Falcons Fall Short Versus Carthage

The CUW women's volleyball team hosted the Firebirds of Carthage College on Wednesday night in their 2023 home opener. The match saw the Firebirds pull away the victory in five sets, 25-21, 24-26, 25-16, 19-25 and 15-10, as their record improved to 2-2, while CUW fell to 1-3 on the season.

The first set went the way of the Firebirds, 25-21. In the first set, the Falcons were able to tie the set at seven a piece after a kill from senior Maycee Karpfinger (Wauwatosa, Wis.). But The Firebirds would respond with a 7-3 run, taking the 14-10 lead. The Falcons were unable to mount the comeback as Carthage maintained their lead and grabbed the first set.

The Falcons avenged their first set loss, and bounced back, taking the second set 26-24 to tie the match at one set a piece. In the second set, the Falcons found themselves down 14-18. CUW then went on a 5-1 run, which included a block from sophomore Noelle Smith (Davenport, Iowa) and junior Lauren Shroba (Bolingbrook, Ill.) as well as a kill courtesy of Shroba.

With the game tied at 19 a piece in the second set, Carthage would regather and eventually take the 24-23 lead. With their backs against the wall, the Falcons scored two-straight points to take the 25-24 lead. Sophomore Paige Stickney (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) would give the Falcons the second set victory, 26-24, with her service ace.

After falling in the second set, Carthage posted a strong response in the third set, taking it 25-16, as they jumped to a quick lead and did not look back.

CUW regrouped at the break and took the 25-18 win in the fourth set, to trigger the pivotal fifth set. In that fourth set, Lauren Shroba recorded six kills.

The early half of the fifth set saw the Falcons and Firebirds tied at seven a piece. Carthage then went on a 3-0 run to regain the lead, 10-7. The Firebirds would hold on to that lead and take the decisive fifth set 15-10.

In the loss, Lauren Shroba recorded a team-high 19 kills. Maycee Karpfinger also had double-digit kills with 15. 

Meanwhile, sophomore Abby Proefrock (Grafton, Wis.) recorded a team-high 19 digs, while fellow sophomore Mickenzi Benter (De Pere, Wis) led the team with 25 assists. Right behind Benter, was sophomore Izzy Sternig (West Bend, Wis.) who recorded 24 assists.

Concordia University Wisconsin will resume action on Friday, Sept. 8th, when they take on No. 15 UW-Stevens Point at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational.