ARDEN HILLS, MN (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team crossed state lines on Thursday for their second game in two days as they faced Bethel University. Despite dropping the first set, 25-23, the Blugolds rallied for three unanswered sets to earn the 3-1 victory.
The opening set featured a back-and-forth match between the Bethel Royals and UW-Eau Claire with ten tie scores and three lead changes. Arianna Barrett (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/North) recorded two kills late to give UWEC late leads at 22-21 and 23-22, but the Royals answered with a three-point run to close out the first set, 25-23.
Eau Claire responded in the second with multiple four-point runs to take a 12-5 lead. The fast start, along with three Bethel attacking errors late, helped UWEC tie the game at one set win a side. The Blugolds found success from the service line with three of their nine total aces coming in the second frame.
The competitiveness ramped up in the third and fourth sets, with extra points needed in both frames. Bailey Leeke (Fr. – Lakeville, MN/North) recorded a season high four aces for Eau Claire, including back-to-back aces in the fourth set to seal the game. Arianna Barrett recorded 11 of her game high 18 total kills in the final two sets to increase her team lead to 149 kills. Charlie Nelson (Jr. – Lakeville, MN/Farmington) finished the night with 43 assists and 20 digs.
The Blugolds (10-3, WIAC 2-0) will take the weekend off and return to Eau Claire to prepare for more nonconference play on Wednesday, September 28th when they host Northwestern-St. Paul. First serve from the McPhee Center is scheduled for 7PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
