DUBUQUE, Iowa - Carroll University women's volleyball continued its recent momentum Saturday afternoon, earning a straight-set victory over Loras College.
The opening set featured a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to create much separation early. Loras eventually built a 16-15 advantage before Carroll took control with six straight points. Samantha Miserendino sparked the run from the service line with two aces. The Duhawks battled back within three at 24-21, but Clara Justice put away the final kill to secure a 25-21 opening-set victory.
Loras jumped out to an 10-6 lead in the second set before Carroll responded with five consecutive points to take an 11-10 advantage. The Pioneers began to create separation later in the frame, using another five-point run to extend a 18-15 lead into a commanding 23-15 advantage. Miley Manternach eventually finished off the set with a kill, giving Carroll a 25-17 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
Carroll carried that momentum into the third set. With the Pioneers leading 5-4, Ashley Miller, for the second straight match, helped spark a four-point run from the service line, recording two aces during the stretch to give Carroll a 9-4 advantage. Later leading 12-8, the Pioneers added four consecutive points to extend their lead to 16-8. Loras made a late push to cut the deficit to 18-14, but Carroll answered and closed out the match with a 25-17 victory.
The Pioneers turned in an efficient offensive performance, finishing with 42 kills on a .257 hitting percentage while adding nine service aces, 50 digs and eight total blocks. Carroll saved its best offensive set for last, recording 17 kills and hitting .325 in the third.
Carly Hicklin led a balanced Pioneer attack with 10 kills while adding six digs, two aces and three block assists. Clara Justice added eight kills on a .333 hitting percentage, while Audrey Rosenbaum and Lexi Proctor each recorded seven kills. Proctor also contributed a team-high 17 assists and 11 digs, while Miller added 13 assists, six digs and two aces. Kylie Wittnebel finished with six kills and was a force at the net, recording one solo block and six block assists.
The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday, October 7, when they travel to Platteville to take on UW-Platteville at 7 p.m.
