Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team concluded the Auggie Invite hosted by Augsburg University with notable performances on Saturday. The Blugolds emerged victorious in two five-set matches, securing 3-2 wins against George Fox University and 10th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College.

In the first match against George Fox, Bailey Leeke and Lili Hagg led the offense with 16 kills each. The Blugolds excelled in their attack, hitting above 21.4% in the three sets they won while minimizing attacking errors to five or fewer during those sets. Hannah Thole contributed significantly with 46 assists, while UW-Eau Claire recorded 11 service aces, six of which came from Leeke.

In the second match against Gustavus Adolphus, UW-Eau Claire broke a three-game losing streak against the Gusties, achieving their first win over GAC since 2021. Mya Cinnamo recorded a career-high 27 kills during the victory. Cinnamo hit at a rate of 35%, and both Leeke and Hanne Johnson added 16 kills each to support the offense. Thole surpassed 300 career assists during this game, achieving a career-high of 69 assists in five sets.

Kaitlyn Erickson matched her career high in digs from the first game with 22 digs in the second game. Erickson also delivered the game-winning ace in the fifth set to secure the upset over Gustavus Adolphus.

Both Thole and Leeke were named to the All-Tournament team for their performances throughout the weekend.

The Blugolds (4-3-0) will return home for their season opener on Wednesday, September 11th, against the College of Saint Benedict. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at McPhee Gymnasium.

Follow the Blugolds all season at Blugolds.com or through their app, Blugold Sports, as well as on social media platforms Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.