MEQUON, Wis. – It was all Falcons on Saturday afternoon inside the R. John Buuck Field House. The Concordia University Wisconsin women's volleyball team celebrated its senior class and then dominated Alverno and Wisconsin-Stevens Point to close the regular season, reaching a pair of milestones along the way.
Before the action began, CUW honored its seven seniors: Brianna Lundt (Rosendale, Wis.), Paige Stickney (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), Noelle Smith (Davenport, Iowa), Ashley Habermehl (Brookfield, Wis.), Abby Proefrock (Grafton, Wis.), Ellie Juergensen (Cedarburg, Wis.), and Skylar Kumprey (New Berlin, Wis.).
Match 1: CUW 3, Alverno 0
(25–19, 25–9, 25–15)
The Falcons made quick work of the Inferno in the opener. After Alverno cut CUW's early lead to 7–6 in the first set, the Falcons responded with a decisive 12–4 run and took the set 25–15 on an Alverno error. During the set, sophomore McKenna Oetzman (Reedsburg, Wis.) notched her 1,000th career assist.
Concordia controlled the second set from start to finish, winning 25–9 on a kill from Ellie Juergensen.
Alverno briefly led in the third before CUW seized momentum behind the serving of Madison Cimbalnik (Reedsburg, Wis.), who fueled a 7–0 run. A kill from Paige Stickney sealed the sweep, 25–15. During the set, Brianna Lundt reached another milestone with her 1,000th career dig.
Stickney powered the Falcons with 13 kills, one assist, one block, and one ace while hitting .476. Oetzman dished out 27 assists, and Lundt anchored the defense with 23 digs.
Match 2: CUW 3, Wisconsin-Stevens Point 0
(25–22, 25–21, 25–19)
Concordia carried its momentum into the second match, earning a straight-sets win over Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
In the opening set, CUW jumped out to a 7–4 lead behind back-to-back kills from Stickney. Ashley Habermehl later stretched the lead to 15–9, but the Pointers battled back to tie things at 16. The Falcons responded with a key three-point burst and closed the set 25–22 on another Habermehl kill.
The Pointers took an early 7–4 edge in set two, but Oetzman's serve helped the Falcons rally to a 15–8 lead. UWSP pulled within one, but CUW finished strong on a 3–0 run to take the set 25–21.
Concordia jumped ahead 6–2 in the third set thanks to a block by Noelle Smith, but Stevens Point again fought back to tie it at 15. Lundt's serving sparked a 6–0 Falcon run to make it 21–16, and the Smith-Habermehl blocking duo ended the match at 25–19.
Abby Proefrock led a balanced offense with nine kills, while Stickney and Habermehl each added eight. Oetzman tallied 19 assists, and Lundt once again collected 23 digs. Smith led all players with eight blocks.
Concordia Wisconsin finishes the regular season at 15–12 overall and 10–3 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC).
The Falcons now turn their attention to the NACC Tournament Quarterfinals, where they'll travel to Lakeland to open postseason play.