EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team hosted the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship final on Saturday. The top seed Blugolds hosted the No.2 seed UW-Whitewater Warhawks in the teams' second meeting of the season. After a tough 2-0 set lead, UWEC sealed the deal in the fourth set 3-1 and were crowned WIAC Champions.
After sweeping the Warhawks back in September, Eau Claire used the home crows and familiar environment to their advantage early on.
Service and attacking errors by the visitors were capitalized on by the Blugolds after a 25-21 initial set win. Jordan Witzel (Jr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) commanded the front line in set number one with six kills to start the game.
With the first set containing 11 tie scores and five lead changes, the second set would be owned by UWEC. A 3-0 to the frame put Eau Claire ahead and they never wavered in the 25-22 set victory. Kendra Baierl (Sr. – Marshfield, WI/Columbus Catholic) followed Witzel's lead with seven kills of her own to give UWEC the 2-0 lead.
The third set was a bounce back for UW-Whitewater as the Warhawks hit for 37.5% and pushed past the Eau Claire attack for a 25-22 win of their own. A couple late rallies from the Blugolds decreased the deficit, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback.
The set win by Whitewater carried momentum into the fourth set as the gained an early 7-4 lead. It was Arianna Barrett's (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/North) turn in as she put home seven kills of her own to help Eau Claire claim their third and final set win. A late four-point rally by the Blugolds extended their lead to 20-15 with the win in sight. After each side exchanged a flurry of kills back-to-back, it was eventually Makenzie Bachmann (Sr. – Chaska, MN) sealing the deal for the top seeded Blugolds. Charlie Nelson's (So. Lakeville, MN/Farmington) 55th and final assist of the night set Bachmann up on the outside for a cross court kill and the championship win.
Bachmann finished the night as the only player with a double-double (11 kills, 18 digs). Taylor Scalia (Sr. – Lake Elmo, MN/Stillwater) finished the night with 18 digs and Jordan Witzel led the offense with 17 kills.
The Blugolds will await their placement in the NCAA 2021 Division III Women's Volleyball Championship. The selection show is scheduled for Monday, November 8th at 11:30 AM CST on NCAA.com.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
