EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – In a top-15 matchup on the Lisa Herb Court at the Sonnentag Event Center, 14th-ranked UW-Eau Claire faced off with top ranked UW-Whitewater to begin Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Friday. In front of the largest crowd in Blugold Volleyball history, UWEC toppled the No. 1 Warhawks in a five set thriller.
As the Blugolds held a floor dedication ceremony for Hall of Fame coach Lisa Herb and BLugold Volleyball Pioneer, Clare Hohmen, UWEC set an all-time program attendance record with 2,134 in attendace.
UW-Eau Claire edged out UW-Whitewater in a tense first set, securing a 27-25 victory. The Blugolds showcased resilience, overcoming a late 21-14 deficit with an impressive rally led by Bailey Leeke, who contributed a crucial kill to tie the score at 24-24 and set a season high with 25 kills. Abby Stanwood and Mya Cinnamo each added important kills in the closing points, while Alex Kiebel’s service ace and assists were pivotal in the comeback. The Warhawks had initially taken control with a six-point run, making it 14-9, but UW-Eau Claire stormed back with a seven-point run to tie the set at 22-22. UWEC capped off the set with three-point run to go up 1-0.
The Blugolds took control in the second set against UW-Whitewater, securing a decisive 25-15 victory. They capitalized on seven attack errors and five service errors from the Warhawks while contributing three service aces and four kills from Stanwood and Leeke. Cinnamo added three kills, with Kiebel recording multiple assists, helping UW-Eau Claire maintain an edge throughout the set as the Blugolds closed out the set on an eight-point run.
UW-Eau Claire narrowly fell to Wis.-Whitewater in the third set, 25-23, despite a consistent performance from Stanwood, who recorded five kills and hit at a .386 rate. Leeke contributed seven kills, with Kiebel assisting on numerous points. The Blugolds’ efforts included taking an early 8-4 lead and later a 19-17 advantage, but the Warhawks responded with a late 6-3 run to close out the set.
The Blugolds fell short in the fourth set against Wis.-Whitewater, losing 25-20 despite a strong effort. Stanwood and Leeke led the offensive charge, each contributing multiple kills with Stanwood’s efforts resulting in four successful points. However, service errors and a series of attack errors proved costly, with Whitewater capitalizing on four key service aces to maintain their edge.
UW-Eau Claire secured a tight 15-11 victory in the decisive fifth set over Wis.-Whitewater, propelled by a strong blocking performance and opportunistic scoring. Leeke’s three kills and Stanwood’s consistent play helped the home team jump to a 5-0 start. The Blugolds capitalized on several attack errors from UWW, with Kiebel and Lili Hagg delivering crucial blocks to maintain their lead. Despite a late surge by the visitors, which narrowed the deficit to two points, UW-Eau Claire held firm, closing the set and clinching the match.
Leeke led the offensive charge for the Blugolds, contributing a season high 25 kills and a total of 26.5 points across five sets. Stanwood added to the Blugold offense with her second straight double double with 20 kills and 12 digs, showcasing her impact on the team’s performance. Kiebel also collected a double double with 58 assists, 15 digs, and and was pivotal defensively with five total blocks. Mary Zettle was active defensively, collecting 15 digs and serving three aces.
UW-Eau Claire holds a record of 12-1 overall and 1-0 in the WIAC. Wis.-Whitewater stands at 10-1 overall with a 0-1 record in the WIAC.
Looking ahead, the Blugolds will continue WIAC play and face off against UW-La Crosse on Wednesday, Sept. 24. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. and will take place at Lisa Herb Court at The Sonnentag in Eau Claire, Wis.
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