Chippewa Valley Times

Ella Kiebel, a junior from Maple Lake, Minnesota, achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 1,000 career assists during the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team's match against Luther College. The Blugolds secured a 3-0 victory on Saturday at the Sonnentag Event Center. This match was particularly notable as it coincided with Senior Day.

The team, ranked 24th, won with scores of 25-19, 25-20, and 25-13. They maintained a hitting percentage of .311 while restricting Luther to .146. Bailey Leeke contributed significantly with a match-high of 13 kills, and Kiebel concluded the game with 39 assists. The Blugolds also served an impressive total of 13 aces.

In the opening set, UW-Eau Claire turned a narrow lead into a decisive advantage by scoring six consecutive points late in the set. This momentum carried them through to secure the first set win. In the second set, after leading narrowly at 21-20, Leeke's kill initiated a run that helped clinch another victory for the team. Dominant performances in several long runs during the third set ensured that UW-Eau Claire completed their sweep over Luther.

The Senior Day ceremony recognized both Ella Kiebel and Sophia Brown from Colgate, Wisconsin.

Looking ahead, UW-Eau Claire will finish their regular season with a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) match against UW-La Crosse on Friday, November 8. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Mitchell Hall.

Fans can follow the Blugolds throughout their season via Blugolds.com or through their app and social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.