GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The CUW women's volleyball team boasted a successful season opener at the Calvin Labor Day Tournament. The Falcons soared past the Thunder of Wheaton (Ill.) with a 25-12, 25-21, 25-13 victory.
The birds came out blistering in the first set. With the set tied at seven, CUW went on a 14-1 run to put the set out of reach. Senior Gabriella Kaebisch (Paddock Lake, Wis.) had three kills in the run and senior Jenna Chaussee (Chilton, Wis.) notched three service aces and two kills to silence the Thunder. A kill from senior Sophia Collins (Lake Mills, Wis.) gave CUW the first set at 25-12. Collins finished the set with five kills on seven attempts.
The Falcons once again broke free from the Thunder early in the second set and pushed the lead to 19-11 with a service ace from Jenna Chaussee. The Thunder zapped CUW with a 9-3 run to clip the lead to 22-20. The Falcons collected their nerves in a timeout and a kill from Jaydin Vosters (Neenah, Wis.) snapped the skid and the Falcons took the set 25-21. Sophomore Lauren Shroba (Bolingbrook, Ill.) had five kills on five attacks in the set.
CUW learned its lesson from the second set and kept the door shut on Wheaton in the third set. The Blue and White never trailed in the set and ran away with a 25-13 victory to secure the match. CUW hit a blistering .417 in the set.
Lauren Shroba led the match with 10 kills in the victory. Sophia Collins finished right behind her with nine added kills.
Senior Sierra Lee (Kenosha, Wis.) dished out a match-high of 17 assists, with senior Erika Natzke (Morton Grove, Ill.) netting 13 assists.
CUW finished with 10 different Falcons recording at least one dig. Jenna Chaussee, freshman Abby Proefrock (Grafton, Wis.) and Sierra Lee led the way with seven each.
Senior Hannah Himmelman (Geneseo, Ill.) led the Falcons with two blocks in the victory.
Jenna Chaussee was once again sensational with her serve and finished with five service aces. Sierra Lee and Hannah Himmelman both had two.
The Falcons will face a familiar foe tomorrow in MSOE before they take on No. 3 Calvin. Calvin defeated Wheaton and MSOE both with 3-0 victories.
