EAU CLAIRE - The seventh-ranked UW-Eau Claire volleyball team needed five games and then some to defeat No. 8 Carthage College 3-2, winning the fifth game 17-15 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Midwest Regional in the McPhee Physical Education Center.

The Blugolds won by scores of 30-17, 26-30, 25-30, 30-26, 17-15 to advance to face No. 3 Concordia-Moorhead (MN) in the second round.

In game one, the Blugolds used a lot of short sets on their way to winning the game 30-17. The margin was about five points until the Blugolds scored seven unanswered points to lengthen their lead. The Blugolds had a .250 attack percentage their best of the match.

The Lady Reds jumped out to a 7-1 lead in game two. The Blugolds tied it 16-16, but Carthage went on to win the game 30-26. Carthage had 14 kills in the game.

In game three, Eau Claire took and early, however Carthage came back to take a lead of their own. The Lady Reds then scored 10 of the last 14 points to break a 21-21 tie and win game three 30-25. Both teams had a .184 attack percentage in the game.

In a hard fought game four, the Blugolds pulled away midway through and went on to win game four by a score of 30-26 to stay alive. The Blugolds had 19 kills in the fourth game, their most of the match.

Game five was as good as it gets. Carthage got ahead early, scoring the first five points of the game. The Blugolds then came back to cut the lead to 9-7. The Lady Reds extended their lead to 12-7. The Blugolds then scored six of the next seven points to tie the score 13-13. The Blugolds then fought off two match points at 14-13 and 15-14. With the score 16-15 Eau Claire Jessica Groh (Sr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) capped off a great night with a kill to end it as the Blugolds move on with a 17-15 win.

The Blugolds finished with 71 kills in the match. Carthage finished with 58 kills. Jodi Dunbar (Sr.-Platteville, WI) finished with 23 kills to lead the Blugolds. Her 70 attacks were the second-most in a match in team history. It was also her sixth match this season with at least 20 or more kills, which is third most in the school history.

Jessica Groh finished with 22 kills and a .447 attack percentage. Carly Freiborg (Sr.-Sacred Heart, MN/Renville County West) had 61 assists in the match. She now holds the school record for assists in a career with 4,909. The previous record was held by Roxi McKenzie, who had 4,903 assists from 1990-93. Shanna Berger (Sr.-Baldwin/Baldwin-Woodville) had 22 digs. It was the 30th match this season where she reached double figures in digs, which is tied for second-most in team history. This was also her 103rd career match with at least double figures in digs. The previous record was 102 by Marnie Blau from 1994-97.

The Blugolds improve to a record of 29-3, while Carthage's season ends with a 29-5 record.

The Blugolds will face Concordia-Moorhead tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the second semifinal in the McPhee Physical Education Center. The UW-Whitewater vs. University of St. Thomas match will take place at 4:30 p.m.

Eau Claire-Carthage Box Score

Midwest Regional Web site

- JR -