ELMHURST, Ill. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's volleyball team split wins today at the Elmhurst Invitational, falling to St. Olaf College (Minn.) 3-2 to start the day and beating St. Mary's (Ind.) 3-2 to end the day at R.A. Faganel Hall.
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In the opening match against the Oles, St. Olaf won the first two sets 25-17 and 27-25 before Eau Claire won the next two 25-20 and 25-16. In the fifth set, the Blugolds fell 15-13.
After falling in the first two sets, the Blugolds never trailed in the third set and trailed for only a short time in the fourth set. Neither team could get too far ahead in the final set, and Eau Claire led 13-12 before the Oles scored the final three points to secure the win.
Both teams hit .236 in the match, but Eau Claire led with 63 kills compared to 59 for St. Olaf. The Oles had 17 errors while the Blugolds had 22.
Alexis Wong (Sr.-Maple Grove, Minn.) and Megan Tracy (Sr.-New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper) both led the team in kills with 14 while Jamie Dimka (Jr.-Wausau, Wis./East) led with 24 digs. Jenna Smits (Jr.-Green Bay, Wis./Preble) had a match and career-high 52 set assists along seven service aces, tied for seventh most in a single match in school history and the most an individual has recorded since 2007.
In the second match, the teams went back and forth before the Blugolds came out on top 3-2. St. Mary's won the first set 25-22, Eau Claire won the next one 25-16, then St. Mary's won again 25-22 and the Blugolds followed with a 25-18 win. In the fifth set, the Blugolds won 15-7.
After the back and forth sets, Eau Claire finally pulled away in the final set. St. Mary's scored the first point but with the score tied 3-3, the Blugolds then used a 6-0 run to get up 9-3 and never looked back.
The Blugolds outhit St. Mary's .246-.132 with 64 kills to 51 for St. Mary's. Eau Claire also had five fewer attack errors (23-28).
Wong again led the Blugolds in kills with a match-high 18 while Dimka had a team-best 19 digs. Smits reached 52 set assists once again.
Eau Claire is now 11-13 overall this season.
The Blugolds will be back in action next weekend, hosting the UW-Eau Claire Fall Classic on Friday and Saturday. They will play the first of four matches against Trinity (Texas) Friday at 3 p.m.
-KAM-
