La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse volleyball team earned a 3-1 (25-18, 18-25, 25-17, 25-23) victory over UW-Eau Claire Wednesday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles, receiving votes on this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Poll, improve to 15-6 overall and 4-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Blugolds fall to 11-8 overall and 3-1 in the conference. 

UWL trailed early in the first set 7-6, but went on an 8-1 run to take a 14-8 lead on a service ace from Marisa Johnson.  UW-Eau Claire got as close as four points at 15-11, but the Eagles closed out the set 25-18.
 
The Blugolds used an 8-1 run midway through the second set to take control at 21-12.  UWL scored four straight points to get within five at 21-16 after a block by Jessica Jablonski and Laine Hoeffel forced an error on the Blugolds' Jessica Coyne.  But the Eagles got no closer, falling 25-18. 
 
The teams traded leads in the third set, and neither squad led by more than two points until a 4-0 run featuring four straight kills from Stephanie Henk, Hoeffel, Henk again, and Jablonski gave UWL a 19-14 lead.  UW-Eau Claire scored a pair to cut the lead to three at 19-16, but another 4-0 run featuring a kill from Johnson and two service aces from Henk put the Eagles ahead 23-16, and they closed out the set 25-17. 
 
In the fourth, the Blugolds took an early 6-1 lead.  A kill from Henk stopped the early run, but UW-Eau Claire led by as many as six points at 9-3.  UWL fought back to within one point on several occasions, and finally tied the set at 20-20 on a kill from Hoeffel.  With the score tied at 21-21, the Eagles went on a 3-0 run to lead 24-21 on a kill from Johnson.  The Blugolds won the next two points to cut the lead to 24-23, but a kill from Kathryn Maas on match point sealed the victory for the Eagles 25-23.
 
Johnson led UWL with 15 kills while Hoeffel added 11, Henk eight, and Jablonski seven.  Madison Entinger recorded 42 assists as the Eagles hit .176 (48-22-148) for the match. UWL hit .316 (17-5-38) in the final set. 
 
Halle Barnabo led UWL with 22 digs. Johnson added 13, and Paige Schmidt and Entinger recorded 11 each.  The Eagles recorded 8 blocks. 

Madelyn Pashibin led UW-Eau Claire with 19 kills while Madison Surprise recorded 41 assists.  The Blugolds hit .113 (48-30-160) for the match.  Talia Jaskulske finished with 25 digs. 

UWL returns to action Saturday, October 14 at UW-Platteville at noon.