Waukesha, Wis. – The Thunder volleyball team traveled to Carroll on Friday night for a CCIW match against the Pioneers. The two teams battled in hard-fought five set contest. Wheaton won the opening set 27-25 and the Thunder won the second set 26-24. Carroll responded with 26-24 and 25-19 wins in the next two sets to set up decisive fifth set. The Pioneers scored the final two points of the night to win the fifth set 17-15.
Caroline Capps led the Thunder with 16 kills.
Bree Gilbert and
Jordan Benford each tallied nine kills.
Abby Lawson and
Faith Bailey each recorded six kills.
Davis Whitehead distributed 21 assists and Higgins had 19. Benford recorded four service aces in the match.
Allie High recorded a team-best 22 digs and Capps added 15.
Wheaton won the first set 27-25. The set was tightly contested as it was tied at 10-10 when Carroll outscored the Thunder 6-1 to take a 16-11 lead. The Thunder gradually cut into the hosts' lead to take a 23-21 advantage. Carroll responded to tie the set at 25-25, however, the Thunder scored the last two points to win 27-25. Benford had five kills in the set and High recorded five digs.
Wheaton rallied to win the second set 26-24. The set was tied 7-7 and the Pioneers put together a 12-4 run to take a 19-11 lead. It was an impressive Wheaton run that closed out the set. Carroll led 24-17 when Wheaton scored the final nine points of the set to win 26-24. Capps had two kills in the run, Gilbert added one and Whitehead recorded a service ace. Capps had five kills in the set, Whitehead distributed seven assists, and High had six digs.
Carroll rallied to win the third set 26-24. Wheaton led the set 23-19 when the Pioneers responded with a 6-1 surge to extend the match to a fourth set. Capps, Bailey and Lawson each had three kills in the set. Benford had two service aces in the set.
Carroll won the fourth set. The Pioneers led through the majority of the set in earning a 25-19 victory. Capps had three kills in the set. Whitehead and High each had four digs.
The Pioneers won a hard-fought fifth set 17-15. The hosts led 10-5 when Wheaton battled back with a 5-1 run to trim the Carroll lead to 11-10. Carroll led 15-14 when Benford tallied a kill to tie the set at 15-15. The hosts recorded a kill and a service ace to close out the match. Capps and Gilbert each tallied three kills in the set.
Wheaton returns home next Wednesday to host Augustana. The match against the Vikings is the home finale for the Thunder.
