CUW Tricks WLC; Treats Fans to a Perfect October

MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin women's volleyball team completed a perfect month of October on Thursday night with a 25-21, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23 victory. The Falcons' 3-1 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran sends CUW to 9-0 in October and 15-9 on the season. The Blue and White stay in first place in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference at 10-1 with Edgewood and St. Norbert.

A pair of kills from junior Paige Stickney (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) gave the Falcons an early 4-1 lead on Thursday night. With the set tied at 16, a service error gave the Falcons the lead at 17-16 and they never gave it back. The Warriors sent the ball into the net and gave the Falcons the first set at 25-21.

The second set started with neither team able to build a large lead. Leading, 14-13, the Falcons won the next four points behind the serve of junior Abby Proefrock (Grafton, Wis.) to earn some separation. CUW claimed the set at 25-18 off another WLC attack error.

The Falcons pushed the lead up to 15-11 behind the serve of senior Emma Essex (Hoffman Estates, Ill.). The Warriors flipped the script with a 14-4 run to close the set.

The Green and White grew the lead to three points to seven times, including 18-15 late in the set. The Falcons reclaimed the lead at 20-19. The Warrior fought back and reclaimed the lead at 23-22. A service error tied the set at 23 and a service ace from Emma Essex gave the Falcons the lead and a kill from junior Mickenzi Benter (De Pere, Wis.) iced the match at 25-23.

Seven Falcons secured a kill against the Warriors on Thursday night. Sophomore Skylar Kumprey (New Berlin, Wis.) led the flock with 13 kills. Paige Stickney scorched the Warriors with 11 kills and a 0.474 hitting percentage and Mickenzi Benter bashed 11 kills and a 0.320 hitting percentage.

Freshman McKenna Oetzman (Reedsburg, Wis.) dished out a double-double performance of 20 assists and 10 digs while leading the match with two service aces.

The dynamic duo of Abby Proefrock and Emma Essex led the match with 15 digs each. Junior Noelle Smith (Davenport, Iowa) had two blocks for the birds.

The last time the Falcons completed October undefeated was 2022.

Concordia Wisconsin finished the home portion of the regular season at 9-1.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday at Aurora.