AURORA, Ill. – In a showdown between NACC powerhouses, the Concordia University Wisconsin women's volleyball team fell to the Aurora Spartans, losing 3-0 with set scores of 21-25, 20-25, and 27-29. The defeat drops the Falcons' overall record to 15-10 and their conference record to 10-2.
The match began with the Falcons quickly establishing a 4-1 lead, thanks to a kill from junior Mickenzi Benter (De Pere, Wis.) on a set from freshman McKenna Oetzman (Reedsburg, Wis.).
Concordia maintained their lead until the midway point, when sophomore Emily Dickmann (Grafton, Wis.) and senior Anna Bohrer (Verona, Wis.) teamed up to push the score to 10-8. However, the Spartans rallied, ultimately pulling ahead 23-17 and securing the first set 25-21.
In the second set, Aurora took an early 12-8 lead. A kill from junior Paige Stickney (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) helped narrow the gap. The Spartans reached the 20-point mark first, extending their lead to 21-16.
The Falcons fought back, scoring four consecutive points, including kills from Benter and two from junior Noelle Smith (Davenport, Iowa), but Aurora closed out the set 25-20, taking a commanding 2-0 lead.
The third set was tightly contested, with the teams trading points and ties at 3-3, 6-6, 7-7, and 9-9. CUW gained a slight advantage, thanks in part to an ace from Oetzman, making it 11-9.
The Falcons held onto their lead, reaching 17-14 after Stickney recorded four consecutive kills. However, the Spartans fought back, tying the game at 19-19.
Two consecutive attack errors from Aurora put the Falcons ahead 21-19, and a kill from junior Ellie Juergensen (Cedarburg, Wis.) extended the lead to 22-20.
CUW reached set point at 24-22, but the Spartans responded with two straight points to tie the score at 24. The teams continued to exchange points until the Falcons led 27-26, following another kill from Stickney.
But the Spartans finished strong, scoring three unanswered points to take the set 29-27 and complete the sweep.
In a strong individual performance, Paige Stickney led the Falcons with 12 kills and an impressive .500 hitting percentage. Mickenzi Benter added nine kills with a .364 percentage, while McKenna Oetzman contributed 21 assists and Emily Dickmann tallied 13.
From the service line, senior Emma Essex (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), juniors Abby Proefrock (Grafton, Wis.), Noelle Smith, and freshman Oetzman each recorded an ace. Defensively, Smith registered four block assists, while Stickney added two.
The Falcons will look to rebound as they conclude the regular season against St. Norbert on Thursday, November 7th.
