CHICAGO -- The Alverno College volleyball team snapped its 59-match losing streak with a 3-0 sweep over Great Lakes Christian College in the fifth-place match at the Moody Bible Institute Tournament at the Solheim Center in Chicago.

The 59 matches tied Washington College's (Md.) NCAA Division III record for the longest losing streak. It was Alverno's first victory since Sept. 9, 2008, a 3-2 win over Mt. Mary College.

"It feels like the monkey is off our back," first-year Alverno head coach Paul Lawson said. "I hadn't talked about the record with the team yesterday, but after the match last night the players hung their heads and I knew they knew. But they came out in good spirits today and played some great volleyball! We had very few errors and played within our game. They wanted the win, they deserved it."

The Inferno (1-11) won in straight sets by scores of 25-20, 25-19 and 25-15. The team tallied over 20 kills for just the third time this season and recorded a season-high 17 service aces in the match, just two off the school record of 19.

Four freshmen led the offensive attack as Morgan Stuckey (Duncanville, Texas) had a match-high 10 kills for Alverno, Tasha Anderson (Waukesha, Wis./North) added five and Kellee Laske (Milwaukee/Pius XI) and Chelsea Gulbronson (Milwaukee/Pius XI) each added three.

Junior setter Ashley Graham (Cudahy, Wis.) had a career-high 22 assists and led the serving attack with five aces. Gulbronson also had five aces while Suckey and Anderson added three perfect serves each.

"It's nice to get that first win, and it is good to see the team smile," Lawson said. "They deserve it."

The Inferno next take the court on Friday at Edgewood College in a Northern Athletics Conference match. Match time is set for 6 p.m. in Madison, Wis.