EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The No. 12 University of Northwestern Volleyball team took a six-game winning streak into a non-conference showdown with (RV) the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Wednesday night, and were not able to extend it to seven. Playing without All-American outside hitter
Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) for the fourth consecutive game, Northwestern fell to UW-Eau Claire in four sets.
The Blugolds took control early in the opening set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead that became 13-5 in short order. Thanks to four kills by
Anna Olsen (Randolph, Minn./Randolph) and three by
Ari Schmidt (Albany, Minn./Holdingford), UNW was able to somewhat close the gap and cut the lead to three at 23-20. Unfortunately, it was not enough as UWEC closed out the set, winning 25-20.
Despite a couple of early kills from recently-crowned UMAC Defensive Player of the Week and NCCAA Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week
Marley Aune (New Brighton, Minn./Avail Academy), Eau Claire once again sprinted to a big lead in set two at 15-5. Schmidt and
Ana Egge (Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Christian) got going on the outside, and a slew of attack errors by the Blugolds allowed the Eagles to claw back to a 20-15 deficit. UW-Eau Claire stretched the lead to 23-15, but Northwestern again made a push, scoring five straight points including three consecutive kills from Schmidt. The Eagles' run would end there, however, as UWEC won 25-20 for the second time in as many sets.
Those who follow Northwestern Volleyball closely will remember the Eagles' miraculous stretch of reverse sweeps in the 2023 NCAA Division III National Tournament. A similar one would be required if they wanted to pull out a road win in Wisconsin on Wednesday. In set three, it was UNW who got out to an early lead at 4-2, following a
Mikayla Wilber (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) ace. The lead became 13-8 after Egge's third kill of the set, but the Blugolds were able to chip away, trimming the margin to 14-12. Northwestern put its foot firmly on the gas from that point on, rattling off nine of the next 10 points, which included two Aune kills and an
Addeson Jenniges (Walnut Grove, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) ace, to seize control, 23-13. Eau Claire made a late charge, but UNW was able to win the set, 25-19, to extend the match to a fourth set.
With some momentum suddenly in Northwestern's corner, the two teams went back-and-forth in the fourth set. Olsen was on fire, racking up three early kills in a 5-5 tie. UW-Eau Claire took a 9-6 lead, but the Eagles quickly tied it back up as
Miranda Wyatt (Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan Christian) notched a kill. UWEC led 13-12 before going on a 4-0 spurt to take its biggest lead of the set. UNW was able to trim the deficit to two before a 5-1 Blugolds run set up match point. One last gasp by Northwestern pulled it within four, but that just set the table for UW-Eau Claire to win 25-20, the same score as its other two set wins.
Schmidt paced the Eagles with 13 kills, while Olsen added 12 and two blocks. Egge finished with nine kills and Aune eight. Wilber and
Hannah Rich (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) led UNW in digs with 14 and 10, respectively, while Wyatt matched Olsen's team-high in blocks with two.
Grace Strickfaden (Norwood-Young America, Minn./NYA) tallied 21 assists, while Jenniges finished with 20.
The 11-6 Eagles will return to UMAC play, where they are 5-0, Saturday as they take to the road once again. They will take on Minnesota Morris, who is 4-1 in conference play, at 3:30 PM.
