STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Looking to close out the weekend on a high note, the No. 10 Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team took on No. 5 Wis.-Eau Claire at the Papa John's Invite hosted by UW Stevens Point. Despite dropping the second set, the Bears took both the third and fourth to head home with a 3-1 win over the Blugolds.

The win improves the Bears to 14-3 on the season.

WashU jumped out to an early lead in the first set, 7-2, before a 6-0 run by UWEC gave the Blugolds the lead. The teams then traded points with UWEC slowly pulling away to 22-18. Not wanting to give up the first set, WashU went on a 7-1 run, including four kills by senior Anna Freeman, to retake the lead and close out the first set 25-23.

The Blugolds showed why they are the fifth-ranked team this week in the second set by jumping out early before pulling away late to level the match at 1-1 with a 25-16 set two win.

WashU thoroughly controlled the action of the third set from start to finish, taking the first three points of the set on a block by first-year Nia Jones and Freeman along with kills by Freeman and senior Eva Boling. The Bears led by as many as seven (11-4, 13-6) before the Blugolds pulled within one at 18-17. It was the closest they would get before WashU took advantage of their second set point with a kill by Freeman, 25-22.

The fourth set was a reversal of the third as UWEC took control early and maintained a lead until WashU tied it at 17-17. This time it was a 7-2 run by the Bears that gave them their first set point, capped by a service ace by sophomore Ela Bartu. Two points later, a block by junior Naya Ohuabunwa and Jones completed the comeback 25-20 and gave WashU the 3-1 win.

For the third match in a row this weekend, junior Leah Oyewole led the Bears in kills with 19. Freeman also reached double-digits with 12 kills. Senior Sam Buckley guided the offense with 27 assists while junior Ellie Laird guided the defense with 26 digs.

Jones was a force at the net as she finished with seven total blocks while Ohuabunwa was next on the team with six total blocks.

For their efforts both Oyewole and Buckley were named to the All-Tournament team.

WashU won't have far to travel for its next match as they face off against cross-town opponent Webster on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The Gorloks host the Bears in Webster Groves with a 7 p.m. first serve.

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