The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team traveled to UW-Eau Claire Friday night for a conference showdown to decide the regular season Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship.
 
The No. 18 Warhawks (22-6, 6-1 WIAC) dropped the match to the No. 13 Blugolds (27-2, 7-0) 25-20, 15-25, 17-25, 20-25. UW-Whitewater will be they second seed in next week's WIAC Tournament and host a semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
In the first set, the teams exchanged a series of small early runs, but the Warhawks found themselves down 10-9 to the Blugolds.  A late 6-2 run gave the Warhawks an insurmountable edge in the set, claiming it 25-20.  A 7-1 Blugold run left the Warhawks in a 13-7 hole midway through the second and the Warhawks never recovered in dropping the set.
 
The Warhawks found themselves in similar trouble in the third, keeping pace with the Blugolds until they went on a late 9-2 run to claim the 25-17 set.  The Warhawks started the fourth set down 5-1 and could never overcome the early disadvantage to fall 25-20.
 
Freshmen setters KellyAnn Sotiros (New Berlin, Wis./West Allis Hale) and Paige Manssen (Bull Valley, Ill./McHenry West) had 27 and eight assists for the Warhawks, respectively.  Senior libero Brittany Robinson (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) contributed 22 digs.  Freshman outside hitter Erin McNeil (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) led all Warhawks with 12 kills and three blocks.

Senior Kelley Berk (Cedarburg, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels) added eight kills to bolster the UW-Whitewater offense.
 
The Warhawks return home to Kris Russell Arena for their regular season finale at 4 p.m. on Sunday.  They host Concordia (Wis.) and will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1988 Final Four volleyball squad that afternoon.