MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team defeated Augsburg 3-1 on Friday at Si Melby Hall, taking the match by set scores of 25-16, 25-13, 17-25 and 25-16. As the Blugolds wrapped up their regular seaosn, they created separation in the second set with a 12-0 run that carried them from a 10-8 deficit to a 20-10 lead. Eau Claire finished with advantages in kills (47-35), digs (68-62), blocks (9-6) and service aces (10-3), while Augsburg hit .121. The Blugolds' 10 service aces were above their season average of 7.48. They have recorded at least 47 kills in two consecutive matches and at least 68 digs in two consecutive matches.
The Blugolds took the opening set 25-16 after winning seven of eight rallies to move from a 10-8 edge to 17-9.
Mya Cinnamo and
Norah Erickson each had four kills in the set, while UW-Eau Claire added three service aces.
A 12-point run in the second set, with
Alex Kiebel serving 11 straight points and four aces, turned a 10-8 Augsburg lead into a 20-10 Blugolds advantage before UW-Eau Claire won 25-13. Kiebel added nine assists,
Mya Cinnamo finished with four kills and two block assists, and the Blugolds held edges in kills (11-7), aces (4-1) and blocks (4-0) while Augsburg committed eight attack errors.
UW-Eau Claire cut a 12-5 deficit to 12-10 in the third set, with
Makina Larson recording four kills during that stretch and
Alex Kiebel serving the final four points of the push. Augsburg answered later with six straight service points to move from 15-12 to 21-12 and took the set 25-17.
In the fourth set, the Blugolds took a 25-16 win, finishing with 12 kills to Augsburg's seven and adding two aces. A 6-0 run from 18-14 to 24-14 provided the late separation, with
Rachel Johnson serving five straight points, including an ace, while
Lili Hagg and
Mya Cinnamo each had two kills in that span.
Mya Cinnamo led UW-Eau Claire with 15 kills and 16.5 points, adding three total blocks. Cinnamo has posted a hitting percentage of at least .281 in two consecutive matches.
Alex Kiebel recorded 42 assists and five service aces, along with eight digs and three total blocks. Kiebel has recorded at least 42 assists in two consecutive matches.
Rachel Johnson finished with 10 kills, two service aces and 15 digs, above her season average of 11.92. Hagg added five kills and a team-high five total blocks.
The Blugolds finish the regular season with a 17-9 overall record and 4-3 in WIAC play. Augsburg drops to 9-16 overall and 4-6 in MIAC play.
The Blugolds will await their opponent in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament as they earned the second seed and a first round bye. UWEC will host the highest remaining seed in the semifinals on Thursday, November 12 at The Sonnentag.
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