EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - A total of seven UW-Eau Claire student-athletes have been recognized by being named an Athlete of the Week for the fourth week of the 2013-14 season.
Women’s Tennis
Singles: Paige McCullough, Sophomore, Maple Gove, Minn./Osseo
McCullough was the runner up at the 2013 Gustavus Adolphus College Fall Invitational, competing in draw No. 2. She won three straight matches, losing a combined six games, to get to the championship. In the championship match, she won the first set 6-3 but fell 6-4 and 10-6 in the super tiebreaker to take second place.
Doubles: Katie Gillman, Senior, Red Wing, Minn. & Maddie Johnson, Junior, Lakeville, Minn./South
Competing at the 2013 USTA/ITA Division III Women's Midwest Regional Championships in St. Peter, Minn. this weekend, Gillman and Johnson won the doubles consolation title. After dropping the opening match, the pair fought back and won five straight matches to claim the consolation title.
Soccer
Offense: Caroline Henderson, Forward, 5-5, Sophomore, Duluth, Minn./East
In two games this week, Henderson and the Blugolds finished with a 0-1-1 record. She scored the Blugolds’ only goal on Saturday in a 1-1 double overtime tie against UW-La Crosse in the conference opener. Her goal was the game’s first and was made 23 seconds before halftime to give Eau Claire a 1-0 lead. She finished the game with three shots, including two on-goal. She also had one shot against Wartburg College (Iowa) on Wednesday.
Defense: Ashley Seymour, Defender, 5-4, Sophomore, Verona, Wis./Verona Area
Seymour and the Blugolds gave up just two goals in two games this week as Eau Claire finished 0-1-1. Against Wartburg College (Iowa) on Wednesday, the only goal of the game was scored by the Knights with just over five minutes remaining in the contest. The Blugolds allowed just eight shots, four on-goal, in the game against Wartburg. Saturday in a 1-1 double overtime tie with UW-La Crosse, Eau Claire allowed seven shots on-goal and stopped all but one. The Blugolds also defended against nine corner kicks this week.
Volleyball
Kelly Riesgraf, Middle Hitter, 6-0, Sophomore, Chaska, Minn.
With just one match this week, the Blugolds opened conference play with a 3-1 victory over UW-Superior. Riesgraf led the Blugolds in blocking with two solos and six assists while also recording a match-high hitting percentage of .417. She finished with 12 kills, third best on the team, with 24 total attempts and just two errors. Riesgraf also had two digs.
Women’s Golf
Kate Engler, Junior, Beloit, Wis./F.J. Turner
Competing at the 2013 Blazer Invitational, hosted by the College of Saint Benedict (Minn.), Engler took first place in the field of 49 golfers. She completed the two-day event with 150 strokes, six in front of the rest of the field, helping the Blugolds to a third place finish. It was her first victory of the year and the third time she finished in the top five.
Men's Golf
David Walter, Senior, Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial
Walter helped lead the Blugolds to a victory as the team hosted the 2013 Frank Wrigglesworth Blugold Invite at Eau Claire Golf and Country Club, Sunday and Monday. He was second overall with 145 strokes, three outside of first place, leading the team to their first win at the invite since 2007.