EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team started Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament play on Tuesday as they hosted the UW-Platteville Pioneers. Despite an opening set victory and 13 team blocks, the Blugolds fell in the next three sets to end their WIAC postseason run in the WIAC First Round.
UW-Eau Claire managed to swing the momentum early in the match after a 6-3 start by Platteville. A 7-0 run beginning with Arianna Barrett's (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/North) first kill of the evening powered Eau Claire to a 10-6 swing. Selena Levendoski (Sr. – Clear Lake, WI/Clayton) kept the Blugolds out in front with six of her seven total kills during the match in the first set. Maren Saunders (Sr. – St. Michael, MN/St. Michael-Albertville) led the defense in the opening frame with one solo block and one block assist to help UWEC record three team blocks in the first set. Saunders also recorded the final kill of the set to seal the 1-0 set lead, 25-21.
In the second set, the Blugolds found themselves in a five-point hole to start the frame after a 10-5 run by the Pioneers. Both sides traded points as the set continued until a 9-3 run late in the set brought Eau Claire within two points. Hannah Flottmeyer (Sr. – Madison, WI/Middleton) answered a kill by the Pioneers to keep UWEC within two and a bad set by the Platteville setter brought the score to 23-24. Flottmeyer held a game high two solo blocks and five block assists to keep the Blugold defense in the game.
An attacking error from the Blugold offense sealed the second set for UWP to tie the match at one set a piece.
The third set saw a similar story as set two as the Pioneers found an early 13-9 lead. The Blugolds found their way back into the game with multiple runs, but the Pioneer offense kept their lead with 13 kills in the set. A late three point run by Platteville extended their lead to 22-17. Eau Claire clawed back to a one-point game at 23-24, but Platteville escaped the comeback with their final kill and 25th point to take a 2-1 set lead.
The final frame held 13 tie scores and two lead changes as both squads fought their way to the end. A six-point deficit halfway through the set saw UWEC's time running out as they took a timeout at 10-16 to reset the momentum. The stoppage worked in favor of the home team as Eau Claire put together a 5-0 run to bring the game to within one point. From there, both sides traded points with eight ties scores in the final 17 points. Platteville found the only break in the scoring with the final two points to win the set 26-24 and win the match, 3-1.
The Blugolds (21-8, WIAC 4-3) will wait for their chance at an at-large bid in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Selection show is scheduled for Monday, November 7th at 12PM.
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