EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The No. 12 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold volleyball team was back at home on Wednesday night for Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) action. With the No. 13 ranked UW-Oshkosh Titans in town, a top-25 matchup brought all the highs and lows of WIAC competition. Early errors and an early Oshkosh lead was too much as UW-Eau Claire fell 3-1.
A slow start for Eau Claire found themselves down early as Oshkosh took the first set, 25-17. A strong defense from the Titans kept the Eau Claire offense at bay in the opening set as the tallied just nine kills. Avery Pennekamp (Fr. – McFarland, WI) and Arianna Barrett (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/North) combined for seven of the team's nine kills in the first set. Pennekamp and Barrett combined for a total of 32 kills as Barrett held a game high 20 and Pennekamp finished 12 kills.
The second set featured a more even battle between the two teams as six tie scores and two lead changes were recorded by both sides. Barrett continued her attack at the net with six more kills in the second frame and would go on to finish with a game high 20 kills. Sheridan Dettman (Sr. – Watertown, WI), Charlie Nelson (Jr. – Lakeville, MN/Farmington), and Barrett combined for 18 of the teams 25 digs, keeping Oshkosh from pulling ahead. With five tie scores in the final 11 points, UWO edged Eau Claire with back-to-back points to win set two, 27-25.
The third set was a bounce back for the Blugolds as they started with a 5-0 run. Arianna Barrett tallied three of the five points to give Eau Claire an early lead. Halfway through the match, UWEC capitalized on four straight Oshkosh errors to extend their lead to 18-10. A final kill from Selena Levendoski (Sr. – Clear Lake, WI/Clayton) sealed some hope throughout McPhee as the Blugolds found the set victory, 25-19.
The fourth set held UW-Eau Claire against the wall once again as they tried to force a fifth set tiebreaker. A six-point run by the Titans increased the Blugold deficit to 17-13. Steady back and forth play between both teams kept the deficit alive as match point grew closer. A final 6-4 run by Oshkosh brought the final kill for the Titans as Eau Claire fell 25-21 and 3-1 in sets.
Sophia Brown (So. – Colgate, WI/Germantown) and Hannah Flottmeyer (Sr. – Madison, WI/Middleton) combined for nine block assists as UW-Eau Claire recorded a season high 11 blocks.
The Blugolds (18-6, WIAC 4-2) will head back on the road on Saturday, October 22nd for two nonconference matches. UW-Eau Claire will face Macalester College (Minn.) and Hamline University during the Hamline Triangular. Game 1 against Macalester is set for 5PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
