CHICAGO, Ill. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team was in Chicago, IL for a weekend triangular against North Park University and Greenville University. After a 3-1 win against conference opponents UW-Oshkosh a day before, the Blugolds continued their winning ways with a 3-1 win over the North Park Vikings and a 3-2 victory of the Greenville Panthers.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Game one featured the #11 nationally ranked UWEC Blugolds against the NPU Vikings. A fast start by the Vikings but Eau Claire down 0-1 after the first set. The Blugolds bounced back in the second with a team hitting percentage of .344. Makenzie Bachmann (Sr. – Chaska, MN) led the Blugolds throughout the days first game with a double-double of 16 kills and 12 digs.
The third set featured a 5-0 start by UWEC for a lead that was never overtaken. Charlie Nelson collected 40 set assists in the contest and surpassed 600 career assists during the match. Taylor Scalia (Sr. – Lake Elmo, MN/Stillwater) and the defense covered the floor well holding the Vikings to a .100 attack percentage in the set. Scalia gathered 26 digs in the team's first victory, while Sheridan Dettmann (Jr. – Watertown, WI) posted 12 in the 3-1 win.
Early in the final set of game one, the Blugolds rattled off a five-point run to gain the final lead of the match against NPU. Bachmann tallied three of her 16 kills during the rally.
Game two held a much closer match between Eau Claire and Greenville. Erika Stensland (Sr. – Golden Valley, MN/West Lutheran) led the Blugolds with a career high 13 kills and 13 digs in the match. Stensland's double-double accompanied by 37 assists from Charlie Nelson gave the Blugolds the edge over the Panthers.
A five-point rally halfway through the first set gave UWEC the final lead of the set. A late six-point push by Greenville was stopped by back-to-back kills by Jordan Witzel (Jr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) to secure the first set win.
A couple of four-point runs in the second set built a lead that stood for the remainder of the set and put Eau Claire up 2-0. Scalia continued her pivotal play with two of her three service aces in the match during the second set.
The Panthers bounced back in sets three and four to force the game five tiebreaker. UWEC rolled on to a 15-11 set win behind their .625 hitting percentage during the set.
The two wins on the day improve UW-Eau Claire's record to 17-2. The #11 Blugolds are 13-1 when playing on the road.
The Blugolds will be back at home on Wednesday, October 6th when they host UW-Stevens Point. The two WIAC opponents are set to begin at 7:00 PM during Eau Claire's annual Playing for a Cause game.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
