EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball swept Hope College 3-0 on Friday at The Sonnentag Center, winning 25-22, 25-21, 25-18, while hosting the team's annual Blugold Alumni Weekend Tournament. The match was defined by the second-set finish, when the Blugolds turned a 21-17 deficit into a 25-21 set win with an 8-0 run. The Blugolds finished with 45 kills and eight service aces, compared with 33 kills and two aces for Hope. The Blugolds have recorded at least 45 kills in five consecutive matches.
The Blugolds took the opening set 25-22, finishing with 15 kills to Hope's 12 and getting seven kills from
Mya Cinnamo.
Rachel Johnson added three kills and a service ace, and her early service turn produced four straight points that moved the Blugolds from a 2-1 deficit to a 5-2 lead.
UWEC won the second set 25-21, closing on an 8-0 run after Hope led 21-17. The Blugolds finished with a 15-8 kill advantage in the set, with
Rachel Johnson totaling six kills and putting down four during the closing stretch while
Alia Schlimgen served the final seven points.
Eau Claire finished the third set with 15 kills and three service aces in a 25-18 set win, while Hope recorded 13 kills.
Rachel Johnson and
Mya Cinnamo each had four kills in the set, and
Alia Schlimgen's serve helped the Blugolds turn a 7-6 deficit into a 10-7 lead with four straight points.
Rachel Johnson led the Blugolds with 17.5 points and 16 digs, finishing with 13 kills, three service aces and two blocks. Johnson has recorded at least 17.5 points in three straight matches.
Mya Cinnamo recorded a team-high 14 kills and added three digs. Cinnamo has recorded at least 14 kills in five consecutive matches.
Hannah Thole finished with 18 assists, 15 digs and one service ace.
Alex Kiebel also tallied 18 assists and added eight digs and one ace.
The Blugolds improve to 11-3 overall, while Hope drops to 11-6 overall.
Up next, the Blugolds volleyball team hosts UW-Superior on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. at The Sonnentag in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
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