Falcons Fall to Coe

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The CUW women's volleyball team opened their regular season on Friday versus the Kohawks of Coe College at the Kathryne Pals Legacy Invitational. The Falcons fell short as Coe took the match in four sets with scores of 25-15, 25-22, 25-20 and 25-22. 

The first set saw Coe go on a run to close the set to take the 25-15 victory. 

After trailing in the early part of the second set, the Falcons clawed their way back from a six-point deficit to tie the game at 22 a piece after a kill from sophomore Mickenzi Benter (De Pere, Wis.) and a Coe College attacking error. Despite the comeback effort from the Falcons, the Kowahks would score three straight points to take the second set 25-22.  

The Blue and White leaped to an early 3-0 lead in the third set off of three straight aces from sophomore Izzy Sternig (West Bend, Wis.). Later in the set, with the game tied at seven, the Falcons went on a 9-1 run to take the 16-8 lead. Sophomores Mickenzi Benter and Stella Zarling (West Bend, Wis.) each recorded a pair of kills in that run. With the score favoring CUW 23-19, sophomores Noelle Smith (Davenport, Iowa) and Mickenzi Benter blocked an attack from Coe, giving CUW the 24-19 lead. Concordia took the third set 25-15 following a kill from Stella Zarling.

The Falcons jumped to a quick 4-0 lead to start the fourth set following an ace from junior Lauren Shroba (Bolingbrook, Ill.). The Kohawks would respond, taking the 18-12 lead. Concordia would shrink Coe's lead to 22-21 after going on a 9-4 run. The Falcons could not complete the comeback as Coe took the fourth set 25-22. 

Stella Zarling led the Falcons in kills with 13, while Mickenzi Benter recorded nine and Lauren Shroba totaled five.

Lauren Shroba led the Falcons with 20 digs, while sophomore Abby Proefrock (Grafton, Wis.) registered 17.

Izzy Sternig led the flock in assists with 29.

CUW will have an opportunity to bounce back on Saturday, Sept. 2, when they will take on Bethel at noon and No. 5 Northwestern (Minn) at 2 p.m.