ST. PAUL, Minn. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team was back on the court for NCAA competition the first time since 2019. With key players returning for a fifth season, the Blugolds would complete a three-set sweep (25-23, 25-23, 30-28) against nonconference and No. 20 nationally ranked University of Northwestern (MN.)
The first set saw both the Blugolds and Eagles in back-and-forth play with four different lead changes. A six-point rally, starting with an Eagle service error and double block by Kendra Baierl (Sr. – Marshfield, WI/Columbus Catholic) and Charlie Nelson (So. – Lakeville, MN/Farmington) gave Eau Claire the final lead of the set and eventual set victory.
Jordan Witzel (Jr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) led the Blugolds all game with 14 kills and swung at a 21% at the net. Witzel's big night is a career high in both kills per set and total kills in a game. Six of the fourteen came in the final set.
The second set displayed the same tight scoring seen in the beginning of the contest. Mackenzie Bachmann (Sr. – Chaska, MN) started asix-point run to give UWEC a 9-4 early advantage in the set. Bahcmann also totaled two of the final four points to secure a second set victory. Bachmann had eight kills with only two errors during the night.
The third and final set was another close contest, but Eau Claire's senior ranks pulled through to complete the sweep. Baierl executedd four of her 9.5 points came in the final set, while Abby Volk (Sr. – Willmar, MN) and Arianna Barrett (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/North) had three kills each in the set to push the Blugolds to victory.
The Blugolds will travel to St. Louis, MO for the Bear Invitational on Friday, September 3rd, hosted by Washington University-MO. UWEC starts the tourney facing University of Texas-Dallas at 8 pm from the Wash-U fieldhouse.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
