Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton volleyball team opened CCIW play on Tuesday night as the Carthage College Firebirds (8-5, 1-0 CCIW) visited King Arena. Carthage swept the Thunder 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-7) in the conference opener for each team. Wheaton is now 5-9 overall and 0-1 in CCIW play.
Freshman
Chelsea Poskocil led Wheaton with eight kills, while
Mary Patrick added four kills.
Adasyn Konopka had 10 assists, while
Karalyn Osborne registered nine.
Sarah Sanderson had six digs for the hosts, while
Mary Patrick,
Sydney Overweg and
Mary Hamann each had two total blocks.
Carthage rallied to win the first set 25-22. Wheaton scored the first four points of the night, highlighted by a Poskocil kill on the second point. Carthage rallied to take a 5-4 lead. The Firebirds continued to build their lead as they led 11-8 and 15-13. Wheaton rallied multiple times to tie the set, but could not take a lead. The final tie was at 17-17 and the guests responded with three-straight points to take a 20-17 lead. Carthage closed out the set for the 25-22 win.
The first set was tied seven times, with three lead changes. Poskocil recorded seven of her eight kills on the evening in the first set as she posted a .500 attack percentage. Konopka had six assists and Osborne tallied five.
Carthage won the second set 25-15. The set was tightly contested early with four ties until Wheaton gained its first lead at 10-9 and then 11-9. However, Carthage rallied with an 8-1 to take a 17-12 lead. The Firebirds closed out the set 25-15.
The third set was tied at 1-1 when Carthage went on a 9-2 run to take a 10-3 lead. Carthage closed out the set with a 15-4 run in the 25-7 victory.
Wheaton travels to Milwaukee on Friday when they compete in the Wisconsin Lutheran Triangular. The Thunder take on the host Warriors of Wisconsin Lutheran at 2:00 p.m., followed by a match against Kalamazoo College at 4:30 p.m.
