EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Playing its third top-10 opponent in 12 days, the (RV) University of Northwestern Volleyball team faced perhaps its toughest test of the three, traveling for a true road game at No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Wednesday night. Already victorious in one of its top-10 matchups this month, UNW battled back after a 22-25 loss in set one to win by the same score in the second set. While the remainder of the match remained tight, UW-Eau Claire was able to take the next two sets, 25-21, 25-19, to improve to 9-1 on the season. The loss, which was Northwestern's first road loss of the season, dropped the Eagles to 9-4.
Despite two kills apiece from
Norah Jaeb (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong),
Anna Olsen (Randolph, Minn./Randolph) and
Ana Egge (Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Christian), the Blugolds were able to open up a 17-10 lead in set one. Jaeb and
Miranda Wyatt (Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan Christian) powered UNW to a 5-0 run with big plays on both sides of the net to pull the Eagles within two at 20-18, but a 4-0 UWEC run brought the score to set point. Northwestern again went on a run, this time 4-0 behind a pair of solo blocks from Wyatt, but the hosts were able to shut the door and take the opener, 25-22.
Confident they could hang with another one of the nation's top Division III teams, and powered by a strong contingent of fans from St. Paul that may have out-numbered the home faithful, UNW took an early 7-3 lead in the second set, aided by three Egge kills and aces from
Alana Costello (Mead, Colo./Mead) and
Addeson Jenniges (Walnut Grove, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove). After Eau Claire was able to trim its deficit to a point, the Eagles punched back with a 7-1 surge, highlighted by three more Olsen kills, to seize control back and make it 20-13. Another pair of Egge kills initiated set point, but the Blugolds wouldn't go down easy, scoring five of six to make it 24-22. One more hammer from the junior from Rapid City, who is second in Division III in kills per set, ended the set at 25-22 and evened the match.
Despite the momentum swinging the way of the visitors, UWEC came out firing in the third set, racing out to a 13-5 advantage. Two
Elese Paplow (Lakefield, Minn./Jackson County Central) aces ignited a 5-0 Northwestern run to make the margin three, and a 4-0 run shortly thereafter tied the score at 15. UW-Eau Claire was able to settle back in and find its rhythm, overcoming four Jaeb kills in the set to go on an 8-2 run and close out the set, 25-21.
The theme of the fourth set was runs, and unfortunately for the Eagles, their opponents were able to find more of them. The Blugolds jumped out to a 7-2 lead before UNW answered back with three straight. The next six points went the way of Eau Claire, resulting in a 13-5 margin that Northwestern was never able to chip very far into. The Eagles pulled within three at 18-15 after a 5-1 run and three blocks in short order from Wyatt and Jaeb, but even five Egge kills in the set were not enough to overcome the deficit, and UWEC pulled away for a 25-19 win to take the match in four sets.
Egge stuffed the stat sheet once again with a match-high 18 kills and an ace, while Olsen tied a season-high with nine kills. Jaeb followed suit with eight kills and five blocks, and Wyatt gave the Blugolds fits all night with seven kills and nine blocks (three solo), including the 250th of her career. Jenniges logged a double-double with 18 assists and a career-high 16 digs, in addition to her ace. Costello led the team with 18 digs and added an ace, while
Grace Moravchik (Mason, Wis./Ashland) finished with 12 and one, respectively. Paplow led the team with three aces, and
Libby Weckman (Shakopee, Minn./Southwest Christian) dished out 16 assists.
Northwestern will return home Saturday for a pair of conference matches, bookending the day. The Eagles will host Minnesota Morris at 10:30 AM for Camper Appreciation Day, and welcome Crown at 5:00 PM.
