EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's defeated Bethel University 3-0 Wednesday at Sonnentag Event Center, winning 25-23, 25-13 and 25-20. The Blugolds trailed 17-13 in the opening set before moving in front 19-17, helping set up the sweep. The home side finished with 44 kills and a .270 hitting percentage while holding Bethel (MN) to 28 kills and a .072 mark. The Blugolds achieved a hitting percentage of .270 in the game, surpassing their season average of .210.
UW-Eau Claire took the opening set 25-23 after using a six-point run to turn a 17-13 deficit into a 19-17 lead, with
Makina Larson involved in two blocks during that stretch. The hosts finished with a 17-14 edge in kills, led by
Rachel Johnson's six, and Johnson closed the set with the final kill.
In the second set, the Blugolds won 25-13, using a seven-of-eight rally stretch to move from 8-4 to 15-5, including four straight points on
Kaitlyn Erickson's serve. UWEC spread 12 kills among seven players, led by
Brynlee Major's three, and added two service aces. Bethel recorded nine kills, but had seven attack errors and four service errors in the set.
The third set went to UW-Eau Claire, 25-20, behind a 15-6 edge in kills, led by five from
Mya Cinnamo and four from Larson. The Blugolds also scored on three consecutive blocks by
Lili Hagg,
Norah Erickson, and
Mya Cinnamo during an early stretch to 9-2, while the Royals countered with four service aces but finished with six kills in the set.
Mya Cinnamo led the Blugolds with 11 kills while hitting .296.
Rachel Johnson finished with 10 kills, 14 digs and a service ace while hitting .348.
Hannah Thole recorded a team-high 17 digs and added 13 assists.
Alex Kiebel posted a team-best 18 assists and added six digs. The Blugolds have recorded at least 44 kills in three consecutive games during the current season.
UWEC improves to 6-1 overall and Bethel is now 6-3 on the season.
Up next, the Blugolds host College of Saint Benedict on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. at The Sonnentag in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
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