Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team faced a tough challenge against the sixth-ranked UW-Oshkosh, resulting in a 3-2 loss at the Sonnentag Event Center on Wednesday. The Blugolds, ranked 24th, pushed the Titans to five sets in this Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) matchup.

The match began with UW-Oshkosh securing a 25-15 win in the first set after closing with a strong 9-2 run. The Blugolds responded in the second set, maintaining control after an early lead initiated by Bailey Leeke's kill. Despite the Titans' efforts to close the gap, back-to-back kills from Mya Cinnamo ensured a 25-21 victory for UW-Eau Claire.

In the third set, the Blugolds overcame a four-point deficit but fell short as UW-Oshkosh claimed it with consecutive kills, leading 27-25. The fourth set saw UW-Eau Claire rally again, overcoming a late deficit to win 25-23 and push the match to a fifth set.

The final set saw UW-Eau Claire's last lead at 6-5 before UW-Oshkosh went on a decisive 4-0 run, ultimately winning 15-11. Ella Kiebel achieved a career-high of 60 assists during the match. Cinnamo led her team with 20 kills while Leeke and Abby Stanwood contributed significantly with 17 and 16 kills respectively. Kaitlyn Erickson made an impressive defensive contribution with 25 digs and Lili Hagg added six blocks.

This defeat brought an end to UW-Eau Claire's seven-game winning streak. The team aims to recover as they host Luther College for a nonconference game on Saturday, November 2nd at the Sonnentag Event Center, where they will also celebrate Senior Night.

For more updates throughout the season, fans can follow along on Blugolds.com or through their app and social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.