OSHKOSH, Wis. - Just over 12 hours after Friday night's match ended, Carroll (17-7, 1-2 CCIW) was back with a road triangular, dropping two matches to UW-Stout in a revenge match for the Blue Devils 3-1 and the #7-ranked team in Division III (AVCA/TARAFLEX) UW-Oshkosh in straight sets.
In the two matches combined, Carroll had 69 kills, led by freshman Carly Hicklin with 11, all of which came in match one vs. UW-Stout. Carroll also recorded eight aces and seven blocks.
MATCH 1 vs UW-STOUT (14-25, 23-25, 25-23, 20-25)
With revenge on their mind, the UW-Stout (9-6, 1-2 WIAC) came out swinging, going up 16-1 out the gate before closing the set out with ease. Carroll got their legs back under them in the second set, but the Blue Devils used a 5-1 run to come-from-behind and close out the second set. With no other option, Carroll delivered a punch back in the third set, using a 8-3 run late to seal the third set. The nail was put in the coffin in the fourth set, as the two teams stayed neck-and-neck before Stout pulled away late to take the victory from the Pios in the first match. Hicklin's 11 kills were a new high in her young career. Payton Depies recorded 23 assists and freshman Gianna Bathurst found empty space for two aces. Senior Grace Perret led Carroll with three blocks and freshman Smantha Miserendino tallied 23 digs to lead the team defensively.
MATCH 2 vs #7 UW-OSHKOSH(13-25, 14-25, 15-25)
The #7 team in the country played to their rank in the second match, proving too much for the Pioneers. UW-Oshkosh (16-4, 2-1 WIAC) beat Carroll in every major statistical category in the match, scoring 54 points to Carroll's 26. In the first set, the formidable Titans found themselves up 12-3 and 20-6 at different points before taking the first set. Carroll showed fight in set two, going up 11-10 before a 15-3 Oshkosh response closed set two. The Titans quietly built a lead throughout the third set, going on mini-runs for every Carroll point. Senior Peyton Frost and freshman Bronwyn Rowse led the Pios with seven kills apiece. Payton Depies added nine assists to her season total in the second match to pace Carroll, while Rebekah Andreae rounded out the offensive attack with two aces. Defensively, Taylor Raley tallied 14 digs and Frost added two blocks to lead the Pioneer defense.
Carroll continues the ranked-opponent-gauntlet of their season schedule with the Midwest Invitational, hosted by Calvin University. They will face previously-ranked Mount St. Joseph's on Friday evening at 7 p.m. (EST) before taking on #24 Calvin and Kenyon College on Saturday at 11 a.m. (EST) and 1:30 p.m. (EST), respectively.
