EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire volleyball team will host Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents UW-Whitewater and UW-Stevens Point this weekend at the McPhee Phy. Ed. Center.

The Blugolds are currently 7-2 following last weekend's third place finish at the Augsburg Tournament.

Eau Claire's 7-2 start has been fueled by the attacks of Becca Carstensen (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) and Jenny Wolter (Jr.-Osceola). Carstensen leads the team in attacks with 107 while Wolter is second in kills with 97 and first in hitting percentage among players with 25 attacks with a percentage of .400, good for second in the WIAC.

Carly Freiborg (So.-Sacred Heart, MN/Renville County West) leads the team in assists with 353 while Carstensen leads in total blocks with 54 and service aces with 22. Carstensen's 54 blocks put her in second in the conference at 1.54 a game.

The Blugolds lead the WIAC in hitting percentage at .272 and are second in blocks with an average of 2.89 and service aces with a 2.69 average.

UW-Whitewater is currently ranked 14th in the nation in the latest Coaches Top 25 Poll with a 10-1 record. Whitewater's only loss came against preseason number one Washington University.

The Warhawks are led by Cassie Uttech and Kim Fruit. Uttech and Fruit are sixth and seventh in the conference in kills with 125 and 103, respectively.

Whitewater is currently first in digs with a 21.39 average and second in conference in hitting percentage at .270 and kills with a 15.32 average.

Stevens Point is currently 8-2 on the season and is riding a two-game winning streak following wins over Clarke College and Maranatha Baptist College.

The Pointers are led by Shelly Maus and Nichole Stahovich who each have 135 kills with Maus leading the team in hitting percentage at .337. Lori Marten leads the conference in digs per game with 5.74 while Stahovich is second in services aces per game with 0.86.

The Blugolds will take on Whitewater Friday night at 7 p.m. and Stevens Point Saturday at 2 p.m.

- JL -