Waukesha, Wis. - The Wheaton volleyball team dropped the first two sets on Friday night as Carroll University topped the Thunder, 3-1 (25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22). Tonight's match was the CCIW opener for both teams as Carroll improves to 10-4 overall and 1-0 in CCIW play, while Wheaton is 9-3 this season and 0-1 in CCIW action.

Thunder freshman Colleen Smith led the Thunder with 17 kills in the match. Senior Kelly Thornton registered 11 kills, Madeline Moore tallied eight kills and Deborah Smith added seven kills. 

Thornton had 17 assists and Alecia Funk contributed 16 assists. Senior libero Jess Bosse had 23 digs in the match. Kaylee Byerly led the Thunder with five assisted blocks and Moore added three.

Carroll scored the first four points in the opening set and never trailed in the opener to earn a 25-16 victory. The Pioneers registered the first three points in the second set and also never trailed in winning the set 25-18. 

The two teams battled back and forth in the third set. Carroll led 12-9 when the Thunder out-scored the hosts 4-1 to tie the match at 13-13. The Thunder snapped a 14-14 tie with two-straight points to give Wheaton a 16-14 lead. The Thunder never trailed for the remainder of the set to earn the 25-20 victory.

The two teams again battled in a tightly contested fourth set. The set was tied 20-20 when the Pioneers responded with two-consecutive points to register a 22-20 lead. The hosts remained in the lead for the remainder of the set to earn the 25-22 victory.

The Thunder travel to Stevens Point, Wisconsin on Saturday for matches against UW-La Crosse and UW-Stevens Point at the UW-Stevens Point Invitational II.