ST. LOUIS, MO (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team competed in the program's first ever NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship as they faced the sixth seeded, Calvin University Knights. After a 2018 semifinals loss to the Knights, the Blugolds got their sweet revenge with a 3-0 sweep over Calvin for the program's first ever NCAA Division III National Title.
The opening set found a shift of momentum every other point as both teams both teams got a sense for what the night would entail. The Blugolds were the first to find their rhythm with a three-point run to push their lead to 9-5. Jordan Witzel (Jr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) tallied four kills in the team's first nine points to help lead the Blugolds to an opening set victory, 25-22. Charlie Nelson (So. – Lakeville, MN/North) also aided in the fast offensive start as she opened with ten of her 36 assists in the first frame.
The second set held a much tighter score line as both teams hit above a .425 hitting percentage. Arianna Barrett continued her dominant play and added a set high five kills for a two-frame total of ten kills. Kendra Baierl (Sr. – Marshfield, WI/Columbus Catholic) also propelled the offense with five successful attacks herself. The largest UWEC lead stood at three points late in the set as Abby Volk (Sr. – Willmar, MN) clinched the set point with her tenth kill of the evening.
A total of 17 tie scores and four lead changes in the middle set help lift the suspense closed in on the third and final set.
History would be made in the third set as the rolling offense was unmatched by the opponents. With four ties between the two teams in the first ten points, Calvin was the first side to gain a lead greater than one at 7-5. UWEC would put pressure back on the Knights with a three-point run to gain the lead back, 8-7. Multiple attacking errors by the Knights helped push Eau Claire closer to the final puzzle piece. Witzel and Barrett sealed the deal for the Blugolds with three of the last five points being kills by the duo. Barrett won the game with an attack from the right side going high off the blocker and out, signaling the victory and the confetti to fall. Barrett had the final point in each of the three sets.
Arianna Barrett, Kendra Baierl, and Charlie Nelson were named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournement team. Barrett was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
With the National Title win, UW-Eau Claire finishes the season with a record of 34-3 and a 15-game win streak that will last for months and months to come.
