Waukesha, Wis. – The Carroll University women's volleyball team was narrowly beaten in each set by the Wheaton Thunder, falling 0-3 (23-25, 23-25, 24-26). Katie Jensen recorded a season-best 10 kills to match Sam Penzkowski's 10. Kelly Reynolds had a career-high 21 assists, while Emily Konop led with 11 digs.
 
The Pioneers (0-3, 0-3 CCIW) recorded two more kills on the night against the Thunder, but also suffered one more attack error. Carroll's final hitting percentage came out to .190, including a .255 second set with 16 kills. The Pioneers collected six blocks, including two from Jensen and two from Michelle Maraist.
 
In a tightly contested first set, there were seven lead changes, while the score was tied 17 times. Penzkowksi led the way with six of her ten kills coming in the first set. Wheaton led 7-10 forcing Becca Saal to call a time out. The Pios went on a 9-4 run to retake the lead 16-14. Wheaton tied the match back at 19 all and pulled away to win the first set.
 
The Pioneers led by as much as nine, with Emily Schliesman recording five straight serves and kills from Ashley Konecki. Pioneer errors let Wheaton back into the set, forcing a time out when the Thunder cut the lead to three. Attack errors gave Wheaton the 21-20 lead and held a match point at 24-22. Maraist recorded a kill to bring it to one, but a bad set gave the Thunder a 2-0 lead.
 
In a close final set, the Pioneers were up thanks to a kill from Sophia Camacho, but Wheaton went on a 5-0 run to take a 15-19 lead. An attack error from Wheaton tied the set at 19 all, after a service ace from Caitlin Laird. The Pioneers tied up the match 24-24 after being down three, but two final attack errors gave Wheaton the lead.
 
The Pioneers will stay home and host Augustana on Thursday at 4 PM in Van Male Field House. The Pios last win against the Vikings came in Van Male in 2018.