Volleyball finishes undefeated on weekend
Nick Gourdoux
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: Sports
The UW-Eau Claire volleyball team finished the weekend 2-0 for the first time this season. The Blugolds finished 2-2 at the Washington University, Augsburg and St. Benedict Tournaments, bringing their season record to 6-6 entering the weekend.
"For us to come back and win was a true test of our character," coach Kim Wudi said. "It was a great weekend for us."
The Blugolds were ranked No.19 in the nation in a preseason poll, but the rough start dropped the team to No. 21 in the Sept. 9 poll, and the team was unable to make it into the top 25 in the September 16 poll. The team began conference play this weekend when they traveled to UW-La Crosse on Friday to play the 9-3 Eagles.
"One thing we have really focused on … has been to focus on the point we are playing and not worry about what the score is," Wudi said.
The Eagles won the first game, 14-25, but the Blugolds quickly responded with a 25-19 victory. The Eagles won game three, 25-17, but the Blugolds responded once again with a 25-20 victory, forcing a fifth game. Battling point for point, the Blugolds were able to take the fifth game by a score of 18-6. Leading the way with 19 kills for Eau Claire was sophomore Emily Zupon. Senior Emily Haese led the team with 52 assists and junior Lindsey Smith led the team with 34 digs.
"(The fifth game) was very intense," Smith said. "As a team, everyone came together. We all had the same goal in mind and somehow we came together and accomplished it. It was probably the most intense match I've ever played in."
Eau Claire traveled to UW-Platteville on Saturday for another conference match. The Blugolds were unable to win the first game of the match, but took games two and three. After the Pioneers won game four, the Blugolds won game five by a score of 15-8. The win raises the Blugolds Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record to a perfect 2-0.
"It was probably our most exciting weekend of the season," Smith said. "Our goal was to be 2-0 in the conference, and we did (accomplish that)."
Senior Abby Freiborg led the team with 12 kills, but three other Blugolds also recorded double-digit kill totals. Haese once again led the team in assists with 40, and Smith led the team in digs with 21.
"We played really good defense," Wudi said. "We didn't play as well offensively as we could play, but when you are able to dig the other team well and keep the ball in play chances are that they are going to make mistakes."
The Blugolds will travel to Pella, Iowa, to compete in the Central College Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
"For us to come back and win was a true test of our character," coach Kim Wudi said. "It was a great weekend for us."
The Blugolds were ranked No.19 in the nation in a preseason poll, but the rough start dropped the team to No. 21 in the Sept. 9 poll, and the team was unable to make it into the top 25 in the September 16 poll. The team began conference play this weekend when they traveled to UW-La Crosse on Friday to play the 9-3 Eagles.
"One thing we have really focused on … has been to focus on the point we are playing and not worry about what the score is," Wudi said.
The Eagles won the first game, 14-25, but the Blugolds quickly responded with a 25-19 victory. The Eagles won game three, 25-17, but the Blugolds responded once again with a 25-20 victory, forcing a fifth game. Battling point for point, the Blugolds were able to take the fifth game by a score of 18-6. Leading the way with 19 kills for Eau Claire was sophomore Emily Zupon. Senior Emily Haese led the team with 52 assists and junior Lindsey Smith led the team with 34 digs.
"(The fifth game) was very intense," Smith said. "As a team, everyone came together. We all had the same goal in mind and somehow we came together and accomplished it. It was probably the most intense match I've ever played in."
Eau Claire traveled to UW-Platteville on Saturday for another conference match. The Blugolds were unable to win the first game of the match, but took games two and three. After the Pioneers won game four, the Blugolds won game five by a score of 15-8. The win raises the Blugolds Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record to a perfect 2-0.
"It was probably our most exciting weekend of the season," Smith said. "Our goal was to be 2-0 in the conference, and we did (accomplish that)."
Senior Abby Freiborg led the team with 12 kills, but three other Blugolds also recorded double-digit kill totals. Haese once again led the team in assists with 40, and Smith led the team in digs with 21.
"We played really good defense," Wudi said. "We didn't play as well offensively as we could play, but when you are able to dig the other team well and keep the ball in play chances are that they are going to make mistakes."
The Blugolds will travel to Pella, Iowa, to compete in the Central College Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
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