lead. The Knights, however, didn't go away quietly. They chipped away point by point, using scrappy defense to fight back and eventually grab a 22–21 lead. Once again, the Pointers dug deep in the closing moments. With the crowd behind them, they regrouped and delivered a late surge, scoring the final four points to complete the sweep with another 25–22 victory.
On the night, Kabat paced the offense with 13 kills, showing her experience and poise in key moments. Swenson added 11 kills and played a steady all-around match, while sophomore Kinlee Prust contributed 8 kills to round out the balanced attack. Ingwell was the sparkplug for Mineral Point, not only running the offense with consistency but also firing in three service aces and anchoring the defense with a team-high 17 digs.
Mineral Point excelled at the service line, connecting at a 92 percent clip as a team. Sophie Miller chipped in an ace and 10 points overall, while Sadie Miller and Maddy Kabat each provided steady serving to help the Pointers build runs. Defensively, the team racked up 60 digs, with Kabat adding 14 and Sophie Miller collecting 10 to support Ingwell's back-row effort. At the net, Tenleigh Bockhop, Bree Swenson, and Macy Kinch combined for block assists that made it difficult for New Glarus to generate offense.
For the Knights, junior Kalia Malaise led the way with 7 kills and 19 digs, but as a team, New Glarus was limited to just 13 total kills and a .049 hitting percentage. Mineral Point's defensive coverage and blocking presence forced the Knights into uncomfortable swings all night.
Mineral Point finished the night with a 3–0 victory, securing its first home triumph of the season
