No. 14 ranked volleyball loses to undefeated UW-Oshkosh
Conference record now 1-2 for Blugolds
Nick Gourdoux
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: Sports
The UW-Eau Claire volleyball team was touted as one of the top contenders for the WIAC crown this pre-season, and they have not disappointed.
The team entered play this weekend with a 14-2 record, and 1-1 conference record. UW-Oshkosh, the team against which Eau Claire was supposed to contend with, has been even better. The Titans had won all 20 of their games this year, 23 consecutive home games and 161 of their previous 181 games before entering the match against the Blugolds.
Coach Kim Wudi described the match as one of the biggest of the season, and the focal point of weeks of preparation.
"That's where our focus needs to be," she said. "How are we going to beat Oshkosh?"
In a crucial, must-win game four, the Blugolds found themselves up 19-17 and on the verge of forcing a fifth and final game. After a back-and-forth finale, the Blugolds found themselves on the wrong side of a 26-24 loss. The Blugolds lost the first two matches - 25-29 and 25-10 - before rebounding to take game three by the score of 25-21.
Leading the Blugolds, ranked No. 14 in the nation, in kills with 12 was senior Kristen Moore, while junior Emily Zupon added another 10. Juniors Rachael Ver Voort and Blair Murphy led the way defensively with 17 and 14 digs respectively. Freshman Emily Neave added a team-high, 31 assists.
"They got a lot of runs and we couldn't close the gaps and the point difference," Murphy said. "There was nothing that they did that totally demolished us. They're beatable and I think next time around, when it matters in the conference tournament, we'll beat them."
On Saturday, the team headed north to play a pair of matches in Appleton against Knox College (Ill.) and Lawrence University. Against Knox College, the Blugolds dominated, outscoring them 75-41. Ver Voort added another 11 kills, while Neave contributed with team-highs in assists and digs with 21 and 12 respectively.
The second match of the day for the Blugolds was much more competitive, but ended in a 3-0 loss for Eau Claire - 31-29, 25-19 and 25-20. Moore and senior Danielle Lucia both finished with nine assists while Murphy and Stephanie Peterson each added eight. Neave split the setting duties with junior Amanda Lessner, with the two combining for 34 assists. Defensively, Murphy and Ver Voort each added 13 digs.
The Blugolds, who now find themselves at 15-4 overall and 1-2 in the WIAC, will return home on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to host UW-River Falls.
"We have to go back to the drawing board and go back to the basics and figure out what we want to do," Murphy said. "We have all the talent we need to decide if we want to win or keep rolling over to teams we shouldn't be losing to."
The team entered play this weekend with a 14-2 record, and 1-1 conference record. UW-Oshkosh, the team against which Eau Claire was supposed to contend with, has been even better. The Titans had won all 20 of their games this year, 23 consecutive home games and 161 of their previous 181 games before entering the match against the Blugolds.
Coach Kim Wudi described the match as one of the biggest of the season, and the focal point of weeks of preparation.
"That's where our focus needs to be," she said. "How are we going to beat Oshkosh?"
In a crucial, must-win game four, the Blugolds found themselves up 19-17 and on the verge of forcing a fifth and final game. After a back-and-forth finale, the Blugolds found themselves on the wrong side of a 26-24 loss. The Blugolds lost the first two matches - 25-29 and 25-10 - before rebounding to take game three by the score of 25-21.
Leading the Blugolds, ranked No. 14 in the nation, in kills with 12 was senior Kristen Moore, while junior Emily Zupon added another 10. Juniors Rachael Ver Voort and Blair Murphy led the way defensively with 17 and 14 digs respectively. Freshman Emily Neave added a team-high, 31 assists.
"They got a lot of runs and we couldn't close the gaps and the point difference," Murphy said. "There was nothing that they did that totally demolished us. They're beatable and I think next time around, when it matters in the conference tournament, we'll beat them."
On Saturday, the team headed north to play a pair of matches in Appleton against Knox College (Ill.) and Lawrence University. Against Knox College, the Blugolds dominated, outscoring them 75-41. Ver Voort added another 11 kills, while Neave contributed with team-highs in assists and digs with 21 and 12 respectively.
The second match of the day for the Blugolds was much more competitive, but ended in a 3-0 loss for Eau Claire - 31-29, 25-19 and 25-20. Moore and senior Danielle Lucia both finished with nine assists while Murphy and Stephanie Peterson each added eight. Neave split the setting duties with junior Amanda Lessner, with the two combining for 34 assists. Defensively, Murphy and Ver Voort each added 13 digs.
The Blugolds, who now find themselves at 15-4 overall and 1-2 in the WIAC, will return home on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to host UW-River Falls.
"We have to go back to the drawing board and go back to the basics and figure out what we want to do," Murphy said. "We have all the talent we need to decide if we want to win or keep rolling over to teams we shouldn't be losing to."
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