WAUKESHA, Wis. - It can often be a gradual process for a young team to work through the growing pains, find a good rhythm and begin to play up to its potential.
The Carroll University women's volleyball team continued that learning experience as it lost to high-powered Augustana College 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin dual meet at Van Male Field House on Tuesday.
It was the third consecutive dual loss for the Pioneers, who dropped to 0-2 in conference duals and 5-11 overall.
Augustana improved to 1-1 in conference and 13-4 overall.
Throughout the course of the evening, Carroll attempted to show glimpses of its talent, depth and ability but struggled to maintain its focus on several, key momentum-changing points - ultimately falling victim to costly errors in all three games.
Trailing 12-8 in the critical opening set, the Pioneers responded with a 6-1 run fueled on three straight service points by freshman setter Emma Przeslicke (Evergreen Park, Ill.), a powerful cross-court spike from the left side by junior outside hitter Dana Voltolina (St. Charles, Ill.) and two blocks by freshman middle blocker Erika Dunnam (Shawano, Wis.).
Augustana answered with five consecutive points to regain an 18-14 lead and followed with a decisive 7-6 run - including two kills by 6-foot-1 middle hitter Jacqueline Kibir-Evans.
Carroll trimmed the deficit to 21-19 on a kill from sophomore defensive specialist Rachel Harn (Freeport, Ill.) but couldn't get any closer.
In the pivotal second set, Augustana jumped out to a 12-5 lead, ignited on three kills and two service points by senior outside hitter Amy Kalkhoff.
Carroll answered with four straight points to trim the deficit 12-9 as the result of three service points and a kill by sophomore middle blocker Karley Wolf  (Roselle, Ill.)
The Pioneers continued to chip away at the deficit, trimming the lead to 16-15 on a spike by sophomore outside hitter Josie Wierzal (Frankfort, Ill.) but surrendered a frustrating, game-ending 9-4 run.
Carroll cut the deficit to 21-18 in the decisive third set on a kill by freshman outside hitter Kylie Mueller (Fox Lake, Ill.) but yielded four straight points to end the match.
Wolf had seven kills, Voltolina followed with six kills and freshman outside hitter Cassidy Mrotek (Manitowoc, Wis.) had five kills for Carroll, which has lost two of its last three home-court duals. Dunnam had five blocks, sophomore outside hitter Amanda Hahn (Itasca, Ill.) contributed 13 digs and Przeslicke added 15 assists.
Carroll head coach Becca Saal was somewhat puzzled by the final result but emphasized that patience will be a key as her team continues to learn.
"Being a young team, we're still trying to establish an identity, find out who we are and what kind of volleyball we would like to play," said Saal, in her seventh season at the helm. "We have all of the tools needed to be successful (referring to good passing, attacking and blocking) so its just a matter of putting it all together."
Saal's squad has tasted success this season, highlighted by an impressive 4-0 record at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Pizza Hut Classic earlier this month.
"Coming off of tonight's effort, our main goal is to go back into the practice situation, work hard and attempt to compete with the same intensity as a match," said Saal, who has only one senior on the roster. "With the talent of the teams in the CCIW, we want to be competitive each step of the way. Now we just need to learn from each experience and move forward."
Kalkhoff and Kibir-Evans each had nine kills for Augustana.