LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team resumed Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play on Friday as they faced off against the UW-La Crosse Eagles. The Blugolds improved to 3-0 in conference play after the 3-1 road victory.
After a five-set thriller two days prior, the Blugolds looked to extend their seven game win streak to eight with their first of three road games on the weekend. The opening set held an early 9-1 run to take their first lead of the matcha and put some distance between them and the Eagles. Hannah Flottmeyer (Sr. – Madison, WI/Middleton) led the UWEC offense in the first frame with five kills and a .833 hitting percentage. The Eau Claire lead was never touched as the Blugolds rolled to a 25-16 victory.
The second set was the closest of the evening as both squads combined for eight tie scores and three lead changes. UW-Eau Claire found another lead off a string of points after Victoria Van Dan (So. – Burlington, WI) recorded her second service ace of the day to put UWEC up by four. Services from the Blugolds were crucial in all four sets as they posted ten service aces during the match. With a 24-23 match point, Jordan Witzel (Sr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) tallied her seventh kill on the successful sideout to put UWEC up 2-0. Witzel finished the game with ten kills.
UW-La Crosse didn't go away without a fight as the Eagles held UWEC to just nine kills and a .133 hitting percentage to take the third set, 25-23. As both squads were tied at 22-22, UWL surged with a 3-1 point run to win the third set.
The fourth and final set showcased a dominate performance by the Blugolds to seal the 3-1 WIAC win. MacKenzie Houser (Jr. – Pleasant Plains, IL) and Maren Saunders (Sr. – St. Michael, MN/St. Michael-Albertville) found their grooves in the final frame as Houser tied a season high from behind the end line with three aces in the winning set. Maren Saunders held a team high four kills in the fourth set to finish the evening with eight successful attacks. Arianna Barrett (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/North held the game high 14 kills to increase her team lead to 177.
The Blugolds (12-3, WIAC 3-0) will have a quick turnaround as they travel to Mount Vernon, IA for two matches on Saturday, October 1st. UW-Eau Claire will face Coe College at 12PM and Cornell College at 4PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long on Blugold Game Day or on the UWEC Blugolds app.
