Waukesha, Wis. - A back and forth match swung the way of the Thunder on Friday night in a three-set sweep of the Carroll University Pioneers. Wheaton took a tightly contested first set 25-23 before wild runs in the second third and sets led to victories of 25-23 and 26-24. The victory moves the Thunder to 1-2 on the season while Carroll falls to 0-3 overall.

The highly competitive first set saw seven ties and 17 lead changes as neither team led by more than three points. Wheaton's largest lead of the set came early at 10-7 following a four-point Thunder run. Carroll answered with four-straight points of their own and the Pioneers posted their largest lead of the set at 17-14 on the heels of a four-point run. A 6-2 Thunder run set up a sprint to the finish line with the score tied at 22. Naomi Bunker's kill capped a quick two-spurt and set the Thunder up with set point to cap the 25-23 first set win.

Carroll came rushing out of the gates in the second set by scoring four of the first points and racing out to a 13-4 lead. Wheaton was able to chip away at the Pioneer lead but still trailed 19-13 before six-straight Thunder points pulled Wheaton into a tie at 19. Carroll was able to stop the initial Wheaton run, but the Thunder would score the next four points as well, capped by Emma Sweatman's kill to make it 23-20. Carroll pulled back to within one a couple times down the stretch but could not pull even again as Wheaton closed out the 25-23 victory.

Consecutive service aces by Allie High capped another four-point Thunder run to set Wheaton up with a 9-7 lead in the third set, but once again Carroll came fighting back to take the lead again at 15-14. Back-to-back kills by Audrey Gerze highlighted a 5-0 Thunder run to stake Wheaton to a 19-15 lead. The Pioneers fought back once more, tying the match at 19 and again at 24 apiece, but consecutive attack errors by Carroll handed Wheaton the sweep with a 26-24 win in the third set.

Audrey Gerze led the Thunder attack with 12 kills and was joined in double figures by Naomi Bunker's 11 kills. Marlee Anderson dished out 29 assists and Allie High recorded a team-best 15 digs.