ST. LOUIS, Mo. - This weekend the UW-Eau Claire volleyball team kicked off its 2008 campaign with four matches at the Washington University Invitational.

The Blugolds split on both days to go 2-2 overall. On Saturday Eau Claire first faced Simpson College (Iowa) but lost 3-2 in a close battle. Eau Claire took the first two sets 28-26 and 25-18, but lost the next three 25-20, 25-17, 15-13. The team then bounced back with a 3-0 victory over Cardinal Stritch University later in the evening and also defeated Lawrence University 3-0 on Sunday. In the Blugolds' final match of the tournament they faced host Washington University, ranked second in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll, but came up short 3-1.

For the weekend, the Blugolds hit .252. In its wins, Eau Claire hit .326 and .292, while in the losses the Blugolds hit .252 and .176.

Emily Zupon (So.-Antigo, Wis.) led the team in kills with 43 while Abby Freiborg (Sr.-Sacred Heart, Minn./Renville County West) added 38. Freiborg led the team in kills in the match against Cardinal Stritch and Zupon was the leader in every other match.

Leading the Blugolds in assists was Emily Haese (Sr.-Mishicot, Wis.), who picked up 125 of the team's 160. Lindsey Smith (Jr.-Maple Lake, Minn.) had 10 service aces in the four matches, including a five-ace performance in the first match of the season against Simpson. Freiborg served four aces this weekend and tied with Smith for most digs with 38.

A six-person All-Tournament Team was also selected following competition. Freiborg and Zupon were named to the team, along with Washington University's Audra Janak and Nikki Morrison, and Simpson College's Amy Schuster and Whitney Oviatt.

The Blugolds will head to Minneapolis next weekend for the Augsburg College Tournament. Competition begins at 2 p.m. Friday and at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Eau Claire-Simpson Box Score

Eau Claire-Cardinal Stritch Box Score

Eau Claire-Lawrence Box Score

Eau Claire-Washington-St. Louis Box Score

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