EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The 19th-ranked UW-Eau Claire women's volleyball team split on day one of its' 2009 Blugold Invitational at the McPhee Physical Education Center tonight.

Against Viterbo University in match one, the Blugolds lost 3-1 with scores of 26-24, 25-23, 21-25 and 25-18. In the second match of the night, Eau Claire bounced back with a 3-0 win over Loras College with scores of 30-28, 25-18 and 25-19.

Despite 15 kills and a .609 hitting percentage from Danielle Lucia, the Blugolds were unable to pull ahead of Viterbo in match one. Eau Claire tallied 52 kills but committed 15 errors while Viterbo recorded just six errors and 61 kills. The Blugolds hit .268 to Viterbo's .410.

Lindsey Smith (Sr.-Maple Lake, Minn.) led Eau Claire in the first match with 16 digs while Amanda Lessner (Jr.-Watertown, Wis.) had 28 assists to lead the Blugolds.

While the Blugolds only hit .176 and committed more errors than Loras in the second match of the night, they finished on the winning side. Loras hit .123 and had 16 errors while Eau Claire had 17.

Emily Zupon (Jr.-Antigo, Wis.) led the match with 12 kills while Kristen Moore (Sr.-Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) finished with 10. Smith once again led the way with 16 digs while Lessner and Emily Neave (Fr.-Salem, Wis./Westosha Central) each tallied 19 asssits.

The Blugolds will be back in action with two more matches tomorrow. They will play Lawrence University at 10 a.m. and will wrap up the day against UW-Stevens Point at 2:30 p.m.