KENOSHA, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team fell to Carthage 3-2 on Saturday at Tarble Arena, with set scores of 29-27, 25-17, 23-25, 20-25 and 13-15. The Blugolds made a fifth-set push after falling behind 12-4, cutting the deficit to 14-12 before Carthage took the deciding set 15-13. UW-Eau Claire held statistical edges in kills (73-65), hitting percentage (.287-.239) and total blocks (13-6), while Carthage finished with 71 digs and eight service aces. The Blugolds recorded a season-high total of 73 kills in the game. They also achieved a season-high total of 13 blocks.
The Blugolds used a 23-12 advantage in kills to take the first set 29-27, with
Brynlee Major recording seven kills and
Rachel Johnson adding six. Carthage had four service aces to UW-Eau Claire's one, but the Blugolds answered late, scoring the final three points from 27-26 down on a Major kill, a
Makina Larson/
Alex Kiebel block and Johnson's closing kill.
UW-Eau Claire won the second set 25-17, finishing with 17 kills to Carthage's 12 and getting six kills from
Rachel Johnson. The set turned on a 6-0 run from a 5-4 deficit to a 10-5 lead, including five straight service points from
Alia Schlimgen.
The Blugolds outkilled Carthage 15-11 in the third set, with
Mya Cinnamo recording five kills and
Rachel Johnson adding four, but Carthage won the set 25-23. Carthage countered with three blocks and two service aces, matching UW-Eau Claire's ace total, and scored the final two points after
Alex Kiebel's ace tied the set at 23-23.
Carthage recorded 18 kills to the Blugolds' 11 and won the fourth set 25-20, with Kristina Manojlovic accounting for eight kills.
Mya Cinnamo led UW-Eau Claire with five kills and factored into two blocks, while
Alex Kiebel had eight assists and a service ace.
Carthage finished with 12 kills in the fifth set and reached 14-6 before the Blugolds answered with seven straight points, six on
Amelia Herrick's serve. UW-Eau Claire's push included three blocks and kills by
Norah Erickson and
Lili Hagg to get within 14-13, but a Carthage would seal the UWEC loss with a kill, 15-13.
Rachel Johnson finished with team highs of 20 kills and 21.5 points while adding 15 digs.
Alex Kiebel posted 39 assists and four service aces, both team highs, and added seven digs.
Mya Cinnamo recorded 17 kills and 18.5 points. Hagg tallied a team-high five total blocks and added five kills.
The Blugolds are 10-2 overall and 2-0 in WIAC play. Carthage is 13-5 overall and 2-0 in CCIW play.
Up next, the UW-Eau Claire volleyball team jumps back to WIAC play as they host UW-River Falls on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. at The Sonnentag in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
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