By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
RIVER FALLS, Wis. (blugolds.com) - After last week's win in the conference opener, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team continued play in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wednesday night from Karges Arena.
Taking on the 10-6 Falcons of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the Blugolds carried their 14-3 record and recent American Volleyball Coaches Association national ranking of 24 into the match.
Following UW-Eau Claire's eight-game win streak being snapped on Saturday, tonight's 3-0 win (25-16, 25-17, 25-22) got them back on track. More importantly, it improved their WIAC record to 2-0 on the season.
In the first set, River Falls kept it close until the midway point. With the score at 14-11, the separation grew from there for the Blugolds, as they rattled off an 11-5 run to complete the opening frame. The second set belonged to the Blugolds as well with a score similar to set one.
The Falcons put the pressure on in set three, leading Eau Claire 20-16 late in the set. However, a timely time-out for the Blugolds saw them score four straight coming out of it to tie the score at 20-all. The momentum stayed with the blue and gold from there, as they secured the sweep via the 25-22 set victory.
Heather Sawchuk (Jr.-Roseville, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) accounted for 37-percent of the team's kills on the night, ending with 15. She was among four Blugold players to record double-digit digs as well, with Katrina Raskie (Sr.-Weston, WI/D.C. Everest) recording 14, Talia Jaskulske (Maplewood, MN/North St. Paul) leading with 19, and Madison Surprise (So.-Appleton, WI/Kimberly) adding 10. Surprise also tallied 39 assists on the night, good for 13 per set.
The Blugolds return home for a pair of non-conference matches on Saturday for Homecoming and Alumni Day. They take on St. Scholastica at 2:00 p.m. and then Carroll University at 6:00 p.m.
Follow the action for all sports this season on Blugold Game Day.
