WHITEWATER, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire defeated UW-Whitewater 3-1 on Friday at Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in Williams Center, winning by set scores of 20-25, 25-17, 25-13 and 27-25. The Blugolds dropped the opening set, then won the next three, including a fourth-set push in which they took the lead after trailing by three. UW-Eau Claire finished with 52 kills and a .184 hitting percentage while holding the Warhawks to 40 kills and a .094 mark. The Blugolds recorded at least eight serve aces for the fourth consecutive game.
Whitewater took the first set 25-20 despite both teams finishing with 10 kills, as the Blugolds had 12 attack errors to UWW's seven and were out blocked 3-1.
Mya Cinnamo had four kills and
Rachel Johnson added three for UW-Eau Claire, which used a late five-point run to close within 23-20 before the Warhawks finished the set.
The Blugolds won the second set 25-17, led by five kills from
Mya Cinnamo and three from
Norah Erickson. UW-Eau Claire also recorded three service aces, and
Rachel Johnson's serving rotation produced five straight points during a 6-0 run that moved the set from 16-12 to 21-12.
UW-Eau Claire took the third set 25-13 with 12 kills and three service aces, while UW-Whitewater finished with 10 kills and nine attack errors.
Alex Kiebel served six straight points as part of a 7-0 run that moved the Blugolds from a 12-8 lead to a 19-8 advantage, including two aces and four UWEC kills during her service turn.
The Blugolds out killed the opposition 18-10 in the fourth set, with
Mya Cinnamo putting down nine kills and
Rachel Johnson adding six in a 27-25 set win. After Whitewater led 23-17, UW-Eau Claire won six straight points to tie it at 23-23, then got a late kill from Johnson before
Brynlee Major's ace supplied the final point; it was Major's first serve ace of the season.
Mya Cinnamo led the Blugolds with 21 kills and 22 points while adding two block assists. Cinnamo has maintained a hitting percentage of at least 0.326 over the last two games.
Alex Kiebel finished with 32 assists, five service aces and 11 digs.
Rachel Johnson recorded 14 kills, 10 digs, three block assists and 16.5 points.
Kaitlyn Erickson collected a team-high 15 digs and added four assists.
Lili Hagg recorded five blocks, exceeding her season average of 2.8. The Blugolds totaled eight blocks in the game, surpassing their season average of 6.6.
UW-Eau Claire is 10-1 overall and 2-0 in WIAC play. UW-Whitewater is 6-6 overall and 1-1 in WIAC play.
Up next, the Blugolds travel to Kenosha, Wis., to face Carthage College on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. at Tarble Arena.
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