MEQUON, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team closed out its regular season with a 3-0 defeat at Concordia University Wisconsin on Saturday. The 14th-ranked Blugolds got in an early hole, and despite a a strong effort to respond, they fell at the hands of the Falcons.
The Falcons held a 12-9 lead early in the first set, but went on a run to build a cushion. Concordia won 11 of the next 15 points to build a 23-13 advantage. The Blugolds pulled closer by scoring five straight points on a run that featured kills by Bailey Leeke (Fr. - Lakeville, Minn./North) and Hannah Flottmeyer (Sr. - Madison, Wis./Middleton) to cut the lead to five, but the Falcons eventually won the set 25-18.
The second set played out in similar fashion to the first. The Falcons built an early 8-3 lead and held the Blugolds at arm's length for a while. Trailing 20-14, UW-Eau Claire captured eight of the next 12 points to pull within two of the lead at 24-22. Arianna Barrett (Sr. - Lakeville, Minn./North) and Avery Pennekamp (Fr. - McFarland, Wis.) had two kills each in the surge. Concordia, however, ended the skid by taking the next point to establish a two-set lead.
The Blugolds overcame a six-point deficit midway through the third set, flipping a 15-9 deficit to pull even on multiple occasions. Pennekamp had two kills in the hot streak for Eau Claire. The score was tied 23-23 late in the set, but the Falcons took the final two points to finish off their victory.
Pennekamp led the Blugolds with 11 kills, while Selena Levendoski (Sr. - Clear Lake, Wis./Clayton) was close behind with 10 of her own. Charlie Nelson (Jr. - Lakeville, Minn./Farmington) passed 31 assists, and Sheridan Dettman (Sr. - Watertown, Wis.) had a team-high nine digs.
The Blugolds finished the regular season with 21-8 record. They begin play in the WIAC Tournament against a to-be-determined opponent on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
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