Volleyball goes 4-0 in weekend tournament
Blugolds faces Titan rivals Friday
The Spectator staff
Issue date: 9/24/09 Section: Sports
The UW-Eau Claire volleyball took its No. 16 national ranking, and 10-2 record to Wheaton, Ill., this weekend when they competed in the Wheaton Thunder Invite. The Blugolds, however, did not have one of their best defenders, senior Lindsey Smith, who suffered an ankle injury in practice this week.
In the tournament opener, the Blugolds swept Lakeland College 3-0. Juniors Emily Zupon and Danielle Lucia led the team with 10 kills each, and freshman Emily Naeve and senior Cassie Hunt both helped replace Smith's defensive roll with 14 dig each.
The second match of the tournament was much closer. Eau Claire won the first two matches - 25-18, 25-21 - against Benedictine University (Ill.). Benedictine took the next two games 26-24 and 25-21, forcing a fifth and final game, which the Blugolds won 15-12. Sophomore Liz Amici posted a team-high 14 kills, while junior Blair Murphy added 18 digs. Naeve added another 42 assists, which brought her Friday total to 71.
The Blugolds returned to the court on Saturday when they took on the University of Chicago (Ill.). With scores of 25-19, 25-21 and 25-13, the Blugolds came away with a sweep. Junior Rachael Ver Voort recorded a match-high nine kills, while Murphy led the team in digs and Naeve once again led the team in assists.
In the final match of the tournament, the Blugolds were paired up with the host team, Wheaton College (Ill.).In the first game, Wheaton won, 25-23, but the Blugolds quickly rebounded. In the second game, Eau Claire won in dominating fashion, 25-11. Games three and four were closer, but both ended in a Blugold victory. Amici and Zupon recorded 15 kills each and Murphy and Naeve each tallied 17 digs while Naeve added another 43 assists.
The 3-1 victory improved the Blugolds record to 14-2 on the season. Eau Claire returns to the court on Friday, Oct. 2, when they face rival UW-Oshkosh in Oshkosh. Last season, Eau Claire and Oshkosh, currently 19-0, shared the WIAC title, and both were touted as pre-season conference favorites.
"This … weekend is preparing for Oshkosh," coach Kim Wudi said following a victory over UW-La Crosse last weekend. "That's where our focus needs to be - How are we going to beat Oshkosh in two weeks?"
In the tournament opener, the Blugolds swept Lakeland College 3-0. Juniors Emily Zupon and Danielle Lucia led the team with 10 kills each, and freshman Emily Naeve and senior Cassie Hunt both helped replace Smith's defensive roll with 14 dig each.
The second match of the tournament was much closer. Eau Claire won the first two matches - 25-18, 25-21 - against Benedictine University (Ill.). Benedictine took the next two games 26-24 and 25-21, forcing a fifth and final game, which the Blugolds won 15-12. Sophomore Liz Amici posted a team-high 14 kills, while junior Blair Murphy added 18 digs. Naeve added another 42 assists, which brought her Friday total to 71.
The Blugolds returned to the court on Saturday when they took on the University of Chicago (Ill.). With scores of 25-19, 25-21 and 25-13, the Blugolds came away with a sweep. Junior Rachael Ver Voort recorded a match-high nine kills, while Murphy led the team in digs and Naeve once again led the team in assists.
In the final match of the tournament, the Blugolds were paired up with the host team, Wheaton College (Ill.).In the first game, Wheaton won, 25-23, but the Blugolds quickly rebounded. In the second game, Eau Claire won in dominating fashion, 25-11. Games three and four were closer, but both ended in a Blugold victory. Amici and Zupon recorded 15 kills each and Murphy and Naeve each tallied 17 digs while Naeve added another 43 assists.
The 3-1 victory improved the Blugolds record to 14-2 on the season. Eau Claire returns to the court on Friday, Oct. 2, when they face rival UW-Oshkosh in Oshkosh. Last season, Eau Claire and Oshkosh, currently 19-0, shared the WIAC title, and both were touted as pre-season conference favorites.
"This … weekend is preparing for Oshkosh," coach Kim Wudi said following a victory over UW-La Crosse last weekend. "That's where our focus needs to be - How are we going to beat Oshkosh in two weeks?"
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