ST. LOUIS, MO (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team faced Tufts University (Mass.) in the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship Quarterfinals on Thursday. After a fast pace start, the Blugolds swept the Jumbos 3-0 and will advance to the NCAA Championship semifinal on Friday.
The opening set of the "Elite Eight" tested the Blugolds early as they trailed 12-9 heading into the team's first timeout. From there, Taylor Scalia (Sr. – Lake Elmo, MN/Stillwater) served nine points in a row to shift the momentum in the Blugolds' favor. Makenzie Bachmann (Sr. – Chaska, MN) took charge in set one with five of her __ kills to open the match.
The following set was all Eau Claire all the time. Charlie Nelson (So. – Lakeville, MN/North) distributed the ball with ease tallying 11 of her 36 assists in the middle frame. A couple of three-point rallies kept a comfortable lead for UWEC mounted at ten-points halfway through the set to and road it all the way to a 25-15 victory.
The final set would be a close one as the teams exchanged nine tie scores and two lead changes. Eau Claire would hang on to the final lead in extra point as Kendra Baierl (Sr. – Marshfield, WI/Columbus Catholic) would receive a back-set from Nelson on a slide and sealed it with a cross-court kill and a 27-25 win.
Arianna Barrett (Sr. – Lakeville, MN/North) led the Blugolds with 18 kills and 11 digs for the only double-double of the match. Along with Barret's double-double, three other Blugolds defended the back row well with 35 combined digs between Bachmann, Scalia, and Nelson.
The Blugolds advance to the NCAA Championship semifinals on Friday, November 19. Eau Claire will face the No.1 seeded Juniata College at 5PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
