NORTHFIELD, Minn. — UW-Eau Claire defeated St. Olaf 3-1 on Saturday at Skoglund Athletic Center. The visiting team secured the victory with set scores of 25-12, 25-20, 24-26, and 25-17. The Blugolds' attack was led by a .286 hitting percentage, significantly outpacing St. Olaf's .120. The visitors also recorded 81 digs to bolster their defensive play, while accumulating 70 total points and eight service aces in the match.
UWEC opened the first set with a dominant performance, establishing a significant lead with an early 4-0 run spurred by two service aces from
Alex Kiebel. The team capitalized on St. Olaf's attacking errors, which contributed to a 13-point margin at the set's conclusion.
Abby Stanwood was instrumental, recording multiple kills, while
Sasha Bovard added three service aces, helping the Blugolds secure a 25-12 victory in the first set.
Eau Claire claimed the second set 25-20 against the Oles, capitalizing on a series of attack errors and consistent offensive execution. Stanwood and
Bailey Leeke were instrumental, each contributing multiple kills, while Kiebel facilitated the attack with several key assists. The set was marked by a critical 5-0 run that extended the Blugolds' lead, with St. Olaf's attempts to close the gap falling short due to their own service and attack errors.
UWEC and the Oles engaged in a tightly contested third set, with St. Olaf narrowly prevailing 26-24. The Blugolds displayed resilience, countering St. Olaf's mid-set momentum by leveling the score multiple times, thanks in part to effective kills from Leeke and
Darienne Andre. However, St. Olaf capitalized on critical errors late in the set, including a service ace, to seal the set victory.
The Blugolds secured a decisive 25-17 victory in the fourth set, capitalizing on a strong offensive performance led by Leeke, who contributed seven kills. Kiebel consistently set up opportunities, recording multiple assists that enabled a dominant 8-1 run to extend the lead from 12-11 to 20-12. The team also capitalized on the Oles' errors, including two service errors and two attack errors, to maintain control throughout the set.
Leeke led the team with 23 kills on 48 attempts, achieving a hitting percentage of .438 and contributing 24.5 points. Stanwood added 17 kills and recorded 14 digs, amassing 19 points. Kiebel facilitated the offense with 45 assists across four sets.
Kaitlyn Erickson anchored the defense with 22 digs, supporting the team's back row efforts.
The Blugolds hold a 26-2 overall record and are 6-0 in WIAC play. The Oles have a 22-7 overall record and are 10-0 in MIAC competition.
The Blugolds will travel to face UW-Oshkosh on Saturday, Nov. 8 to close out the regular season. The match is set for 7 p.m. at Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and will determine the regular season WIAC Champion.
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