EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – In a contest between the top two teams in the conference standings, the UW-Eau Claire women's volleyball team fell 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-19) to 21st-ranked UW-Stevens Point in the McPhee Physical Education Center tonight.
The first set was closely contested with the teams going back and forth most of the way. It was tied multiple times during the set, the latest at 22. Eau Claire trailed by as much as four a couple times early but tied it up at 11 and it was close the rest of the way before the Pointers scored three straight in the end to win.
The Blugolds couldn't get much going in the second set, but it was close early. After a 5-4 Blugold lead, the Pointers outscored the Blugolds 8-1 to take a 12-6 lead and never looked back.
Eau Claire started out well in the third set, building a 10-5 advantage, but the Pointers came back and eventually tied it up at 13. It went back and forth for a few points but after the score was tied at 17, the Pointers closed with an 8-2 run for the win.
Kelly Schuh (Sr.-Appleton, Wis./Hortonville) led the Blugolds with 11 of the team's 30 kills. Lauren Sutherland (Sr.-Dayton, Minn./Meadow Creek Christian) had a match-high 17 digs and Maggie Holcombe (Fr.-Shakopee, Minn.) led the team with 24 set assists.
Blocking, the Pointers finished with 12 total blocks (1 solo, 22 assists) while the Blugolds had seven (two solo, 10 assists).
The Blugolds drop to 14-14 on the season and 4-2 in the WIAC while the Pointers improve to 25-4 overall and 6-1 in conference play. Tonight's contest was senior night and also the final regular season home match of the Blugolds.
This weekend the Blugolds will be on the road for two conference matches, at UW-Whitewater on Friday and at UW-Oshkosh on Saturday.
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