By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (blugolds.com) - Picking up a pair of wins over schools from Illinois, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team improved their winning streak to seven matches in the first night of play at the CCIW/WIAC Crossover Tournament.
The weekend's tournament features match-ups pitting teams from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) against the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).
In Friday night's action from the Quandt Fieldhouse on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus, the Blugolds were victorious over Wheaton College and No. 16-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University.
UW-Eau Claire topped the Wheaton Thunder by scores of 25-23, 20-25, 25-21, and 25-19. Heather Sawchuk (Jr.-Roseville, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) and Katrina Raskie (Sr.-Weston, WI/D.C. Everest) each accounted for double-digit kills, while Raskie, Madison Surprise (So.-Appleton, WI/Kimberly), and Talia Jaskulske (Jr.-Maplewood, MN/North St. Paul) did so in digs. Surprise led the match with 34 set assists.
In the nightcap, Eau Claire defeated its second ranked opponent of the week, topping the Illinois Wesleyan (IWU) Titans in four sets. Scores of 26-24, 19-25, 25-28, and 25-21 proved to be the path taken to the Blugold win.
Despite dropping behind 6-1 to start the match, the Blugolds used a late run to eventually take the opening set. A small hiccup in set two tied the match up, but sets three and four were all Eau Claire. The Titans never seemed to produce and keep the momentum, as the Blugolds would coast to the set victories.
In the win over IWU, the Blugolds' 46 kills were more spread out, with Madelyn Pashibin's (So.-Minneapolis, MN/Minneapolis Southwest) .350 and Keagan Kinsella's (Sr.-Chanhassen, MN) .348 attacking percentages leading the way. Jaskulske's 20 digs topped the Blugolds defensively.
Eau Claire looks to continue their winning ways Saturday afternoon, as they close out the Crossover Tournament with two more matches against Illinois opponents in North Park University (12:00 p.m.) and No. 23-ranked Elmhurst College (2:00 p.m.).
Follow the action for all sports this season on Blugold Game Day.
