Women's Volleyball Quiets Cougars

MEQUON, Wis. - The CUW women's volleyball completed their lone homestand of the year with a four-set victory, 25-10, 23-25, 14-25, and 25-20, over the Cougars of Concordia Chicago to improve to 12-9 overall and 7-1 in conference play.

CUW dominated the first frame as the Falcons jumped the Cougars and took an early 12-2 lead capped by a kill from senior Maycee Karpfinger (Wauwatosa, Wis.) off a pass from sophomore Mickenzi Benter. Later in the set, with the score favoring CUW 7-15, the Falcons went on a 10-3 run to snag the first set, 25-10.

The second set saw the Falcons take a quick but slight 13-10 lead, followed by sophomores Stella Zarling (West Bend, Wis.) and Mickenzi Benter. Determined to steal a conference road win, the Cougars responded and went on an 8-4 run to take the 21-17 lead. Despite their best efforts, CUW's comeback fell flat, and the Cougars snuck away with the second set 25-23.

But the Blue and White would retake control in the third set. Four-straight kills by the Falcons gave CUW the 11-6 advantage over CUC, as sophomores Noelle Smith (Davenport, Iowa) and Paige Stickney (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) and Stella Zarling each recorded a kill. Seven straight Cougar errors would stretch CUW's lead to 18-7. Mickenzi Benter then had two kills to help the Falcons reach the 20-point mark. The Falcons would reach the 25-point mark following a CUC service error to take the 2-1 lead.

The fourth set saw the Falcons take a sizeable 17-10 lead. But the Cougars would claw back and cut Concordia Wisconsin's lead down to two. With the score favoring CUW 18-16, sophomores Jaydin Vosters (Neenah, Wis.) and Noelle Smith and a Cougar error gave CUW the 21-16 lead. Another CUC error pushed CUW's score to 22. Maycee Karpfinger then recorded two straight kills to bring up the match point for the Falcons. The Falcons' day was capped off by a dig from freshman Kate Wilson (Lake in the Hills, Ill.), whose pass reached Mickenzi Benter. Benter then left it for Maycee Karpfinger, whose swing earned the Falcons the 25th point and secured the fourth set, giving them the 3-1 victory.

In the win, Maycee Karpfinger recorded a game-high 18 kills and a .351 attacking percentage, while Mickenzi Benter totaled 43 assists. Stella Zarling also contributed 16.5 points, which included 14 kills.

Defensively, the Falcons had four players record double-digit digs as Abby Proefrock recorded 22, sophomore Brianna Lund (Rosendale, Wis.) and junior Emma Essex (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) both had 11, while Mickenzi Benter had 10.
The Falcons will now hit the road to face the Warhawks of UW-Whitewater for their last nonconference game on Tuesday, Oct. 17th.