EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team was back at home on Friday for their first game of a home quadrangular as they took on UW-La Crosse. The Blugolds honored many past Athletes as they hosted Alumni Night. Despite dropping the first set, the Blugolds took the next three for their 20th win of the season.
The opening set was a typical Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) with both teams exchanging leads early on. A total of seven lead changes and 17 tie scores sent the game to a 23-23 tie, but 11 total errors from the home squad found themselves with a one set deficit.
Set two, showed similar competition with another tight set, but limited errors and stellar defense helped UW-Eau Claire prevail in a 27-25 win. Taylor Scalia (Sr. – Lake Elmo, MN/Stillwater) tallied seven of her 11 digs in the second set.
The third set played in UWEC's favor after they gained the lead and never fell behind once on their way to the 25-16 set win. Nine attacking errors by UW-La Crosse and 11 kills by the Blugolds pushed the home team to a 2-1 set lead.
The momentum of two set victories waivered in the final set as UWL grabbed an early 3-1 lead. The Blugolds battled back and overcame a deficit once again posting a four-point run in the middle of the frame to gain the last lead of the evening. Jordan Witzel (Jr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) gathered five of her 18 kills on the night in the fourth set.
Arianna Barrett (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/North) posted her third double-double of the season with ten successful attacks and 13 digs.
The Blugolds will continue their home quadrangular on Saturday, October 16th when they host Finlandia University and Illinois-Wesleyan University at the McPhee Center. UWEC faces the Lions from Finlandia starting at 11 AM and the Titans from Illinois-Wesleyan at 1:30 PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
