EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire volleyball team picked up two wins, including one against a ranked opponent, to wrap up a six-game, season-opening home stand tonight at the McPhee Physical Education Center.

The Blugolds opened the night with a 3-0 victory over Bethel University (Minn.) with scores of 25-22, 25-19 and 25-17. Eau Claire closed the day defeating 25^th-ranked College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) 3-1. The Blugolds won with scores of 25-20, 25-17, 23-25 and 25-15.

In both matches, the Blugolds outhit their opponents. Facing Bethel, Eau Claire hit .416 to the Royals' .148 and hit .252 to the Saints' .134 in the second match.

Laura Slinger (Sr.-Faribault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy) led the Blugolds with 12 kills in the opening match while recording a .632 hitting percentage. Kelly Schuh (So.-Appleton, Wis./Hortonville) finished with 11 kills in the match.

In the second match, Liz Amici (Sr.-Whitewater, Wis.) led the Blugolds with 14 kills but Schuh again had 11 while Amy Bomgren (Jr.-Woodbury, Minn.) also recorded 11 on 16 attempts (.625 hitting percentage).

Emily Neave (Jr.-Salem, Wis./Westosha Central) led the Blugolds with 13 digs and 39 set assists against Bethel while she had a match-high 43 set assists in the second match and tied a team-high 15 digs with teammate Jenny Burzynski (Sr.-Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd).

The Blugolds are now 3-3 on the season as they begin a 16-match road schedule. St. Scholastica drops to 6-2 on the season while Bethel is also 3-3. The Saints beat the Royals 3-0 earlier in the night in Eau Claire.

This weekend the Blugolds will head to Minneapolis, Minn. for the Augsburg College Invitational. They will play two matches Friday and two Saturday.

-KM-