EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's volleyball team kicked off the 10
th annual Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament presented by BSN Sports/Nike on Friday evening with a nonconference matchup against the St. Catherine Wildcats. The UW-Eau Claire never trailed in the first and third sets as they powered their way to a 3-0 sweep.
Eau Claire started the contest with an even attack from the net as five different Blugolds recorded multiple kills. A 6-0 run to begin the set gave UWEC a lead that was never touched by St. Kate's.
MacKenzie Houser (Sr. – Pleasant Plains, Ill.),
Sheridan Dettmann (Sr. – Watertown, Wis.), and
Ella Kiebel (So. – Maple Lake, Minn.) held the defense strong with five digs a piece in set 1. Despite a late comeback attempt by the Wildcats,
Selena Levendoski (Sr. – Clear Lake, Wis./Clayton) sealed the 25-21 set victory from the middle to put Eau Claire up, 1-0.
The second frame held six tie scores and four lead changes between the Blugolds and Wildcats, but
Bailey Leeke (So. – Lakeville, Minn./North) and Lilli Hagg (Fr. – Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) kept the offense rolling with seven combined kills. UW-Eau Claire recorded seven service aces in the middle set to extend their lead multiple times. Houser, Kiebel, and
Avery Pennekamp (So. – McFarland, Wis.) all recorded multiple aces on the night as Eau Claire controlled service all night. Both sides traded points late, but a 7-2 run in the middle set gave UWEC the edge in the 25-19 victory.
The final set of the evening held a similar tune to the first as the Blugolds started hot with a 5-0 run. The setters kept their consistency during the contest as
Ella Kiebel and
Charlie Nelson (Sr. – Lakeville, Minn./Farmington) combined for 32 assists on 37 kills on their home court. A 4-2 by UWEC was capped off by a
Maren Saunders' (Sr. – St. Michael, Minn./STMA) kill down the middle to seal the 25-17 set victory and 3-0 clean sweep at home.
The Blugolds (5-3, WIAC 0-0) continue tournament play tomorrow, September 16
th with two matches in the McPhee Gym. First serve against Concordia University (Wis.) is scheduled for 12 p.m. and their second match is set for a 4 p.m. start against St. Norbert.
