Box Score The UW-Whitewater women's volleyball team fell to UW-Eau Claire 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 13-25, 32-30) in a semifinal of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament hosted by UW-Stevens Point Friday evening. The Warhawks entered the tournament as the number two seed and received a first round bye. UW-EC earned the third seed and defeated UW-Stout 3-1 in the opening round. UW-W will face the loser of the other semifinal match between number one seed UW-Stevens Point and the fifth seed UW-Oshkosh Saturday at 12:00.

The Warhawks used two 4-0 runs in the first set to take an 11-4 lead but Eau Claire chipped away, eventually tying the set at 18-18. The teams traded points until the Blugolds put three in a row together to take a 22-20 lead, their first lead of the set. Once again the teams traded points and that was all EC would need for the 25-23 first set win.

Similar to the first set, Whitewater captured an early lead in set two, 6-2. UW-EC answered with a 9-2 run to take the lead 11-8 and force a Warhawk timeout. The Blugolds extended their lead to 20-15 to force UW-W's second timeout. The Warhawks rallied out of the break in play with three straight points but EC quickly stopped the momentum swing, notching the next five points to take set two 25-18.

A whole new Warhawk squad seemed to take the floor in set three. UW-W posted numerous multi-point runs in the set, taking a 20-9 advantage at one point during the set. Leanna Lillge (Ixonia/Watertown) pounded down seven kills in the set with Brittney Langley (Winnebago, IL/Winnebago) and Ariel Johnston (Rockford, IL/Guilford) combining for seven more, leading to a 25-13 third set win.

A 7-0 Blugold run gave UW-EC an 11-5 lead in set four. The two teams traded small runs but EC was able to maintain the five point advantage. With the score 16-11 in favor of the Blugolds, Whitewater swung the momentum in their favor with an 11-3 spurt to take a 21-19 lead. EC scored back-to-back points out of their timeout to tie up the set 21-21. A battle ensued with each trading points and opportunities. UW-W kept the match alive through three UW-EC set and match points, but could not capitalize on their own three set point chances. With the score 30-29 in favor of Whitewater, Eau Claire scored three straight points, ending the set with a 32-30 win.

Lillge matched her season high kill output with 22 to lead all players in the match. Caroline Langer (Menomonee Falls/Milwaukee Pius XI) and Kristen Ruchti (Brodhead/Brodhead) added double digit kills with 14 and 10 respectively. Ruchti made her presence felt on both sides of the net, sharing match high honors with two solo and three assist blocks. Kelsey Nobilio (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg) posted a match high 32 digs and was joined in double figures by Lillge with 19. Kim Frei (West Bend/West Bend West) dished out 52 assists in the contest.

The Warhawks, 24-11 overall, will compete in the third place match Saturday at 12:00.