By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - In a battle between two teams boasting 3-0 records in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), UW-La Crosse defeated the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team in four sets on Wednesday.
The Blugolds and Eagles exchanged a pair of 25-18 scores in the opening two sets with Eau Claire claiming set two. They were upended 25-17 in set three and lost a close fourth set by a score of 25-23.
An uncharacteristically off night on the attack for the Blugolds factored into the loss. The squad combined for a .112 hitting efficiency with .195 in set four being their best rate. In the set that they bested La Crosse, the Eagles hit -.075; in the other three sets, they failed to dip below .242.
Madelyn Pashibin (Jr.-Minneapolis, MN/Minneapolis Southwest) fell one kill short of the 20-marker and led both teams in putaways. No other Blugold reached double digits, but Kendra Baierl (Fr.-Marshfield, WI/Columbus Catholic) had a nice night at the net, hitting .350 with her eight kills on 20 attempts.
Talia Jaskulske's (Sr.-Maplewood, MN/North St. Paul) dig total of 25 was a match-best, while Madison Surprise (Jr.-Appleton, WI/Kimberly) finished second-best for Eau Claire with eleven. Surprise picked up 41 assists in the match as well.
The Blugolds will hit the road once again this weekend, traveling to UW-Stevens Point to take on the Pointers on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m.
Follow all the action on Blugold Game Day.
