GETTYSBURG, Pa. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team began their 2024 season on Friday afternoon out on the East Coast at the Battlefield Classic hosted by Gettysburg College. UW-Eau Claire split the day with their nonconference competition with a 3-0 sweep over Susquehanna University and a hard fought 3-1 defeat to Eastern University.
GAME 1 (3-0 vs. Susquehanna)
- Junior transfer Abby Stanwood (Excelsior, Minn.) and Bailey Leeke (Jr. – Lakeville, Minn.) led the Blugold offense in the season opener as the pair each tallied 11 kills. Lilli Hagg (So. – Roscoe, Ill.) also recorded double digit kills opening the season with ten of her own.
- Defensively, UW-Eau Claire dominated the front line as they out blocked Susquehanna 8-1. Bailey Leeke, Lilli Hagg, and Makina Larson combined for ten block assists. Abby Stanwood captured a single solo block and Hannah Thole (Fr. – West Des Moines, Iowa) earned a pair of block assists herself.
- The Blugolds put together five separate four-point scoring runs during the game, including the final point in the third set on a tip by Darienne Andre (Jr. – Lakeville, Minn.).
- First year libero, Kaitlyn Erickson (Fr. – Champlin, Minn.) recorded 13 digs in her first collegiate match to stifle the River Hawks attack.
GAME 2 (1-3 vs. Eastern)
- The Blugolds and Eagles went kill for kill in the four-set thriller as the two teams combined for 105 successful attacks.
- Bailey Leeke and Abby Stanwood led the Blugold offense for the second straight game as the duo combined for 30 of UWEC's 49 kills.
- Hannah Thole completed her first collegiate competition day with 81 assists in the two games.
- Late three-point rallies from Eastern secured them the two sets that surpassed the 25-point mark and ultimately put them over the Blugolds.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Blugolds (1-1-0) stay in Pennsylvania for day two of the Battlefield Classic with matches against the host team, Gettysburg University and Dickinson College. Game one against the bullets is set for 11 a.m. EST, with game two versus the Red Devils to follow at 1 p.m. EST.
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