By Tommy McGowan, UWEC Sports Information
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team won a hard-fought 3-2 match over Illinois Wesleyan in the opener of the Illinois Wesleyan Holiday Inn Classic on Friday night.
After dropping the first two sets, Eau Claire came roaring back in the third. They finished off the third game 26-24. Abbey Pederson (So.-Canby, MN) and Taylor Scalia (Jr.-Lake Elmo/Stillwater) set up for Krista Meyer (Jr.-Germantown, WI) to finish the third set. The Blugolds were able to win the fourth set as well, 25-18. Makenzie Bachmann (Jr.-Chaska, MN) opened up the scoring in the fourth game, with a kill from Pederson.
The fifth set was taken by Eau Claire. Scalia was again in on the action, with an assist to Pederson for the decisive kill. In total, the Blugold finished the night with 59 kills.
Arianna Barrett (So.-Lakeville, MN/North) and Kendra Baierl (Jr.-Marshfield, WI/ Columbus Catholic) topped Eau Claire with 16 kills apiece. Scalia would record 16 digs herself, while Pederson led all Blugolds with 26 assists.
The Blugolds would improve to 15-8 overall, and now a 4-2 record in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Their next matchup will be against Millikin University (Ill.) Saturday. They will get started early, with a 10 a.m. tip-off.
Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app from your mobile device.
