Related Links:
2021 WIAC Volleyball Tournament Web Page
The No. 8 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team played in the championship match of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament (presented by Culver's) for the eighth consecutive season Saturday night, falling 25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 25-19 at No. 10 UW-Eau Claire.
The Warhawks (26-2 overall) will learn if they earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament this Monday during the NCAA Selection Show at 11:30 a.m. Central Time on
NCAA.com. UW-W was second in the latest NCAA Region VIII Rankings.
UW-Whitewater, the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, hit .269 for the match, including a .375 in the third set.
Jenna Weinfurt (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) posted a team-best 16 kills to go along with three digs and three blocks, while
Erin McNeil (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) totaled 14 kills and five digs.
Kirsten Anderson (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) registered nine kills on a .529 hitting percentage, and
Morgan Wardall (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) collected eight kills, four digs and two blocks.
Baylie Hansen (Bonduel, Wis./Shawano) contributed seven kills and two blocks.
KellyAnn Sotiros (New Berlin, Wis./West Allis Hale) finished with 29 assists and eight digs, while
Paige Manssen (Bull Valley, Ill./McHenry West) recorded 21 assists.
Morgan Jensen (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) led the defense with 14 digs, and
Emma Aske (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) generated nine digs to go with her three kills.
The two teams traded points in the opening set, playing out to a 21-21 tie before the Blugolds (29-3) scored the final four points to take a 1-0 match lead.
The Warhawks fell behind 7-2 in the second before tallying five straight points, including four on Manssen's serve, to tie it at 7-7. UW-Eau Claire took a 9-8 advantage and held it the rest of the way. UW-W got as close as 22-21, but the Blugolds closed the set by taking three of the last four points.
UW-Whitewater jumped out to a 16-8 lead in the third set and led 24-19 before UW-Eau Claire scored three straight points. On their fourth set point, the Warhawks cut the match deficit to 2-1 on a UW-EC attack error.
UW-W led 7-4 in the fourth before the Blugolds rallied to tie the set at 8-8. The two teams traded points until UW-Eau Claire took a 20-15 advantage with four straight points. UW-Whitewater was unable to get any closer than four the rest of the way.
