Volleyball bounces back from first loss of season
Weekend tournament brings Blugold record to 9-1
Nick Gourdoux
Issue date: 9/10/09 Section: Sports
09/11-12
Augsburg Tournament, Minneapolis
Posted: 09/14/09
Last week the UW-Eau Claire volleyball team won their first three matches without losing a game. Then, in the final set of the tournament, the team was finally challenged when they needed five games to beat Gustavus Adolphus. The experience gained from that match helped the Blugolds bounce back from their first loss of the season on Friday.
"It was nice to have to go to five games because we were kind of on a high horse," senior Lindsey Smith said in an interview following last week's UWEC Labor Day Classic. "To lose, and bounce back in an early match is key."
The team once again got off to a hot start when they swept Macalester (Minn.) in the first match of the weekend's two-day Augsburg Tournament. In fact, the first two games of the match weren't even close - Eau Claire won 25-11, and 25-10 - setting season lows for opponent scoring in sets played to 25 points.
The team's second match, however, was the polar opposite. The Blugolds were swept at the hands of St. Benedict (Minn.) - 20-25, 21-25 and 19-25. Eau Claire set a season low with a -0.007 hitting percentage to go along with their 30 attack errors.
"When we played St. Benedicts we had a lot of our own mistakes, but they're a solid team too," junior Rachael VerVoort said. "Hopefully by the end of the season we will be at their level. Maybe we'll see them in regionals again because last year they ended our season and it's kind of a goal to beat them if we ever meet them again."
The Blugolds, however, were able to rebound and take the first match of the second day of the tournament against Northwestern College (Minn.), 3-1. Then, in the third place match, the Blugolds finished the tournament the way they began it, with a sweep - this time against Augsburg College (Minn.).
The 3-1 finish brings Eau Claire's overall record to 9-1. The team, ranked No. 13 nationally, will return to action Friday when they host UW-Platteville in the first inter-conference match of the season for the Blugolds. On the following Saturday the Blugolds will host UW-La Crosse in another inter-conference match.
"We know how we play together as a team, so I think we'll just prepare for our opponents based on their strengths and what we know about them," VerVoort said.
The matches this weekend, however, will be the last home games for the Blugolds until early October when they host UW-River Falls.
"It's definitely better to play at home because you have the support of your family and friends," VerVoort said. "I don't think it will be a problem, as long as we don't make it a problem."
Augsburg Tournament, Minneapolis
Posted: 09/14/09
Last week the UW-Eau Claire volleyball team won their first three matches without losing a game. Then, in the final set of the tournament, the team was finally challenged when they needed five games to beat Gustavus Adolphus. The experience gained from that match helped the Blugolds bounce back from their first loss of the season on Friday.
"It was nice to have to go to five games because we were kind of on a high horse," senior Lindsey Smith said in an interview following last week's UWEC Labor Day Classic. "To lose, and bounce back in an early match is key."
The team once again got off to a hot start when they swept Macalester (Minn.) in the first match of the weekend's two-day Augsburg Tournament. In fact, the first two games of the match weren't even close - Eau Claire won 25-11, and 25-10 - setting season lows for opponent scoring in sets played to 25 points.
The team's second match, however, was the polar opposite. The Blugolds were swept at the hands of St. Benedict (Minn.) - 20-25, 21-25 and 19-25. Eau Claire set a season low with a -0.007 hitting percentage to go along with their 30 attack errors.
"When we played St. Benedicts we had a lot of our own mistakes, but they're a solid team too," junior Rachael VerVoort said. "Hopefully by the end of the season we will be at their level. Maybe we'll see them in regionals again because last year they ended our season and it's kind of a goal to beat them if we ever meet them again."
The Blugolds, however, were able to rebound and take the first match of the second day of the tournament against Northwestern College (Minn.), 3-1. Then, in the third place match, the Blugolds finished the tournament the way they began it, with a sweep - this time against Augsburg College (Minn.).
The 3-1 finish brings Eau Claire's overall record to 9-1. The team, ranked No. 13 nationally, will return to action Friday when they host UW-Platteville in the first inter-conference match of the season for the Blugolds. On the following Saturday the Blugolds will host UW-La Crosse in another inter-conference match.
"We know how we play together as a team, so I think we'll just prepare for our opponents based on their strengths and what we know about them," VerVoort said.
The matches this weekend, however, will be the last home games for the Blugolds until early October when they host UW-River Falls.
"It's definitely better to play at home because you have the support of your family and friends," VerVoort said. "I don't think it will be a problem, as long as we don't make it a problem."
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