CHICAGO — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball lost to the University of Chicago 3-2 on Saturday at Ratner Athletics Center, with set scores of 21-25, 27-25, 25-22, 16-25 and 13-15. The Blugolds moved from down 7-6 to ahead 11-8 in the fifth set, but Chicago took the set 15-13. UWEC finished with a 16-6 edge in total blocks and hit .220, while the Maroons hit .214. The Blugolds' 16 blocks exceeded their season average of 7.44.
UW-Eau Claire had a 4-3 edge in service aces in the first set, including three from
Izzy Grace, but Chicago held an 11-9 advantage in kills and took the set 25-21. The Blugolds were within 23-21 after a block and a Grace ace, before UChicago won the final two points.
UWEC won the second set 27-25, taking four of the final five points after the Maroons reached set point at 24-23. The Blugolds finished with 20 kills to Chicago's 15, led by five apiece from
Lili Hagg and
Mya Cinnamo, while
Rachel Johnson and
Norah Erickson added four each. The set closed on a block from N. Erickson and Hagg, one of three UWEC block points in the set.
The Blugolds took the third set 25-22, scoring seven points on blocks to offset Chicago's 14-10 edge in kills. Hagg had four kills for Eau Claire, including the set-ending point, while
Claire Rogholt added a late ace as the Blugolds won four of the final five points after a 21-21 tie.
Chicago took the fourth set 25-16 behind a 17-12 edge in kills.
Mya Cinnamo led UW-Eau Claire with five kills in the set, while Hagg added four, and
Alex Kiebel assisted on 11 of the Blugolds' 12 kills.
UWEC totaled eight kills in the fifth set, led by three from
Mya Cinnamo and two from
Rachel Johnson, but Chicago finished with 12 kills in a 15-13 set. The Blugolds moved from a 7-6 deficit to an 11-8 lead, before the Maroons later broke a 13-13 tie on a service error and closed the set with a kill.
Mya Cinnamo led the Blugolds with 17 kills and 19 points while adding three total blocks. Hagg finished with 14 kills on a .522 hitting percentage and added five total blocks for 17 points. Her 14 kills surpassed her season average of 4.41, and her five total blocks exceeded her season average of 3.35.
Alex Kiebel achieved a season high with 50 set assists and had 18 digs while adding three block assists.
Kaitlyn Erickson collected a team-high 22 digs and added three assists.
UW-Eau Claire is 13-6 overall and Chicago is 18-3 overall.
Up next, the Blugolds volleyball team hosts UW-Oshkosh during Chippewa Valley Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 5 p.m. at The Sonnentag in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Tickets will be $5 each and can be bought online
here.
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