OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire volleyball team closed out the Oshkosh Invitational with a pair of 3-1 losses to UW-Oshkosh and Elmhurst College (Ill.). The Blugolds finished the invite 2-2 and are now 6-8 on the season.

The Blugolds kept it close in the match against Oshkosh as each set was decided by no more than three points. The Titans bested the Blugolds 26-24 in the first set. Though Eau Claire narrowly won the second 25-22, Oshkosh finished the match with 25-21, 29-27 set wins.

In the second match, Elmhurst quickly backed the Blugolds into a corner, winning the first two sets 25-14, 25-21. Eau Claire secured a 25-14 win in the third, but succumbed to Elmhurst 25-15 in the final set.

Lauren Sutherland (So.-Dayton, Minn./Meadow Creek Christian) racked up 54 digs in the two matches, 24 against Oshkosh and a career-high 30 on Elmhurst.

Emily Neave (Jr.-Salem, Wis./Westosha Central) led in set assists with 55 in the Oshkosh match and 37 against Elmhurst.

In kills, Liz Amici (Sr.-Whitewater, Wis.) tallied a Blugold-high 14 against the Titans while Anne Satterlee (Jr.-Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) recorded 12 in each of the matches. Overall, five Blugolds broke double digit kills and four made over 10 kills against Oshkosh.

The Blugolds open Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play this Wednesday, Sept. 21 with a match against UW-Stout. The match is set for 7 p.m. in Menomonie.

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