RIVER FALLS, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team fell to UW-River Falls 3-2 on Wednesday. The Blugolds recovered from a 2-1 deficit on the road, but the Falcons took the decisive fifth set to walk away with the win.
The Blugolds got out to a strong start in the first set. Eight of the first 11 points of the match went in UW-Eau Claire's favor, including five in a row to start the action. The Blugolds led from start to finish in the opening set.
The Falcons closed the gap to 11-9 in the first set, but a quick 7-3 run from UW-Eau Claire established a cushion that couldn't be overcome.
Lili Hagg (Fr. – Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) had two kills in that spurt.
Dorci Walker (Fr. – Marshfield, Wis./Columbus Catholic) hit a kill to clinch the set victory for the Blugolds, 25-22.
A hard-fought second set went to UW-River Falls, 25-23. Neither team led by more than five for the duration of the set. UW-River Falls held a 16-11 advantage at one point, but the Blugolds went on an 8-3 run to tie the set at 19. Back-to-back kills by
Avery Pennekamp (So. – McFarland, Wis.) and a Falcons attacking error put the Blugolds up 22-20, but the Falcons closed the set on a 5-1 spurt to level the match at one set apiece.
The Falcons pulled away midway through the third set and held on 25-16 to go ahead 2-1. UW-Eau Claire was within striking distance, trailing 13-8, before UW-River Falls scored eight straight points to pull away.
UW-Eau Claire forced a fifth set by capturing the fourth 25-22. The Blugolds faced a four-point deficit with time running out in the set, trailing 18-14. However, they won 11 of the final 15 points in the set to rally and force a decisive fifth set. Pennekamp hit three kills in that run, and
Mya Cinnamo (Fr. – Rosemount, Minn.) added two of her own.
A fast start for UW-River Falls set the tone in the fifth set. The Falcons scored the first five points and never trailed, eventually closing out the match with a 15-10 win. UW-River Falls led by seven at one point in the set, and the closest the Blugolds got afterward was within four points.
Walker led the Blugolds with 11 kills. Pennekamp and Hagg added nine apiece, and Cinnamo finished with eight.
Charlie Nelson (Sr. – Lakeville, Minn./Farmington) had 26 assists, and
Ella Kiebel (So. – Maple Lake, Minn.) added 16.
Sheridan Dettmann (Sr. – Watertown, Wis.) led the team with 17 digs. Nelson,
MacKenzie Houser (Sr. – Pleasant Plains, Ill.) and Pennekamp all had 11 digs.
UW-Eau Claire (12-11, 2-4) will be back in action this weekend at the Illinois Wesleyan Classic. The Blugolds face the University of Chicago on Friday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m. to start the tournament. Two matches follow on Saturday.
