Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team secured two victories at the Pikes Peak Challenge in Colorado Springs, improving their overall record to 3-1. The Blugolds first defeated the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in a five-set match, with set scores of 25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, and 16-14. Later in the day, they swept Edgewood College in straight sets: 25-21, 25-16, and 25-21.

In the opening match against MSOE at El Pomar Sports Center, UW-Eau Claire started strong by winning the first two sets. MSOE responded by taking the next two sets to force a decisive fifth frame. The Blugolds recorded 60 kills compared to MSOE’s 47 and posted a defensive total of 66 digs.

Key plays in the first set included Katie Mercure assisting Darienne Andre for an early kill and Abigail Wherland delivering consecutive service aces during a late rally that helped secure the set. Emma Peterson ended the set with a kill after an MSOE error.

The second set saw UW-Eau Claire extend their lead through a combination of kills and service aces, notably from Hannah Thole and Sasha Bovard. The third and fourth sets were closely contested; Izzy Grace contributed several kills for UWEC but MSOE managed to win both sets with timely plays from Alyssa Rusch.

In the final set, Andre opened with a kill assisted by Alex Kiebel. The Blugolds built momentum through blocks by Norah Erickson and Lili Hagg as well as additional kills from Grace. Andre’s kill and another block from Erickson and Hagg clinched the victory at 16-14.

Wherland and Grace each tallied 16 points for UW-Eau Claire. Wherland added three service aces while Grace had a .324 hitting percentage on her way to 16 kills. Mary Zettle led defensively with 21 digs; Mercure had a team-high 24 assists.

Following this win, UW-Eau Claire’s record improved to 2-1 while MSOE fell to 0-3.

Against Edgewood College later that day, UW-Eau Claire maintained control throughout all three sets. They finished with a .245 hitting percentage and collected five service aces while limiting Edgewood to a .103 hitting percentage.

Norah Erickson began the first set with an early kill; Abby Stanwood added a service ace soon after. Alex Kiebel provided multiple assists including one for Lili Hagg’s set-winning kill at 25-21. In subsequent sets, Stanwood contributed key kills while Kaitlyn Erickson delivered another important service ace during the second set win.

Bailey Leeke was effective offensively in the third set with several crucial kills as Kiebel closed out the match with a service ace at 25-21.

Stanwood scored 15 points over three sets for UWEC; Leeke achieved a .464 hitting percentage along with her team-leading numbers in kills and points. Thole led setting duties with 18 assists while Kiebel added another 19 assists plus two aces.

After this result, UW-Eau Claire moved to an overall record of 3-1 while Edgewood dropped to 1-2.

UW-Eau Claire will next play at the Rosalie Resch Invitational against the University of Chicago on Friday, September 5 at Ratner Athletics Center in Chicago.