ST. PAUL, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's volleyball team was back on the road Tuesday evening for a nonconference matchup with the #4 ranked University of Northwestern-St. Paul Eagles. The Blugolds fought hard and took it to one of the top teams in the nation. Despite grabbing a first set victory, UW-Eau Claire fell in the next three for a 3-1 defeat to the Eagles.
The opening set saw eight tie scores and two lead changes between the Blugolds and Eagles. Eau Claire found themselves with an early deficit that lasted until the middle of the set. A five-point run by UWEC included kills from
Mya Cinnamo (Fr. – Rosemount, Minn.) and Lilli Hagg (Fr. – Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) to swing the lead in Eau Claire's favor 17-15. The Blugolds retained their lead throughout the rest of the frame to earn the 25-23 set victory and take a 1-0 lead.
Dorci Walker (Fr. – Marshfield, Wis./Columbus Catholic) continued her stellar play from last weekend as she led the Blugolds in the opening set with three kills and one assisted block. Walker recorded a team high 15 kills on the evening to add to UWEC's 42 total kills.
In the second set, Eau Claire eliminated another early deficit with kills from Hagg,
Avery Pennekamp (So. – McFarland, Wis.), and
Bailey Leeke (So. – Lakeville, Minn./North). Leeke and Pennekamp both collected three kills in the second set to add to their combined game total of kills. The Blugold lead was overtaken by Northwestern later in the set as the Eagles put together multiple runs together to even the score at 1-1 with a 25-18 set win.
The third set found Eau Claire with yet another early deficit. Eau Claire battled hard to bring the score withing five points after a timeout, but eventually fell 25-15 to the Eagles.
Despite being down 2-1 in sets, UW-Eau Claire kept fighting as they began set four with a 10-6 run.
Dorci Walker collected five in the final set as UWEC looked to even things at two sets a piece. The home Eagles squandered the comeback attempt with two runs of six unanswered points to retake the lead and ultimately deal Eau Claire their 7
th loss of the season with a 25-18 fourth set win.
The Blugolds (8-7, WIAC 1-1) will return home for Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play on Friday, October 6
th against #8 ranked UW-Whitewater. First serve from the McPhee Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
