SAN ANTONIO, TX (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's volleyball team started their 2022 season in dramatic fashion. As the 2021 NCAA Division III Volleyball defending national champions took to the court for the first time since raising the ultimate trophy last November, the Eau Claire Blugolds faced off against the Berry College Vikings. After dropping the first and fourth set, UW-Eau Claire would prevail in the tiebreaker set for a 3-2 victory.
Despite an opening set loss to start their season, the Blugolds responded well with a 25-22 second set win. Jordan Witzel (Sr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) began a four-point run in the second to give UWEC a 12-9 lead. Witzel tallied five of her ten total kills in the second set to even the match at one game a side.
Eau Claire jumped out to a 7-4 to open the third set to keep their momentum going. Playing in her first game as a Blugold, Avery Pennekamp (Fr. – McFarland, WI) scored four of her ten total kill in the third to help Eau Claire take a 25-23 set win and a 2-1 lead.
A rough attacking fourth set from the Blugolds allowed Berry to tie the game at 2-2 and force a fifth set.
Also making her Blugold debut, Selena Levendoski (Sr. – Clear Lake, WI/Clayton) held a pivotal point in the fifth set with three successful attacks in a row to dig Eau Claire out of a 5-9 hole. Hannah Flottmeyer (Sr. – Madison, WI/Middleton) also made her mark on the contest with two kills on two attempts to make it 14-12 UWEC. A Pennekamp kill and a Berry College service error sealed the deal, 17-15, to open the season with a 3-2 win for UWEC.
The Blugolds (1-0, WIAC 0-0) will continue their play in the Trinity National Invitational on Saturday, September 3rd when the face off against No. 24 Transylvania University and No. Trinity University. Games are scheduled for 10AM and 7PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
