By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
CHICAGO, Ill. (blugolds.com) - After only playing the minimum of three sets in each of last night's opening contests, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team needed to dig deeper to pick up a pair of wins this afternoon.
The Blugolds began day two of the Gargoyle Classic to a shaky start, but a late run in the opening set of the day against host team University of Chicago seemed to be the turning point. Despite dropping the first set 20-25 and never garnering the lead once, a five-point run at the set's conclusion carried over to the rest of the match.
UW-Eau Claire grabbed their first lead of the day with their seventh point in set two, and they would not trail the rest of the set, on way to a 25-16 victory.
In the third set, the Blugolds used a huge run of 11 straight points behind a handful of kills by Heather Sawchuk (Jr.-Roseville, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) and some key blocks to rout the Maroons 25-7.
A case of déjà vu came in the fourth set, as like the previous set, the Blugolds rallied off an early run of ten straight points after trailing 1-0. The point streak would be enough to hold off Chicago, and the Blugolds ended on top 25-18, winning the match three sets to one.
Sawchuk ended the match with a team-leading 16 kills, while Madelyn Pashibin (So.-Minneapolis, MN/Minneapolis Southwest) added ten kills of her own and an impressive .400 hitting efficiency. Emma Richter (Fr.-Mahtomedi, MN) took over the setting duties in the second set and led the team with 30 assists.
Eau Claire rounded out the tournament and their time in the 'Windy City' against Dominican University. The Dominican Stars came into the match looking for their first win of the season, and they came within one set of achieving it. The Stars took the first two sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-18, putting the Blugolds up against the ropes.
However, Eau Claire fought back to win sets three and four 25-14 and 25-23 respectively, setting up the fifth and decisive final set. The Blugolds looked to have it in the bag, up early 7-2, but a 8-2 run put Dominican on top. Eau Claire regrouped and finished out the match on a 6-1 run themselves, winning 15-11 and capping off their tournament with a 3-1 record to start the season.
In the Dominican match, Sawchuk continued her great start to the season with 28 additional kills, while Talia Jaskulske (Jr.-Maplewood, MN/North St. Paul) led with 20 digs, and Mackenzee Pierog (Jr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) topped the blocks column with four.
It was announced that Sawchuk and Katrina Raskie (Sr.-Weston, WI/D.C. Everest) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Due up next for the Blugolds is a trip to Winona, Minnesota on Wednesday night, as they take on the St. Mary's Cardinals at 7:00 PM.
Follow the action for all sports this season on Blugold Game Day.