RIVER FALLS - The UW-Eau Claire volleyball team lost 3-1 to UW-Stout and dropped a 3-2 decision to the University of Minnesota-Morris here tonight at the UW-River Falls Trick or Treat Tournament.

The Blugolds opened up against the Blue Devils. Eau Claire dropped the first two games 30-24 and 30-25. The Blugolds fired back in the third game with a convincing 30-13 win to send the match to a fourth game. Eau Claire battled Stout tough in the fourth game but it wasn't enough as the Blue Devils pulled out a 37-35 win.

Becca Carstensen (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) had a strong outing for Eau Claire with 15 kills on 24 attacks for a .625 hitting percentage, her best percentage of the year with at least six kills.

Molly Menard (Jr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) also had a strong game with her second-highest kill total of the year. Menard put away 20 attacks for a .279 hitting percentage. Jenny Wolter (Jr.-Osceola) added 14 kills and Jodi Dunbar (So.-Platteville) 11.

Carly Freiborg (Sacred Heart, MN/Renville County West) led with 58 assists while adding 17 digs. Shanna Berger (So.-Baldwin/Baldwin-Woodville) led in digs with 18.

Eau Claire and Morris battled back and forth throughout the match. The Blugolds won the opening match 30-28 but lost the second. Eau Claire came back to take a 2-1 lead with a 30-18 win but Morris evened the score at 2-2 with a 30-23 win.

The Blugolds ran out of gas with an immediate start after the Stout match losing the decisive fifth game 15-10. Eau Claire had only a -.040 hitting percentage in the final game.

Carstensen had another strong game with 15 kills on 28 attacks. Menard added 12 and Wolter and Dunbar 11 a piece.

Freiborg led with 47 assists while Berger led in digs with 16. Carstensen added eight blocks.

The losses drop Eau Claire's record to 18-10 on the season. The Blugolds will open up early tomorrow with a 9:30 a.m. match against Bethel College.

Eau Claire-Stout Match Statistics

Eau Claire-Minnesota Morris Match Statistics

- JL -