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UW-Eau Claire Box Score

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The 25th-ranked St. Scholastica volleyball team swept Bethel University, but then fell to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in four sets on Tuesday night at the McPhee Physical Education Center.

The new American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll came out Tuesday afternoon and listed the Saints 25th in Division III. It is the first time the Saints have been ranked in the poll in program history.

The Saints opened the night with a three-set sweep of Bethel University by scores of 25-20, 25-21, 25-19. The Royals fell to the Blugolds in the first match of the evening also by three sets.

Anna Zyvoloski (Sauk Rapids, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS (Minn.-Duluth)) led the Saints once again with her fifth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 15 digs. Taylor Tyllia (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) and Paige Hardy (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS) each added eight kills. Sarah Kurtovich (Andover, Minn./Andover HS) had 21 assists, while Erika Birkeland (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) recorded 19 assists.

This was the first meeting between CSS and Bethel since the 1996 season. The Royals are now 3-3 on the young season.

In the nightcap, the host, UW-Eau Claire defeated the Saints in four sets 25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 25-15. The Blugolds were preseason ranked 20th in the country, but dropped out in today's poll after going 1-3 over the weekend. UWEC has made the NCAA Regional Tournament the past six seasons.

Hardy and Zyvoloski each had nine kills in the loss. Kayla Horbacz (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS) chipped in with seven kills. Nikki Hughes (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern HS) had a team-high 23 digs and Birkeland led the team with 18 assists. Kurtovich had a double-double with 11 assists and 10 digs.

The Saints had their lowest hitting percentage (.134) of the season. With the two victories tonight, the Blugolds improve to 3-3 overall.

The Saints (6-2) will take part in the 30th annual Augsburg College Invitational this weekend. The Saints will open with the College of Saint Benedict on Friday at 2 p.m. and then will face UW-Eau Claire once again at 6 p.m.