By Matt, Halverson, UWEC Sports Information

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Blugolds.com) - After day one at the Augsburg College Invitational, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's volleyball team (5-3, 0-0 WIAC) finished an even 1-1. 

The Blugolds won their first game against the University of Minnesota-Morris (21-25, 18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 9-15) in their longest game of the season. Eau Claire took the first set in consistent fashion, without their usual display of impressive rallies. Their solid play would continue into the second set, taking the last six of eight points to win 18-25.

Despite the solid Blugold attack, Morris refused to fade as they bounced back in sets three and four. The Cougars would go on a 10-1 run late in the fourth set to pull away, evening the match at two sets each.

The match's fifth and final set however, was all Blugolds. The momentum swung in a huge way, with Eau Claire pulling out to an initial 3-8 lead, proving to be too much for the Cougars to overcome. Emily Miller (So.-Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) and Katrina Raskie (Jr.-Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest) lead the Blugolds with 13 kills each, while Talia Jaskulske (So.-Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul) and Amber Karn (Fr.-Middleton, Wis./Middleton) finished with a team high 18 digs.

Eau Claire's second match of the day was much shorter, losing to the University of Northwestern-St. Paul in three sets (25-21, 25-23, 27-25). The Blugold's would struggle to contain Northwestern's high powered offense, especially late in each set. The loss leaves the Blugolds with a record of 5-3 on the year.

The Blugolds wrap up the Augsburg Invitational Saturday with a matchup against St. Thomas at 1p.m., followed by Augsburg at 3p.m.