By Bryce Meade, UWEC Sports Information
OLIVET, Mich. (blugolds.com) - The 14th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team picked up two wins at the Albion-Olivet Invitational on Friday afternoon.
Olivet Box Score | Finlandia Box Score
The Blugolds squared off with co-host Olivet College (MI) in their opening match, defeating the Comets in three straight sets (25-18, 25-16, 25-14). Eau Claire outhit Olivet .216 to .090 for the match. Krista Meyer (So. – Germantown, WI) hit .444 and led the Blugolds offensively with nine kills. Arianna Barrett (Fr. – Lakeville, MN/North), Jessica Coyne (Sr. – Verona, WI/Verona), and Madelyn Pashibin (Sr.- Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) contributed five kills each. Leah Witzel (So. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) recorded a team-high 16 assists and Taylor Scalia (So. – Lake Elmo, MN/Stillwater) led the Blugolds with 12 digs.
In their second match of the day, the Blugolds once again swept their opponent three sets to none (25-8, 25-19, 25-15), this time taking down Finlandia University (MI). The Blugolds hit .287 in the second match, and held Finlandia to an abysmal -.011 hitting percentage. Meyer and Pashibin led the way again with nine and six kills, respectively. Eleven different Blugolds recorded a kill. Witzel and Madison Surprise (Sr. – Appleton, WI/Kimberly) combined for 31 assists in the victory.
The Blugolds (23-2, 5-0 WIAC) will take on Albion College (MI) at 10 a.m. and Denison University (OH) at 12 p.m. Saturday in Albion. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app on your mobile device.