BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's volleyball team continued play at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational on Saturday with matches against Millikin University and the hosts, Illinois Wesleyan University. UW-Eau Claire split the day with a 3-1 victory over Millikin and a 3-1 defeat to IWU.
The morning slate between the Blugolds and the Millikin Big Blue featured a tight battle with 38 tie scores and 19 lead changes in four sets. Despite dropping the first set, 26-24, UWEC jumped back into gear in the second. A pair of four-point runs gave Eau Claire a 15-12 lead, forcing Millikin to take a timeout. From there, the Blugolds outscored the Big Blue 10-8 to even the match at one set a piece.
The third set featured a diverse attack from Eau Claire as five different Blugolds tallied a kill. With the score tied at 21-21, Lilli Hagg (Fr. – Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) found her second kill of the morning to give UWEC the final lead of the set.
Abigail Wherland (So. – Lakeville, Minn./North) checked into the game and recorded back-to-back service aces to reach set point for Eau Claire. A kill by
Mya Cinnamo (Fr. – Rosemount, Minn.) sealed the 25-22 win as the Blugolds took a 2-1 lead.
In the fourth, UWEC found themselves with a 6-0 deficit early. A seven-point swing by the Blugolds evened the set at 9-9 as
Ella Kiebel (So. – Maple Lake, Minn.) tallied one of her two service aces in the match. Later in the set, Eau Claire strung together a three-point run to take a 17-15 lead that lasted until Lilli Hagg's fifth kill of the match secured the 25-22 set win and 3-1 match victory.
The second match of the day held a similar tight battle between UWEC and IWU with 31 ties scores and 11 lead changes.
Avery Pennekamp (So. – McFarland, Wis.) and
Mya Cinnamo continued to lead the Blugold offense as they combined for 25 kills during the second game of the day. The Blugolds found themselves with a 2-0 set deficit heading into the third set. UWEC stormed out to an 11-5 lead as they looked to continue the match. A 7-1 run midway through the set extended the Blugolds a 22-16 lead. A bad set from IWU and a kill from Pennekamp earned Eau Claire the 25-20 set victory.
In the fourth, Illinois Wesleyan took a 10-7 lead that was never touched despite a pair of multi-point runs. IWU answered back with a four-point run of their own before trading with Eau Claire till the 25-18 final as UWEC dropped their 13
th match of the season.
Charlie Nelson (Sr. - Lakeville, Minn./Farmington) was named to the All-Tournament team.
The Blugolds (13-13, WIAC 2-4) will be back at home for Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play on Friday, November 3
rd when they host UW-Stevens Point during Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
