EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team knocked off No. 13 University of Northwestern 3-1 in a high-profile victory on Wednesday at the Sonnentag Event Center. The Blugolds won the first, second and fourth sets to pick up their second win against a Top 25 opponent this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Blugolds took down the Eagles 25-20, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20.
- A hot start propelled UW-Eau Claire in the opening set. The Blugolds won six of the match's first seven points. They kept the Eagles at arm's length the rest of the way, growing their lead to as much as eight at one point. Northwestern pulled within four points of the lead toward the end of the set, but it wasn't enough.
- History repeated itself in the second set, with the Blugolds running out to a 10-3 lead. Bailey Leeke (Jr. – Lakeville, Minn./North) served three aces in that stretch. UW-Eau Claire's lead ballooned as high as 10, and although the Eagles made another late run, the deficit was too much to overcome.
- A 6-0 run midway through the third set helped Northwestern extend the match. The spurt turned a 14-12 Eagles lead into a 20-12 advantage, and they held on from there to force a fourth set.
- A pair of Blugold runs in the fourth set helped UW-Eau Claire seal the victory. The Blugolds scored four straight points to open a 17-12 advantage before Northwestern clawed back at 19-17. However, a kill from Mya Cinnamo (So. – Rosemount, Minn.) started a 6-3 stretch for UW-Eau Claire to close out the match.
- Leeke led the Blugold attack with 19 kills. Cinnamo added 12 of her own.
- Ella Kiebel (Jr. – Maple Lake, Minn.) set a new career high with 50 assists.
- Leeke had a match-high 17 digs, followed by 15 from Kaitlyn Erickson (Fr. – Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park).
UP NEXT
UW-Eau Claire plays a ranked opponent for the second straight match when it travels to Illinois on Friday, October 11. The Blugolds will visit No. 21 North Park with a 7 p.m. start time.
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