Decatur, Ill. – The Carroll University volleyball team struggled against the no. 5 team in the country in the Millikin Big Blue. The Pioneers fell 0-3 (11-25, 12-25, 14-25). Sam Penzkowski finished with a team-high six kills, Ashley Konecki and Emily Konop had seven digs apiece, and Kelly Reynolds collected six assists.
 
The Pioneers (0-2, 0-2 CCIW) finished the day with a negative hitting percentage, but did well with receptions and serving, garnering a 78.8% reception percentage and a 74.4% serve percentage. The team collected a team-best seven kills in the final set on 28 total attacks.
 
Penzkowski got the first kill of the game for the Pios, cutting the Big Blue lead to 8, a Kloe Longtin (6 DIGS) serve led to an attack error by Millikin to give the Pios a bit of momentum. Carroll soon went on a 4-1 run to cut the lead to 10-17, but Millikin scored to 25 first thanks to six kills in their run.
 
Pios capitalized twice on two Millikin mistakes to bring the score to 2-3. Shortly thereafter, Penzkowski earned another kill an assist from Reynolds. The Pios tied the match at six all with two aces from Emily Schliesman (4 AST, 3 DIGS, 2 ACES), but soon were stifled by a 6-1 Millikin run. Konop added another ace in the set to cut the lead to 12-19, but the Big Blue ended things on a 6-0 run.
 
Millikin started the final set 7-2 before a Sophia Camacho (1 KILL, 1 BA) kill from Schliesman cut the lead to four. Ashley Konecki (3 KILLS, 7 DIGS) added to the Pio points midway through the third and final set. The Pios cut an 11-point lead to 8, capitalizing on attack errors, but the Big Blue finished the game by getting to 25 three points later.
 
The Pioneers will host their first game of the season this Friday against the Wheaton Thunder at 7 PM. The Pios' last win against the Thunder came in Van Male Field House in 2018 in a 3-1 win.