Blugolds earn split in Iowa tournament
Volleyball team bounces back Saturday after dropping first two matches of the tournament
Nick Gourdoux
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: Sports
The UW-Eau Claire women's volleyball team traveled to Pella, Iowa, to compete in the Central College Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The team was coming off its best week of the year when they finished 2-0 against UW-La Crosse and UW-Platteville; however, the Blugolds were unable to carry the momentum into the tournament.
"I thought we made a lot of progress," sophomore Emily Zupon said. "There is a big difference between conference play and tournament play … it was a different atmosphere."
On Friday, the team lost both of the matches it played. The Blugolds' first match of the night was against Hope College (Mich.), who finished the tournament without a loss. The 0-3 sweep the Blugolds suffered at the hands of the Flying Dutch was only the second time an opponent has swept a match against Eau Claire. The Blugolds almost avoided the sweep when game three finished with a score of 32-34. The Blugolds finished the night with a 1-3 loss against Carthage (Ill.).
"We didn't come out to win; we played not to lose," senior Emily Haese said.
The Blugolds were able to quickly rebound from a tough night with two victories on Saturday. Eau Claire beat St. Olaf (Minn.) in five games and then carried the momentum into their next match against Buena Vista (Iowa). Led by Zupon's 13 kills, the Blugolds annihilated the Beavers. The 3-0 sweep was the sixth of the season for the Blugolds, who improved to 10-8 overall on the season.
"(On) Saturday we regrouped and knew we had to do something different," Zupon said. "We made a couple changes, and focused on some different things."
The Blugolds will travel to Minneapolis to play against St. Thomas (Minn.) on Tuesday. It was St. Thomas who defeated the Blugolds in the championship game of the Augsburg Invite earlier this month.
"We're really excited to play St. Thomas (Minn.) and to get going on our home court (this weekend)," Zupon said.
Haese agreed that the team is excited to play against St. Thomas, and added that the team has "revenge to go out and get."
The team will then return home on Saturday, Oct. 4, to play against UW-Oshkosh, which will be Senior Day.
"We're excited to be home, and we're really excited to play on our new floor," Haese said. "It has been a long month of traveling, and we're just ready to be at home."
"I thought we made a lot of progress," sophomore Emily Zupon said. "There is a big difference between conference play and tournament play … it was a different atmosphere."
On Friday, the team lost both of the matches it played. The Blugolds' first match of the night was against Hope College (Mich.), who finished the tournament without a loss. The 0-3 sweep the Blugolds suffered at the hands of the Flying Dutch was only the second time an opponent has swept a match against Eau Claire. The Blugolds almost avoided the sweep when game three finished with a score of 32-34. The Blugolds finished the night with a 1-3 loss against Carthage (Ill.).
"We didn't come out to win; we played not to lose," senior Emily Haese said.
The Blugolds were able to quickly rebound from a tough night with two victories on Saturday. Eau Claire beat St. Olaf (Minn.) in five games and then carried the momentum into their next match against Buena Vista (Iowa). Led by Zupon's 13 kills, the Blugolds annihilated the Beavers. The 3-0 sweep was the sixth of the season for the Blugolds, who improved to 10-8 overall on the season.
"(On) Saturday we regrouped and knew we had to do something different," Zupon said. "We made a couple changes, and focused on some different things."
The Blugolds will travel to Minneapolis to play against St. Thomas (Minn.) on Tuesday. It was St. Thomas who defeated the Blugolds in the championship game of the Augsburg Invite earlier this month.
"We're really excited to play St. Thomas (Minn.) and to get going on our home court (this weekend)," Zupon said.
Haese agreed that the team is excited to play against St. Thomas, and added that the team has "revenge to go out and get."
The team will then return home on Saturday, Oct. 4, to play against UW-Oshkosh, which will be Senior Day.
"We're excited to be home, and we're really excited to play on our new floor," Haese said. "It has been a long month of traveling, and we're just ready to be at home."
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