DECATUR, Ill. – Carroll University women's volleyball wrapped up a busy three-match weekend Saturday afternoon, dropping a pair of non-conference contests against Nebraska Wesleyan and DePauw University inside the Griswold P.E. Center. The Pioneers fell to Nebraska Wesleyan in four sets before suffering a straight-set loss to DePauw.
Nebraska Wesleyan 3, Carroll 1
The Pioneers opened Saturday against Nebraska Wesleyan in a competitive first set. After trailing 16-12, Carroll fought back with a four-point run to tie the score at 18. Lexi Proctor delivered a kill to even the frame again at 19, but Nebraska Wesleyan answered with four consecutive points to take control as the Prairie Wolves secured the opening set 25-21.
Nebraska Wesleyan carried its momentum into the second set, building an early advantage and eventually extending its lead to 20-12. The Prairie Wolves eventually closed out the frame 25-15 to take a 2-0 match lead.
Facing a potential sweep, the Pioneers responded with a strong comeback in the third set. Trailing 18-12, Carroll began chipping away at the deficit, eventually pulling even at 19 following a kill from Audrey Rosenbaum. The teams traded points before Carroll took its first lead of the set at 22-21. Proctor delivered two kills down the stretch, while Rosenbaum capped off the comeback with a service ace to give Carroll a 25-22 victory and extend the match.
Nebraska Wesleyan responded in the fourth set, building a commanding 20-10 advantage before closing out the frame 25-14 to secure the four-set victory.
Proctor led the Pioneer offense with 11 kills on an impressive .526 hitting percentage, committing just one attack error on 19 attempts. She also contributed eight assists and four digs. Rosenbaum followed with eight kills, three digs and three block assists, while Carly Hicklin added five kills and five digs. Ashley Miller led Carroll with 13 assists, while Samantha Miserendino recorded a team-high 11 digs. Miley Manternach contributed two solo blocks and two block assists.
DePauw 3, Carroll 0
Carroll returned to the court later Saturday afternoon to face a DePauw squad that entered the contest with a 13-4 record.
The Tigers came out strong in the opening set, jumping ahead 9-0 before Carroll was able to get on the scoreboard. The Pioneers attempted to work their way back into the frame, with Rosenbaum and Proctor helping generate offense. Carroll cut the deficit to 23-16 late in the set, but DePauw held on for a 25-17 victory.
DePauw continued to apply pressure in the second set, using an efficient offensive attack to maintain control. The Tigers recorded 13 kills while hitting .357 in the frame, securing a 25-11 victory and taking a 2-0 match lead.
The Pioneers turned in their strongest offensive performance of the match in the third set, recording 15 kills on a .393 hitting percentage. Carroll remained within striking distance throughout much of the frame, trailing just 19-18 before DePauw rattled off four consecutive points to extend its lead to 23-18. The Pioneers continued battling, pulling within three at 24-21, but the Tigers secured the final point to complete the sweep, 25-21.
Rosenbaum led Carroll with 10 kills on a .273 hitting percentage while adding two block assists. Kylie Wittnebel followed with nine kills, hitting an impressive .467, while Proctor contributed eight kills, 13 assists and a service ace. Miller added eight assists and five digs, while Lauryn Weber recorded a team-high six digs and four assists. Manternach anchored the Pioneer defense at the net with two solo blocks and two block assists.
The Pioneers return home on Tuesday, October 13, when they host Concordia University Wisconsin in a non-conference matchup inside Van Male Field House. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
