Eau Claire, Wis. -- The No. 1 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team suffered its first loss of 2025 in a five setter at No. 14 UW-Eau Claire. The Blugolds took the first two sets 27-25, 25-15 before the Warhawks evened the match with wins of 25-23 and 25-20. The decisive fifth went to UWEC 15-11. 

After a back-and-forth battle early in the opening set, UW-Whitewater scored five consecutive to take a 14-9 advantage. The Warhawks held that five-point lead at 20-15 when UWEC mounted a comeback. The Blugolds knotted the set 21-21 and the teams traded points. UWW had two set points but the Blugolds were able to steal the opener with three straight for the 27-25 final. 

The momentum from set one carried Eau Claire through set two, but the Warhawks didn't fold. 

UWW fought hard, despite trailing early in set three, to extend the match and their grit was rewarded. Aubrie Krzus (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South) and Amanda Hillmann (Cedarburg, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) put the finishing touches on the set with back-to-back kills for the 25-23 win. 

The Warhawks held the lead the majority of the fourth. UW-Whitewater tallied the final four points of the set to secure the 25-20 victory and force the decisive fifth set. 

The Blugolds jumped out to 5-0 lead and had an 8-3 advantage at the side swap. UWEC scored the next three to push the gap to 11-3 when the Warhawks began to whittle away at the margin. Krzus provided a spark with another kill as UWW scored 8 of the next 10 to pull within two, 13-11. The home squad was able to tally the final two points to take the match. 

Abbie Dix (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead) led a contingent of four Warhawks to register double figures in the kill column with 12. Krzus added 11 while Hillmann and Gaby DiMotto (New Berlin, Wis./West) each posted 10. Krzus added 35 assists, 15 digs and 5 blocks in the contest. 

Middles Dix and Hillmann combined for 10 blocks (5 each) with right side Emily Lego (Rock Falls, Ill./Rock Falls) registering four on the night. Natalie Lawton (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Catholic Prep) had 14 digs in the backcourt. 

DiMotto had a great night at the service line with a match-high five aces. 

UW-Whitewater will continue north to Northfield, Minnesota for a pair of games Saturday. The Warhawks will take on Gustavus Adolphus and Saint Olaf at 2 and 4 p.m. respectively.