STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball earned a big Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) victory Wednesday night, defeating the No. 13-ranked University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in three sets, 25-22, 25-22, 29-27 at Berg Gym.
The Blugolds snapped a 23-match home winning streak for the Pointers and did so with a balanced offensive attack with five players recording at least seven kills to hit .263. Hannah Theisen (Sr.-Rochester, Minn./Mayo) led UW-Eau Claire with 15 kills while Katrina Raskie (Jr.- Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest) added 10. Kelly Riesgraf (Sr. Chaska, MN), Emily Miller (So.- Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) and Keagan Kinsella (Jr.- Chanhassen, Minn/Chanhassen) added in nine, eight and seven, respectively, while Jenna Smits (Sr. Green Bay, WI) made 43 assists.
The Pointers raced out to a 5-1 lead early in the first set but the Blugolds quickly responded to take a 7-6 lead with five-straight points. UW-Stevens Point led by as many as four but UW-Eau Claire hung around and eventually tied the score at 22-22. The visitors then won the final three points on kills by Miller and Theisen and an ace by Miller.
The Blugolds opened the second by winning five of the first six points and eventually led 10-4. The Pointers got within one, 23-22, late in the set but UW-Eau Claire closed it out on a kill by Theisen and an ace by Kelsey Kowitz (Fr. – Inver Grove Heights, MN/Saint Croix Lutheran). After hitting .362 in the first, the Blugolds hit .297 in the second, compared to .171 for UW-Stevens Point.
Looking to close out the sweep, UW-Eau Claire led 14-9 midway through the third set before UW-Stevens Point used a 4-0 run to tie it at 16-16.The Pointers saved three match points to extend the match, but Theisen brought down two kills to seal the Blugold win.
Talia Jaskulske (So. Maplewood, MN) tallied 19 digs while Raskie added 17 for Eau Claire.
The Blugolds (16-6, 2-1 WIAC) return home on Saturday, hosting UW-Oshkosh for Alumni/Senior and Youth Night as Eau Claire celebrates its homecoming. Game time is set for 6 p.m. in the McPhee Center.