ST. PAUL, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – After dropping the first set of a non-conference match against the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (Minn.), the UW-Eau Claire volleyball team won the next three to beat the Eagles 3-1 in the Ericksen Center tonight.
Northwestern won the first set 25-19 but the Blugolds won the following three 25-23, 25-21, 25-18.
In the opening set, the Blugolds led the majority of the first half but found themselves up by just one (14-13) before the Eagles used a 4-0 run to take the lead for good.
The Blugolds again led during the second set 8-5 before a 7-0 Northwestern run to give the Eagles a 12-8 lead. But the Blugolds fought back and tied it up at 17 and after a 21-21 tie, Eau Claire outscored Northwestern 4-2 to tie the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Northwestern scored the first two points but the Blugolds then scored the next three and never trailed the rest of the way. Eau Claire led by as many as five points late in the set before winning by four.
In the fourth set, the teams went back and forth, working their way to a 7-7 tie. But Eau Claire then went on an 8-0 run and never looked back. The Eagles got as close as five (17-12) but Eau Claire then got back up by 10 (24-14) before winning by seven.
The Blugolds outhit the Eagles .295-.244 with 64 kills compared to 61 for Northwestern. Four Blugolds reached double-digit kill totals with Katrina Raskie (So.-Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest) leading the way with 17.
Jamie Dimka (Jr.-Wausau, Wis./East) led the team with 19 digs and Jenna Smits (Jr.-Green Bay, Wis./Preble) had a team-high 51 set assists.
Eau Claire is now 10-11 on the season while Northwestern falls to 11-7.
The Blugolds will be back in action Friday for a conference contest at UW-Platteville. Action will get underway at 7 p.m.
-KAM-
