WHEATON, Ill. – Carroll University women's volleyball capped off its CCIW regular-season schedule Tuesday night with a four-set victory over Wheaton College inside King Arena. After dropping the opening set, the Pioneers responded with three consecutive victories to defeat the Thunder. Carroll improved to 18-10 overall and finished conference play with a 7-1 record, marking the program's highest conference winning percentage (.875) since 2007. The victory also extended the Pioneers' winning streak to six matches.
Wheaton came out firing in the opening set, jumping out to a commanding 17-10 lead. Wheaton continued to control the frame, recording 19 kills on an impressive .444 hitting percentage. The Pioneers attempted to work their way back late, but Wheaton secured the opening set 25-18.
Carroll responded in the second set, overcoming an early 5-3 deficit with an 8-2 run to take an 11-7 advantage. The run was highlighted by a Kylie Wittnebel service ace and a kill from Miley Manternach. Wheaton battled back to cut the deficit to 11-10, but the Pioneers maintained control, gradually extending their lead to 18-15. Carroll continued to apply pressure, with back-to-back kills from Manternach pushing the advantage to 22-16. Manternach eventually delivered the finishing kill to secure the 25-20 victory and even the match at one set apiece.
The Pioneers carried that momentum into the third set, jumping out to an early 9-5 advantage behind kills from Audrey Rosenbaum, Carly Hicklin and Manternach. Carroll continued to build its lead, extending the margin to 15-8 following a Hicklin service ace. Wheaton refused to go away, gradually chipping away at the deficit before cutting Carroll's lead to 18-15. The Pioneers maintained their composure down the stretch, with kills from Rosenbaum and Hicklin helping Carroll reach set point at 24-19. After Wheaton fought off two set points, Rosenbaum delivered the final kill to secure the 25-21 victory and give Carroll a 2-1 match lead.
The fourth set featured another competitive battle highlighted by runs, with Wheaton jumping out to an early 12-7 advantage. Facing a five-point deficit, Carroll responded with five consecutive points, highlighted by kills from Manternach and Hicklin, to even the score at 12. The Thunder regained control with a four-point run to take a 16-12 lead, but the Pioneers refused to surrender. Carroll responded with an 8-2 run, featuring a pair of kills from Lexi Proctor and back-to-back blocks from Wittnebel, to take a 20-18 advantage. The Pioneers continued to build momentum, extending their lead to 24-19 behind a Lauryn Weber service ace. After Wheaton fought off one match point, Proctor delivered the finishing kill to secure the 25-20 victory and complete the comeback.
Carroll finished the night with 49 kills on a .196 hitting percentage while adding 47 assists, five service aces, 70 digs and nine total blocks. The Pioneers held Wheaton to a .183 hitting percentage, including a .054 mark in the third set.
Rosenbaum and Hicklin led the Pioneer offense with 12 kills apiece. Rosenbaum recorded an impressive .310 hitting percentage while adding four block assists, while Hicklin contributed 11 digs and one service ace. Manternach followed with 10 kills on a match-high .471 hitting percentage, committing just two attack errors on 17 attempts while adding one solo block and two block assists. Proctor contributed eight kills on a .471 hitting percentage without committing an attack error, adding 10 assists and seven digs. Wittnebel anchored the Pioneer defense at the net with one solo block and five block assists, while Samantha Miserendino recorded a team-high 17 digs and nine assists. Payton Depies led Carroll with 18 assists, while Weber contributed 13 digs and one service ace.
The Pioneers return home on Friday, November 6, when they wrap up the regular season playing host to University of Wisconsin-Stout in a non-conference matchup inside Van Male Fieldhouse. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
