Blugolds take Yellowjackets in four

Kitty Tynen picks up the kill.

Box Score

Eau Claire 3, Yellowjackets 1

After a hot start to the season, the Yellowjacket volleyball team has been cooled off a little bit by a pair of WIAC opponents. For the second time in three days, the Yellowjackets played a great first set, but ultimately couldn't build on their solid play and dropped the match, this time on the road at UW-Eau Claire in four sets.

The first set saw the teams go back and forth, neither able to pull away and build a lead. They traded points all the way to 25 and pressed on, eventually reaching a 30-30 deadlock. Eau Claire closed out the set, winning the final two points to take the 32-30 victory in the longest set the Yellowjackets have been in so far this season.

In the second set the Yellowjackets were able to bounce back and even the match. Like the first set, the second was tight with Eau Claire building a slim lead. This time, however, the Yellowjackets fought all the way back and were able to close things out with a 25-22 win.

That was as close as the Yellowjackets would get as Eau Claire, like River Falls on Wednesday, forced the them into some deep holes in the third and fourth sets that they couldn't get out of. The third set was particularly rough, as the Yellowjackets ended the frame with a negative attack percentage (-.074). Eau Claire opened up a huge lead and cruised to a 25-12 win.

The fourth set, although an improvement, was more of the same and the Blugolds were able to close out the set, and the match, defeating the Yellowjackets 25-19.

Eau Claire held an advantage in most statistical categories, especially around the net where they had 62 kills and 12 blocks, compared to 47 and four for the Yellowjackets.

Seniors Kitty Tynen (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) and Jessica Zimmerman (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) paced the Yellowjacket attack, finishing with 14 kills each. Keely Deadrick (Esko, Minn./Esko) had 44 of the 49 assists in the match for the Yellowjackets. Jessica Dvergsten (Greenbush, Minn./Greenbush-Middle River) had two service aces.

On defense Lauren Peterson (Deer River, Minn./Deer River) had a team-high 24 digs, while Tynen and Deadrick added 19 and 10, respectively. Brooke Vonasek (East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks) had half of the blocks in the match for the Yellowjackets.

The Yellowjackets (10-4, 0-2 WIAC) will remain on the road and play at UW-Oshkosh on Saturday. Game time with the Titans is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

Print Friendly Version