MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons swept Benedictine, 3-0, in their home opener of the 2025 campaign. This was both teams' first game of Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference play. Before the match, the Falcons celebrated the faculty and staff of CUW in the program's yearly Staff Appreciation Night.
This is the second straight year Concordia has swept its opponent in its home opener. Last year, they defeated Rockford, 3-0, on Sept. 17. CUW also tied Benedictine in their all-time series at 13 each. The Falcons have won the last six matches and have gone 11-1 in the last 10 years.
In the first set, the Eagles seemed to have an edge over the Falcons. With BU leading, 13-6, CUW went on a, 10-1, run to take the lead. The Royal Blue and Grey used this momentum to push the team to win the set. For the rest of the match, the Falcons could not be stopped and held the Eagles' attackers to only 11 kills in the final two sets.
Sophomore Kayla Mulder (Whitehall, Mich.) led the team with 11 kills and hit .391, both career highs. Senior Noelle Smith (Davenport, Iowa) tabbed nine kills and hit .467. Making it happen was junior setter Emily Dickmann (Grafton, Wis.), having 18 assists to her name. Dickmann also reached a double-double with 10 digs. Fellow setter, sophomore McKenna Oetzman had 13 assists.
On defense, junior Skylar Kumprey had a season high of 12 digs, leading the team. Senior libero Brianna Lundt picked up 11 digs. Paige Stickney had 2.5 blocks during the contest, two solos and one assist.
The Falcons return to R. John Buuck Field House on Wednesday, Oct. 5. They are set to battle Illinois Tech at 7 p.m.
