ELMHURST, IL (blugolds.com) – The No. 13 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold volleyball team traveled south on Saturday as they took part in the Elmhurst University Triangular. The Blugolds faced off against the University of Chicago Maroons and the Elmhurst Bluejays, coming away with two victories away from home.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Game one featured two teams who competed at the 2021 NCAA Division III Regional Tournament in Eau Claire, WI as UW-Eau Claire and Chicago played for the 11th time in program history.
A back-and-forth pace was showcased in the opening two sets as both sides combined for 22 tie scores and six lead changes. Avery Pennekamp (Fr. – McFarland, WI), Maren Saunders (Sr. – St. Michael, MN/St. Michael-Albertville), and Hannah Flottmeyer (Sr. – Madison, WI/Middleton) all recorded four kills each in the opening set to give UWEC a 25-22 victory.
The Blugolds built off their first set win as they hit for .417 from the net with 18 kills. Pennekamp continued her productive match with five more kills in the second set. Charlie Nelson (Jr. – Lakeville, MN/Farmington) tallied 16 of her 37 total assists in the middle frame to help Eau Claire go up 2-0 with another 25-22 set win.
The final set of game one was taken over by Arianna Barrett (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/North) as she swung for a .429 hitting percentage, tallied six kills, and sent the final point home for Eau Claire to secure the 3-0 sweep.
Flottmeyer and Barrett brought the defense as well with three block assists each.
In game two, UW-Eau Claire matched up with the hosts, Elmhurst University in what would be a five-set thriller between the Blugolds and the Bluejays.
An opening set 25-21 defeat for Eau Claire was promptly answered with a 25-21 set win to even the contest at 1-1. Through the first two frames, Avery Pennekamp kept her offensive productivity at a high with 11 of UWEC's 27 total kills on 23 attempts. A four-point run by Eau Claire sealed the second set victory.
Set three began in the Blugolds favor with a three-point run and a four-point run in the first 12 tallies to take an 8-4 lead. Barrett began an Eau Claire 9-2 run halfway through the set to extend their lead to 22-15. A service error from Elmhurst gave UWEC their 25th point to take a 2-1 set advantage.
The Bluejays answered in the fourth with a three-point run late to force a fifth set.
In the tiebreaking frame, Avery Pennekamp and the Blugolds took over and dominated with consistency to seal a 15-6 set win. Pennekamp's five kills in the fifth earned her a career high 21 kills. Sheridan Dettmann (Sr. – Watertown, WI) finished the contest with 27 digs to help her eclipse 900 career digs.
The Blugolds (16-4, WIAC 4-0) return to the McPhee Center on Tuesday, October 11th for a nonconference matchup against St. Scholastica (Minn.) First serve is scheduled for 7PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
