ST. JOSEPH, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's volleyball team was back on the road Wednesday as they continued nonconference play against the College of Saint Benedict Bennies. The offensive duo of Bailey Leeke (So. – Lakeville, Minn./North) and Avery Pennekamp (So. – McFarland, Wis.) combined for 29 kills as the Blugolds defeated CSB, 3-1.
 
The opening set found the Blugolds down 0-5 early, but a combination of offensive success and Saint Ben's errors gave Eau Claire their first lead of the evening at 10-9. That lead change would last for the remainder of the set as Eau Claire put together several multi-point runs to earn the 25-16 set victory. After combining for nine assists in the first set, Charlie Nelson (Sr. – Lakeville, Minn./Farmington) and Ella Kiebel (So. – Maple Lake, Minn.) combined for 41 total assists all night. Kiebel's 25 individual helpers marked a season high for the sophomore.
 
Despite dropping the second set 25-17 to the Bennies, the Blugolds came back with force in the third by taking an early 7-4 lead. Lilli Hagg (Fr. – Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) recorded three straight kills midway through the frame to extend the Eau Claire lead to 12-7. A four-point run by UWEC late in the set extended the lead to 20-10. Bailey Leeke finished things off in the third with her tenth kill of the night as Eau Claire took a 2-1 set lead.
 
As the Bennies refused to give up in the fourth, the Blugolds gained an early lead backed by multiple CSB errors. The Eau Claire lead rose as high as four points as both teams battled down to the wire. A late push by Saint Ben's found the score tied three times in the final seven points before Sheridan Dettmann (Sr. – Watertown, Wis.) sealed the 28-26 set win with a service ace to give Eau Claire their second match victory of the season.
 
Mya Cinnamo (Fr. – Rosemount, Minn.) was a dual threat on offense and defense during the match as she recorded a career high 11 kills, 16 digs and four block assists while scoring 14 points for UW-Eau Claire.
 
The Blugolds (2-2, WIAC 0-0) will return to Minnesota on Saturday, September 9^th as they participate in the 2023 Auggie Invite hosted by Augsburg University. UWEC will face #18 ranked Gustavus Adolphus College at 10 a.m. and Wartburg College at 2:30 p.m. in Si Melby Hall.