By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The women's volleyball team for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire concluded their time at the CCIW/WIAC Crossover Tournament Saturday afternoon.
After a pair of four-set victories the night prior, UW-Eau Claire extended their winning streak to eight with a win over North Park University before being topped by No. 23-ranked Elmhurst College. Both matches were decided in straight sets.
The Blugolds defeated the Vikings of North Park University with scores of 25-22, 25-18, and 25-16.
Hope Foss (So.-Cameron, WI) received the call for the majority of the setting duties against North Park, and her 19 assists were a team high. Benefitting from a number of those was Heather Sawchuk (Jr.-Roseville, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall), who accumulated 11 kills in the match.
The team's hitting percentage ended at a solid .312, with Mackenzee Pierog (Jr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) and Emily Miller (Jr.-Prior Lake, MN) both contributing a .500 efficiency.
In the tournament's final match, the Blugolds faced their third ranked opponent of the week. Despite Eau Claire being previously victorious over UW-La Crosse and Illinois Wesleyan, the Elmhurst College Bluejays got the best of the Blugolds, winning 25-22, 25-20, and 25-17.
Heather Sawchuk's nine kills led the team, with Katrina Raskie's (Sr.-Weston, WI/D.C. Everest) seven and Emily Miller's six right behind in the put-away column. Raskie and Talia Jaskulske (Jr.-Maplewood, MN/North St. Paul) each tallied 12 digs against the Bluejays, whose attack avoided a single block from the Blugolds.
"This was arguably one of the toughest weeks on our schedule, and I'm happy to come out 4-1 and especially 1-0 in conference," said Head Coach Kim Wudi. "We like to say that we either win or we learn, and we did both this week."
UW-Eau Claire wraps up the month of September this Wednesday night, hoping to improve upon that unbeaten conference record when they travel to UW-River Falls.
Follow the action for all sports this season on Blugold Game Day.
