EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Playing in Zorn Arena on the Blugolds' Cancer Awareness Night, the UW-Eau Claire women's volleyball team took down UW-Stout 3-0.
Box Score | Photos | Coach Interview
The Blugolds won the first set 25-20, then followed with a 25-19 victory and claimed the match after winning 25-20 in the final set.
The teams played close in the opening two sets but in the final set, Eau Claire never trailed the entire way, though it was close near the end. The Blugolds opened with a 4-0 run and steadily built a lead throughout the set. Eau Claire led by as many as eight points (20-12) and while the Blue Devils outscored the Blugolds 7-5 the rest of the way and closed the gap to just three points late, Eau Claire hung on for the win.
As a team, Eau Claire hit .167 with 38 kills and 16 errors while Stout hit .108 with 39 kills and 24 errors. The Blugolds finished with a season-high 12 blocks, including a career-high 10 block assists from Kelly Riesgraf (Jr.-Chaska, Minn.).
Leading Eau Claire with 11 kills, which tied a match-high, was Katrina Raskie (So.-Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest). Riesgraf added eight while finishing with a hitting percentage of .667.
Talia Jaskulske (Fr.-Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul) led the match with 24 digs and Jenna Smits (Jr.-Green Bay, Wis./Preble) had 33 set assists to lead the match.
Eau Claire improves to 16-15 overall and 3-3 in the conference while Stout drops to 19-9 on the season and 3-4 in WIAC play.
The Blugolds have two matches left in the regular season, both at home. Eau Claire will host UW-Whitewater Friday at 7 p.m. and will play UW-Oshkosh Saturday at 2 p.m. Both contests will be in the McPhee Physical Education Center.
-KAM-
