MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The UW-Eau Claire volleyball team endured two five game matches defeating Macalester 3-2 and falling to St. Benedict's 3-2 here today at the Augsburg Tournament.

The Blugolds opened up exchanging blows against St. Benedict's. Eau Claire struggled in the opening game with only 11 kills in 38 attacks in losing 30-16. The Blugolds bounced back in the second game with their best effort of the match. Eau Claire converted 18 of 37 attacks for a .324 hitting percentage in winning 30-25.

The Blugolds fell back into their opening game routine in converting on only 12 of 44 attacks for a .045 hitting percentage to lose the third game 30-23. Eau Claire once again rebounded winning the fourth game 30-28 to force a fifth game.

Eau Claire and St. Benedict's battled back and forth in the fifth and deciding game but the Blazers pulled away at the end winning the final game 15-13.

Jenny Wolter (Jr.-Osceola) led the way for the Blugolds with 18 kills for a .275 hitting percentage while Molly Menard (Jr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) added 16.

Carly Freiborg (So.-Sacred Heart, MN/Renville County West)} led in assists with 51 with Shanna Berger (Jr.-Baldwin/Baldwin-Woodville) led in digs with 21. Becca Carstensen (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) led with five blocks.

The Blugolds started off strong Macalester with a .389 hitting percentage in the opening game to win 30-25. The Scots came back to win the next two games holding Eau Claire to only 26 kills on 80 attacks.

Eau Claire wouldn't go away easily forcing Macalester into a fifth game with a 34-32 win in the fourth game. The Blugolds played their best game of the day turning 15 attacks into 10 kills for a .533 hitting percentage to win the deciding game 15-10.

Carstensen led the way against the Scots with 17 kills while Menard added 15 and Lindsey Anderson (Sr.-Deephaven, MN/Hopkins) 12.

Freiborg led in assists again with 52 while Berger contributed 22 digs and Jessica Groh (So.-Eau Claire/North) eight blocks.

The Blugolds will kick off the second day of the tournament when they face off against Northland College at 11 a.m.

23rd Annual Augsburg College Invitational

- JL -