EAU CLAIRE - The Eau Claire volleyball team squeezed past their first match of the year against Hamline University and breezed past UM-Morris in the second match.

The Blugolds got off to a great start with a scorching .593 hitting percentage, which led to a 30-19 victory. Hamline then picked up the pace in the second game extending the game until falling to the Blugolds 32-30. The hitting percentage fell off dramatically to .180 in the second game. The Blugolds again needed extra points, defeating the Pipers 35-33.

Outside hitter Molly Menard (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) led all Blugolds with 18 kills. Jodi Dunbar (Jr.-Platteville) contributed 16 kills as well to the Blugold victories. Jenny Wolter (Sr.-Osceola) tallied 12 kills. Shanna Berger (Jr.-Baldwin/Baldwin Woodville) played well defensively with 11 digs. Carly Freiborg (Jr.-Sacred Heart, MN/Renville County West) helped the Blugolds win with an impressive 50 assists.

In the second match, the Blugolds faced Morris and proceeded to win 30-19, 30-17, and 30-14. Eau Claire hit well in the first two games of the second match with percentages of .361 and .409, respectively. In the third game, the Blugolds defeated the Cougars despite hitting .154.

Dunbar led Eau Claire with her 12 kills, while Menard had 9. Carly Freiborg performed well with 5 aces and 37 assists. Berger led the team again in the second match with 11 defensive digs.

Eau Claire and St. Benedict finished the day with perfect 2-0 records followed by Hamline and UW-Stout at 1-1, with Morris and Lawrence University posting 0-2 records.

The Blugolds finish up action tomorrow with the first match against Lawrence at 10:00 a.m. and the final match versus St. Benedict at 2:00 p.m.