MENOMONIE, Wis. — UW-Eau Claire swept the UW-Stout 25-23, 25-20, 25-18 on Wednesday at Johnson Fieldhouse. The Blugolds recorded 37 kills, while their defense held UW-Stout to a .038 hitting percentage and recorded five blocks. The UWEC serving game provided an edge with five aces. The Blugolds 14-1 record through 15 games is the program's best start since 2018.
UW-Eau Claire edged out UW-Stout in a tightly contested first set, 25-23.
Norah Erickson and
Abby Stanwood each delivered key kills for the Blugolds, contributing to a four-point run that turned a 15-15 tie into a 19-15 advantage. The Blugolds maintained their lead and finished things off with a kill from Stanwood.
The Blugolds secured the second set 25-20 over UW-Stout, driven by a balanced offensive effort, benefitting from Leeke's two timely kills and
Alex Kiebel's service ace to build momentum. UW-Eau Claire's defense also forced multiple attack errors from Stout, contributing to a decisive 5-0 run that extended their lead and ultimately sealed the set.
The Blugolds opened the third set with a commanding start, taking advantage of multiple errors from UW-Stout to build a 6-1 lead, highlighted by Stanwood's service ace. UWEC maintained momentum with strong play from
Mya Cinnamo, who contributed three key kills, and Kiebel, who set up multiple scoring opportunities. Despite UW-Stout's attempts to rally, UW-Eau Claire closed the set decisively at 25-18, aided by Stanwood's second service ace and a final block by
Makina Larson and Leeke.
Stanwood led UW-Eau Claire with 11.5 points, tallying nine kills and two service aces. Kiebel orchestrated the offense effectively, recording 29 assists and adding 10 digs. Cinnamo contributed significantly, matching Stanwood with nine kills and also serving two aces.
Kaitlyn Erickson was pivotal on defense, collecting 13 digs across the match.
The Blugolds hold an overall record of 14-1 and are 3-0 in WIAC play. This marks the best start in program history since 2018, when the Blugolds began the season with a 17-1 record. UW-Stout stands at 13-5 overall with a 0-3 record in the WIAC.
Looking ahead, the Blugolds will travel to Stevens Point, Wis., to face Carthage College at the UW-Stevens Point Papa John's Invite on Saturday, Oct. 4. The match is set for 10 a.m. at Shirley Egner Court at Berg Gym.
Follow UWEC all season long at Blugolds.com or on our app, Blugold Sports, and on social media on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
