Falcons Sweep Triangular Tournament

MEQUON, Wis. – The CUW women's volleyball team reached the 20-win plateau with a pair of 3-0 victories over Illinois Tech and Wisconsin-La Crosse. The Falcons also clinched a spot in the NACC Tournament with the victory over the Scarlet Hawks.

The Falcons started the day with a NACC contest against Illinois Tech.

Both teams started the match with a blistering start and hit over .300 with Illinois Tech at .318 and Concordia Wisconsin at .520. Both teams traded blows to begin the set, with neither team able to gain separation until the 16-15 mark, where CUW went on a 6-2 run. A kill from freshman Lauren Shroba (Bolingbrook, Ill.) put the set away at 25-18.

The Scarlet Hawks controlled a majority of the momentum in the second set. Illinois Tech pushed the lead to 23-19 before the Falcons came storming back behind the serve of senior Annie Marie Olszowka (Bolingbrook, Ill.) and senior Madelyn Alton (Farwell, Minn.) to take the set at 26-24 with a service ace from Alton.

The Falcons rode the energy from the end of the second set into the third and jumped on the Scarlet Hawks with an 8-3 lead and never looked back. The Falcons ballooned the lead to 13 points and took the set at 25-13 with a kill from Lauren Shroba.

Lauren Shroba led the match with 11 kills. Senior Makenzie Vertz (Mukwonago, Wis.) finished with a match-high 18 assists, while junior Sierra Lee (Kenosha, Wis.) was at 15 assists.

The Falcons landed nine service aces in the victory, led by junior Jenna Chaussee (Chilton, Wis.) at three. Madelyn Alton had nine of the Falcons' 29 digs.

The Falcons soared in the first set to an early lead. The serve of Annie Marie Olszowska gave the Eagles issues and pushed the lead to 9-2. The Blue and White pushed the lead up to 20-8 with a kill from Sophia Collins. A kill from Jenna Chaussee gave the Falcons the set at 25-15. Jenna Chaussee and sophomore Maycee Karpfinger (Wauwatosa, Wis.) both reached three kills in the set.

The Blue and White broke open the second set open at the 7-7 mark. Once again, the Falcons added to the lead with the serve of Olszowka to push the lead to 11-7. CUW closed the set with a 4-1 run to win the set at 25-17.

CUW once again took an early lead in the third set at 10-5 with a kill from Lauren Shroba. The Eagles did not fold and tied the set at 15. The Falcons pushed the Eagles to the edge at 24-20, but the Maroon and White won the next four points to tie the set. Senior McKenna Nigl (Richland Center, Wis.) smashed the next to kills to secure the set at 26-24.

The Falcons fielded a balanced attack and had six players finish with three or more kills. Jenna Chaussee led the attack with eight kills, while Lauren Shroba, McKenna Nigl and Maycee Karpfinger finished with seven.

Makenzie Vertz fed the offense with 17 assists, while Sierra Lee added 13.

Jenna Chaussee had four of the eight CUW service aces.

Madelyn Alton led the match with 20 digs.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday at St. Norbert. CUW can clinch a bye in the NACC Tournament with a victory.